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SuperChamps S3 2024: Glory for Ellis McKenzie, Reece Harris, Archie Bullard & William Willard

A thrilling season finale of SuperChamps unfolded in near-perfect dry conditions at Daytona Sandown Park on Sunday 22nd December, with high stakes across all four championships.

Ellis McKenzie was a worthy champion in the SODI Lightweight category, taking two round wins on his way to a dominant championship. Most intrigue was generated in the battle for second, where Fin Ions and Max Winfield had a thoroughly entertaining scrap at the season finale for the two runner-up trophies. In the end, Fin Ions’ impressive performance in the heats of the finale was just enough, pipping a misfortunate Winfield to the post. Honourable mentions go to Harry Skinner and Jasim Abdulhameed, both drivers will definitely be in contention next season.

The finale demonstrated exactly why Reece Harris was the eventual SODI Heavyweight champion. His battles with the seasoned Olly Cooper-Welton were a delight throughout, but Harris’ ability to compete with the Lightweights, particularly in the heats format, set him aside from the rest. Sam Roy finished third, constantly improving throughout the season and he will certainly be right up there in 2025.

In his final season of SuperChamps before an exciting move to Formula 4 machinery in the new calendar year, Archie Bullard got into a groove and did not look back. Luka Nik pushed him most of the way, but three sixty-point rounds set Bullard apart from the rest, despite Nik taking a sweep himself in round five. Antonio Sholin was third, but was pushed to the line by Steve Hannon, who had some standout podium finishes of his own, including a second place in round six. The likes of Thomas Williams, Adam Palmer, and George Lawlor were ever present this season and could all be competing next year if they find an extra level of consistency that was perhaps lacking at times this season.

William Willard went into the final round with not much to do in order to secure the championship, and so victory was swift. His season peaked in round three and seven, achieving two sixty-point rounds, increasing his championship chances. Tristan Buirski and Keiran Hyde-Moody were not present at the final round but had already done enough to get into the championship top three. Their battles throughout the season were exciting to watch, especially before the grid was combined. The highlight of Hyde-Moody’s season was a sixty-one-point round in round five, matching the achievement of Buirski from round two. The fact that they were only two points apart at the end was proof of how close the season was, especially considering multiple time winner Andreas Demetriades was only three points behind in fourth.

As it happened…

SODI

In the heats, all eyes were on Fin Ions who drove superbly to put it on pole position for the final. He won his first heat whilst starting near the front, and then spent the second heat climbing through the field masterfully to secure his pole position. With that being said, Ellis Mckenzie was also on form in the heats, ending just about a point behind Ions.  As for the heavyweights, Reece Harris stood out during his second heat – defending hard from Lightweights to finish towards the front – which secured him Heavyweight pole position.

The finale was won by Ellis McKenzie, who was glued to Fin Ions and Harrison Rudge throughout the race. He managed to take the lead on lap five, though did not have an easy job from, here despite never actually losing the lead after this point. Rudge and Ions kept him honest throughout, with the three-way battle being an extremely good watch. At the end, Ions was not able to get through on Rudge and had to settle for third despite his incredible pace throughout the heats. As for the Heavyweights, the championship was sealed by victor Reece Harris, who topped off a simply sensational round. Crucial to his victory was getting passed Lightweight Andrea Roma, giving him a kart between himself and rival Olly Cooper-Welton, despite there only being seven tenths separating them by the end. As has happened often this season, Sam Roy rounded off the podium.

DMAX

With one hand already on the championship trophy, Archie Bullard strolled through the heats – taking victory in both including fastest lap. His championship rival Luka Nik also joined him on the front row, just getting ahead of Antonio Sholin based on his fastest lap. In the Heavyweights, William Willard had a strong couple of heats to go to top of the order, with Andreas Demetriades only a point behind.

It seemed like a straightforward victory for champion Archie Bullard at the start of the final, pulling a two second gap to the charging pack behind however, Luka Nik stayed patient in trying to get passed George Lawlor in second place, eventually able to chase down Bullard after overtaking. The three of them became very aggressive in their battling during the closing stages. Bullard briefly lost the lead to Nik on the penultimate lap but managed to claim it back through an aggressive divebomb at turn six, while Lawlor came home in third. As for the Heavyweights, Andreas Demitriades won a fairly straightforward race ahead of William Willard but was not quite able to secure the third spot in the championship.