FPL 8 has once again proven to be a huge success for Sheffield RC Racing. Every round delivered action-packed racing, thrilling finals, and some of the closest battles we’ve seen in recent seasons.
Just as importantly, the racing etiquette throughout the championship was excellent. Battles were hard but fair, with drivers showing great respect for one another — exactly what club racing should be about.
The introduction of the Team Championship added another exciting dimension. It was fantastic to see teammates supporting each other, sharing setups, and even running coordinated liveries.
F1 Elite Championship
Matt Hipwell was in phenomenal form throughout the season, combining outright pace with rock-solid consistency. After finishing third in both the Elite and Overall Championships last year, Matt stepped it up in style — beating both drivers who finished ahead of him in 2024 and fighting for A Final wins at every round.
With new faces expected to enter the F1 league next season, the pressure will only increase. Rumour has it a new chassis is already on the way, so expectations are high for Matt to defend his title.
David Underwood finished second after a very strong second half of the season, with Richard Cheetham completing the podium.
F2 Racer Championship
Steve Baggley was another standout performer, showing dominant pace throughout the season. He came close to a clean sweep of TQ and wins, underlining his determination to earn a return to the F1 league.
A strong second half of the season from Ben Gosling saw him snatch second place in the standings from the ever-consistent Jason Kahler.
F3 Challenge Championship
F3 delivered the closest title fight of the season. Chris Ratcliffe secured the championship by just one point, holding off a late charge from Chris Carpenter.
Chris Ratcliffe dominated the early rounds but struggled to maintain momentum later in the season. With a move towards F2-level competition looming, he’ll need to rediscover that early-season form.
Lewis Barker completed the podium, showing impressive pace throughout — although luck wasn’t always on his side.
F4 Development League
Aiden Chevens wrapped up the final of the club leagues in style with a dominant performance. He was untouchable across the season and even broke into an A Final with excellent qualifying at Round 2.
It will be fascinating to see whether Aiden can carry this momentum into the F3 league next season.
Keith Middleton finished runner-up after consistently chasing Chevens across the rounds, while Rob Shepherd delivered a storming final round to secure third overall.
Team Championship
The Team Championship proved to be a huge hit. By the midway point, three teams were locked in contention:
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Turbo Tamiyas (Hipwell & Cheetham)
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Super Track Bro’s (Baggley & C. Gill)
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Smash & Dash (Carpenter & Chevens)
The title race remained incredibly tight until Smash & Dash capitalised on the bonus points for running a shared livery. From that moment on, they were unstoppable, maximising points at every remaining round to take the championship.
Overall Championship
The Overall Championship turned into a thrilling two-horse race. Matt Hipwell took an early lead, but when Jay Kay joined the championship at Round 3, the pressure ramped up immediately.
Jay Kay arrived in blistering form, knowing only perfect scores would give him a chance. With four TQ + win combinations, he did exactly that — emerging as the Overall FPL Champion.
Steve Baggley completed the overall podium in third place.
Looking Ahead to FPL 9
Planning for FPL 9 is already underway, with the next season expected to start in around a month’s time.
Now’s the time to:
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Get cars prepped 🔧
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Find your teammates 👥
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And get ready for what promises to be bigger and better than ever 🏁
