Manea’s David Polley wins BriSCA F2 Stock Car World Final in King's Lynn
Manea’s David Polley entered the history books as the first local driver to win the BriSCA F2 Stock Car World Final since its inception in 1963.
In doing so, Polley emulated his famous father George - who was World Champion in the National Hot Rods 35 years ago.
With a car painted in the same colours as father George’s National Hot Rod from 1987, Polley started what was his 14th appearance in a World Final on the fourth row after finishing in third place in his semi-final at Buxton.
When the green flag fell, he had a brilliant start - diving up the inside and moving from eighth to second by the end of the first lap.
A brief battle with Jordon Thackra ensued beforePolley went on the hunt for leader and pre-race favourite Charlie Guinchard.
Just before the halfway stage, Guinchard was hampered by some backmarkers - which Polley used to his advantage - and, in a flash, he was on the back bumper of Charlie.
He went for gold by making a decisive move to hammer Guinchard into the fence, where a dead car lay, which would make it difficult for Charlie to get back at Dave the next bend.
The move was executed to perfection, and the crowd roared as Polley made the race winning manouvere and motored down the back straight.
From then on Polley simply had to run down the remaining laps - which he did with relative comfort. was comfortable.
The crowd erupted when he took the chequered flag and he received a fantastic reception.
Polley said: “What a day. It has been unbelievable. The atmosphere around the stadium was amazing. I don’t know if it’s because it is local but all day I have had people coming up to me saying this will be your year – I was saying ‘no don’t say that too soon’
“As soon as the race got going I got in a rhythm and a couple of decent stock car moves got me into the lead and I couldn’t believe it. I was thinking ‘is this really going to happen?’
“I don’t like to say I am a more deserving winner than anyone else but racing is our family’s life. We put so much into it – always working on the car, always in the garage, kids don’t get as many days out as they should and to see how happy they were when they joined me on the lap of honour makes it all worthwhile.”
Polley will now race under the number one, which only world champions are allowed to do. He added: “I always said if I become world champion I am going as number one. I might never get another opportunity to do it.”
He will defend his title at Nutts Corner Raceway in Northern Ireland in September 2023.
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