The final round of the SS Cup at Highlands Motorsport Park delivered a fitting conclusion to the season, with outright pace, changing conditions, and reverse grid racing all playing their part across four unpredictable races.
In the end, it was Lincoln Brunton (97) who emerged on top, combining speed and consistency to secure both the round win and Class A honours, while the battles behind him remained wide open throughout the weekend.
Qualifying immediately established the pace of the weekend, with Joshua Mitchell (82) claiming pole with a 1:51.642.
Brunton was close behind, just 0.390 seconds adrift, while Dave McLean (158) completed the top three. The trio set themselves apart early, while a tightly packed midfield hinted at the traffic and unpredictability that would define the races to come.
Race 1 delivered one of the standout moments of the weekend, with Brunton and Mitchell locked in a tight battle at the front.
Brunton ultimately edged Mitchell by just 0.236 seconds in a hard-fought win, setting the tone for his weekend. Behind them, Oscar Tatom (30) completed the podium.
Mitchell’s challenge, however, came to an abrupt end soon after, with a cracked exhaust manifold ruling him out of the remainder of the meeting. Elsewhere, Ben Gormack’s Toyota Levin suffered engine failure, ending his weekend early.
The first reverse grid handicap race delivered the expected shake-up, with Darren Willis (13) making the most of clear air to take victory.
Mick Ross (95) and James Mitchell (9) completed the podium, while the faster runners were left working through heavy traffic. Brunton climbed to tenth and set the fastest lap, but like many of the front-runners, was unable to fully recover ground.
Declared a wet race, Race 3 added another layer of complexity, rewarding those who could adapt quickly.
Brunton returned to the front with a composed drive to claim his second win, while Lynden Prebble (902) impressed in second and Warren Walker (183) secured third.
One of the standout performances came from Alex Sprague (2), who guided his Class B Toyota 86 to fourth overall in a drive that highlighted both pace and control in difficult conditions.
The final race never fully developed after Ben van Heeswyck’s steering failure triggered a prolonged safety car period.
Marty Russell (93) controlled proceedings at the front to take victory, with Willis continuing his strong form in second and Mike McCarthy (247) completing the podium.
Further back, the faster runners were once again neutralised by track position, with Brunton setting the fastest lap but finishing 19th, while McLean crossed the line in 23rd.
Round results
🥇 Lincoln Brunton (97)
🥈 Brad Rae (662)
🥉 Trevor Parmenter (66)
Class results
Class A
🥇 Lincoln Brunton (97)
🥈 Dave McLean (158)
🥉 Lynden Prebble (902)
Class B
🥇 Brad Rae (662)
🥈 Trevor Parmenter (66)
🥉 Riley Price (979)
Class C
🥇 Darren Willis (13)
🥈 Mike Hammer (17) & Allan Garnett (53)
Over the weekend, Brunton established himself as the benchmark, combining outright pace with enough consistency to overcome the challenges posed by the reverse-grid format.
Willis and Russell demonstrated the value of track position in the handicap races, while Rae and Parmenter capitalised on strong, consistent performances to secure overall podium finishes.
Mechanical issues, changing conditions, and interrupted racing all played their part, reinforcing the unpredictable nature that defines the SS Cup.
The Highlands finale delivered everything expected of SS Cup racing, close battles, shifting fortunes, and results shaped as much by racecraft as outright speed.
Across the weekend, multiple drivers had their moments at the front, but it was consistency across all four races that ultimately proved decisive, a theme that has carried right through the season.
With the 10th anniversary season now complete, the Highlands finale was a fitting reminder of what SS Cup racing is all about: tight margins, unpredictable results, and some of the best grassroots racing in the country.
The racing might be done, but the season isn’t over just yet.
We’ll be rolling out final championship results, award winners, and highlights from the 10th anniversary season over the coming weeks. Make sure you’re following SS Cup on Facebook so you don’t miss it.
Header Image: Josh Kelly
