SEVERAL drivers from East Kent have a strong chance of success in Saturday’s eight-race meeting at Lydden, which is organized by the South Eastern Motor Sport Enthusiasts Club.

Nigel Craig, who lives at Elham, is the Intermediate Saloons champion and was a winner at the last SEMSEC event at Lydden.

His son Stephen, who drives a similar Ford Escort RS2000, is the Super Saloons champion.

They will be racing in the Saloon and Sports Car Championship event.

Tony Skelton, who lives nearby at Bladbean, drives the Barretts of Canterbury supercharged MINI Cooper S and will also be taking part in the same race as well as the SE Saloon and Sports Car Challenge and the John Taylor Handicap event.

The Single-seater races last time were both won by Canterbury’s Gary Tidwell who will be hoping for similar success on Saturday when his Swift SC94R will be up against Formula Renault and Formula Ford cars, as well as the Formula Vauxhall of former champion, Mark Smith.

Barry Sheppard from the Alkham valley makes a rare appearance with his Nomad Mk 1A in the SE Sports and Saloon Car Challenge and his son Max will race the same car in the Sports Racing Car Championship race which opens the programme.

One of the highlights of this meeting will be the annual Sports Racing and GT Challenge event which has attracted big-banger V8 Cobras and a Lister Knobbly, a 3.5 Porsche 911 and several Jaguars, including a beautiful D-type owned and driven by Deal farmer, Roger Dewen.

The action on Saturday starts with a Tunbridge Wells Motor Club sprint during the morning followed by practice for the racing. The first of the races should start around 2.30pm.

Lydden Circuit is on the A2, eight miles south of Canterbury. Admission is £8 (£6 for senior citizens). Parking, paddock and entry for accompanied children is free.