Racer Mark on the podium at opening race of the year

Our hot rod racer Mark Shelper gained vital world championship qualifying points in the opening race meeting of the year at Aldershot Stadium yesterday (Sunday 3 March).

But his day ended early when the gearbox failed so he couldn't take his position on the grid for the final. "It was a disappointing end after a promising start," said Mark, whose Peugeot-bodied car is sponsored by the Injection Centre, JB Racing, and Woodfield Stables.

The Weltch Media logo has been on Mark’s Peugeot 206cc since the start of the 2022 season, continuing our long-standing involvement in motorsport.

In the past we have supported

Ben Power in the UK Legends Car Championship

and

James Holman in the Irish Championship

. We’ve also backed James in several

online iRacing

events, and in 2018 we teamed up with Mendips Raceway to present the

Weltch Media West of England Hot Rod Championship

.

Mark made headlines in 2022 by being the only driver from the South West to qualify for the world championship final.

National hot rods are the top level of short track racing in the UK, with sophisticated lightweight production-car replicas whose engines produce around 240bhp. Photos: Mark’s Peugeot (788) in action at Aldershot by Martin Kingston