By Next to take part in Road Racing News, revamped Oliver’s Mount Top 8 series is sixth place finisher overall, in the 2024 FSRA (Formula Sidecar Racing Association) British Formula 2 Cup Championship, James Saunders.
Set to make his Sidecar driver debut at TT 2025, four times a top ten finisher aside dad John Saunders, his answers to the set of questions, are as follows:
Q1: First memory of Oliver’s Mount?
“My first memory is going to watch my dad race there in around 2007 or 2008. Our mates (the Downes family) took me to Jefferies jumps to watch, was brilliant.”
Q2: Favourite part about racing at the mount?
“Considering it’s a road race how relaxed and chilled out the meeting is, also the craic in the beer tent after the days racing is always good.”
Q3: Favourite section of Scarborough course?
“Going up the hill and through the esses, it’s a good feeling when you make a decent job of that and get the chair wheel floating over the curbs/grass.”
Q4: Best moment thus far at Scarborough?
“Last time out at the Gold Cup probably, went the fastest I’ve ever gone and fair chunk closer to a sub, 2-minutes lap.”
Q5: All time Scarborough racing hero?
“Got to be Ian Bell, legend round that place.”
Q6: Is there one machine in particular that you would like to race at Scarborough?
“I’ve been a passenger in sidecars for a fare few years and always fancied a go on a front exit classic so to have a go on one of them round there would be decent.”
Q7: One word to describe Oliver’s Mount?
“Narrow”
Q8: Most respected racing rival at Scarborough?
“Not really a personal rival for me but Lee (Crawford) & Scott (Hardie) get my respect, full commitment to get close to the lap record and not far off it.”
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
