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Press Clippings and news

25/09/2007
Champion effort from Paul’s team
Sep 25 2007 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette
PAUL MOSS has won the overall Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship title.
The Citroen Saxo driver from Darlington scored two class D wins as the series reached its climax with a double header at Croft.
And that was easily enough to ensure he finished clear of closest rival Tim Evans (Sylva Phoenix) - who was plagued by electrical problems - in the final points chart.
“It’s been four years in the making,” said a delighted Moss. “We’ve continued to develop the car throughout that time and now we’ve won the title.
“It’s been a real team effort too - everyone has played their part.
“In recent years the championship has gone to the last meeting and this year was no different.
“Tim has pushed me all the way and I’m pleased - it’s better than winning it with half the season left. It keeps you on your toes!”


4/03/2008

Moss: I’ll fight to keep trophy

Mar 4 2008 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette

NORTHERN Saloon and Sports Car Championship winner Paul Moss finally has his hands on the trophy - and he doesn’t plan to give it back without a fight.

The Darlington driver clinched the title at the end of a fiercely competitive season last September after completing a perfect record of 13 class wins from 13 rounds at the wheel of his Citroen Saxo.

But only now does the famous old silver trophy sit on his mantelpiece following organising club Darlington and District MC’s annual presentation evening at the King’s Head Hotel.

And, after collecting the impressive piece of silverware from guest of honour John Cleland, his thoughts immediately turned to this year’s championship campaign.

“For us to go into this year thinking ‘we are the champions’ is wrong,” said Moss.

“As far as 2008 is concerned, last year means nothing.

“We have got to start from scratch again.

“On the other side of the coin, the other drivers have got to beat us!

“But it’s a new year and a new start. We can’t sit back and think ‘we have done it’.

“We’ve developed the car and we will develop it as far as we can.

“There are a lot of new people coming into the championship and they’re going to be quick.

“I’ve got a big tag on my back now - I’m the one they’re going to want to beat.”



3/06/2009

Double Scots joy for Paul Moss

Jun 3 2009 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette

FORMER Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship king Paul Moss bounced back into the reckoning with a double dose of victory north of the border.

Gavin Lee and Paul Moss in action
After being plagued by teething troubles with his new Citroen Saxo over the opening weekend at Croft, the Darlington driver bounced back with a bang at Knockhill.
The 2007 title winner twice got the better of Hartlepool’s Gavin Lee (Fiesta XR2), the man who deposed him as champion, to score a pair of class D victories.
But Lee, who took maximum points from the opening two rounds, clocked two class D second places to remain firmly at the business end of the battle for glory with four rounds now gone.
He has 88 points - the same number as David Headen (Caterham) and Colin Simpson (Marcos Mantis) - to sit second in the points table behind Dave Brewis (Lotus Elise) on 90.
Lee leads class D ahead of Seaton Carew’s Mick Starkey (XR2) and Swales, with Moss now fourth.
“Paul Moss has got his car on song at the minute,” said Lee. “He’s got quite a bit of power.”
Hartlepool’s David Swales (XR2) - who has emerged as a serious contender in a super-competitive class D - missed the opening race with a broken wheel bearing, leaving Lee and Moss to slug it out.
They swapped positions before Moss began to pull away.
Swales was back for race two and put pressure on Lee who had again swapped places with Moss.
“Two second places were a good return and I’m delighted to be up near the top,” said Lee.
“There’s still 10 rounds to go and to be in contention so far is fantastic.”
One regular front-runner whose title challenge appears to be over, however, is Darlington’s David Cox.
The engine problems he encountered last time out at Croft turned out to be more serious than first thought and he blew the engine in his Peugeot 205GTi during practice at Knockhill



Back to front for Paul

Jun 30 2009 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette

 

FORMER champion Paul Moss has defied more teething troubles with his Citroen Saxo to score a thrilling Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship double.

The Darlington driver, who scooped the crown in 2007, took class D wins in both races, despite having to start from dead last on both occasions.

Moss had encountered more mechanical problems in practice and qualifying but sliced through the field in both races.

Reigning champion Gavin Lee from Hartlepool (Fiesta XR2) followed him home both times.

Andrew Gallagher was first on the road for both races in his mighty Ford Focus.

Seaton Carew’s Mick Starkey celebrated his birthday at the circuit with a couple of decent results, including a third in class D in the first race of the day.
 

 

Moss takes it to the max in quest for title

Jul 14 2009 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette

FORMER champion Paul Moss continues to be the man to beat as the battle for Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship honours unfolds.

On a day when Ingleby Barwick’s David Botterill finished second overall (and first in class A1) to record his best result of the season in the championship, Moss took maximum class D points from round six at Croft to step up his bid to regain the crown he won in 2007.

