ONE of the highlights of the short oval race season will take place on Saturday as the annual National Bangers Championship of the World will take place.

Set to be held at Smeatharpe Stadium between Honiton and Taunton, the highly anticipated showdown on Saturday evening marks the 42nd annual staging of the event.

The Heritage Stock Cars will feature in their annual appearance at the circuit, and the non-contact Special Rods will complete the line-up.

National Bangers (unlimited cc) – rough, uncompromising, destructive:

For the National Bangers, the Championship of the World is at stake. Luke Thomas of Probus, Cornwall, was something of a surprise winner of the title last season, having managed to squeak through via last chance qualifying in order to lift the title.

But now, he will be looking to return and put in a strong showing on his way to a successful defence.

That, however, is going to be a very tall order, as there is a highly competitive entry list of star names that has been assembled ahead of the race, including Jimmy Craig of Guildford who also holds a version of the World Championship.

Jason Moore of Kilmington won the Wild Card event at Smeatharpe in April to secure his seeded entry on to the grid, whilst Lewis Fasey of Sampford Peverell claimed his qualification via a similar event at Aldershot in February.

Brothers Luke and Scott Gillbard from Launceston have each assured themselves of qualification for the big race, as have Jayden James of Ideford, Lewis Senford of St Austell, Jamie Smith of Wadebridge, Ryan Miles of Gillingham, Mike Hamley of Launceston and Troy Jones of Trowbridge.

Leading the masses of long distance travellers will be Jack Overy of Soham. He is a four times previous winner of the title, and came close to adding a fifth victory last summer, before having to settle for a runner-up finish.

With only a limited number of places available for the world title race, a keenly contested last chance qualifier heat at the start of the meeting will supplement the grid.

Ahead of the main event, drivers will take part in a pre-race parade, during which time they will take part in a random grid to determine grid positions.

For drivers in the unlimited cc National Banger class, the majority will be racing either a Lexus, a Mercedes or a Jaguar.

BriSCA Heritage Stock Cars – replica re-builds of the cars of the 1960s:

For the support races, Heritage Stock Cars will add a touch of nostalgia to the meeting. The majority of these cars are replicas of Stock Cars from the 1960s, often raced by old-school drivers who were amongst the early pioneers of stock car racing in the UK.

There will be shy of twenty Heritage Stock Cars are due to take part, and they will make for attractive viewing as the antiquated vehicles look to charge around the raceway.

Special Rods – large, rear wheel drive cars racing non-contact:

Each season, the Special Rods make an annual visit to Smeatharpe. Last year, Jody Jeanes of Bridgwater swept to a hugely impressive hat-trick of victories, and he will be keen to enjoy another successful evening.

The day’s running will get started at 1pm on Saturday July 26.