The Citroen Saxo driver from Darlington’s cause was helped by reigning champion Gavin Lee being classified as a non-finisher after the engine in his Fiesta XR2 seized on the final lap.

Lee, hoping for an early birthday present on his final day of being a 20-something, had been involved in a terrific scrap with Moss - the pair swapping positions three times before Moss began to pull away.

Lee looked to have second in class in the bag, however, before disaster struck near the end. Lee pushed his car down the pit lane and across the finish line but, despite an appeal to the meeting stewards, was deemed a non-finisher as the car was not under its own power.

Moss suffered teething problems with his new car earlier in the season but it’s all coming together now and he said: “It’s a case of slowly, slowly catchee monkey.

“I had a bit of an issue with handling this weekend. I’ve got good power, we just need to find a way of fine-tuning the handling a bit.

“Gavin keeps pushing me so I have to keep moving forward all the time. The first meeting was a bit of a disaster but we sorted that out and you’ve seen the results since then.

“It’s a complete new car so it handles and behaves differently so I’ve got to learn to drive it.

“We didn’t expect to come out and do what we’re doing. To be honest I thought we’d struggle throughout the year but, as it happens, it’s performing quite well.

“I’m not thinking about the championship though. I’m just doing what I did when



 

Botterill unhappy despite top form

Aug 11 2009 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette

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TEESSIDE’S David Botterill was in emphatic form as the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship roared into Oulton Park - but he still reckoned he wasn’t happy!

David Botterill

Botterill, from Ingleby Barwick, took his Porsche 944 Turbo to a class victory and second overall behind Phil Morris in round nine at the Cheshire circuit.

He also went on to win the second NSSCC race of the weekend, a non-championship race due to the fact that all classes were amalgamated for the first race.

“I’m a bit disappointed to be honest,” quipped Botterill. “I’d had two pole positions, two fastest laps and a win.

“It was only that second place that denied me a clean sweep!

“I’d raced there recently in the GT Cup so that was a big help.

“But those races were from a rolling start, so I think I was a bit rusty getting off the line.

“I didn’t make the most of pole position in either race.

“But the car went well and I was pleased with my own performance - I set a new personal best time around the circuit too.

“I’m at Donington in the GT Cup this weekend, so it’s set me up nicely for that.”

The championship race was again keenly contested with battles raging all through the field.

David Swales (right) and Gavin Lee

Class D again proved to be the most competitive, with 2007 champion Paul Moss from Darlington (Citroen Saxo) taking maximum points.

In-form Moss, with the benefit of a new gearbox, got away cleanly leaving Hartlepool pair David Swales and Gavin Lee (both Fiestas) to scrap it out behind him.

Both cars showed signs of their fierce battle at the end, with Swales eventually getting the better of reigning champion Lee.

John Hewitson (Westfield) leads overall with 196 points ahead of Mike Cutt (BMW M3) - who took class B honours at Oulton - on 195, Mark Armstrong (Rover 200) on 195 and Moss on 191.

Moss now leads the ultra-competitive class D from Seaton Carew’s Mick Starkey (Fiesta) on 178 points, four more than third-placed Lee.

The NSSCC now takes a five-week break before resuming with a double header at Cadwell Park on September 12-13.


 

success in 2010

Sep 29 2009 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette 

DARLINGTON’S Paul Moss (Citreon Saxo) wrapped up the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship with a pair of class wins in the final meeting of the season at Croft.

Mike Cutt (BMW M3) had kept up the pressure on the 2007 champion by winning Saturday’s classes B, C and D race outright after fending off the challenge of Simon Blankley (Seat).

But Moss needed only to finish in the top five in his class to take the title, and achieved his aim comfortably.



 

Gavin Lee leads the way to class win

Oct 6 2009 by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette

 

OUTGOING overall champion Gavin Lee has led a North Tees one-two in class D of the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship.

Gavin Lee leads David Swales at Croft

Darlington’s Paul Moss succeeded him as NSSCC king with maximum points from the final round of the series at Croft, regaining the crown he won in 2007.

And because he was won overall honours, his class title goes to the driver immediately beneath him in the final points chart - and that was Lee.

The popular Fiesta XR2 driver, who now plans to hang up his race suit and helmet, finished with 236 points after dropped scores - 44 fewer than Moss.

Second in the final class D table is Seaton Carew’s Mick Starkey (Fiesta XR2) on 226.

Ingleby Barwick’s David Botterill (Porsche 944 Turbo) was a runaway winner of class A1, while David Headon (caterham) took the honours in class A2, overall runner-up Mike Cutt (BMW M3) won class B, Dave Brewis (Lotus Elise) triumphed in class C, former overall champion Phil Morris (Caterham) did the business in class E, while John Hewtison (Wetsfield) led the way in class G and the class H silverware went the way of Brian Morris (Datsun 240Z

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