TENSION and excitement are top of the bill at the season finale of speed hillclimb at Gurston Down, this Sunday.

Anthony Orchard from Wareham is very much in the hunt for Gates of Brockenhurst Gurston Down Hillclimb championship honours, despite sitting fifth going into the final meeting.

In the concurrent BARC (SW) Top Ten Challenge, although the title has now been won by Blandford’s Andy Forsyth in the 3.5 Pilbeam MP58 Cosworth V8 he shares with his father John from Poole, the other top places are far from settled.

John Forsyth is currently second, but Tony Wiltshire from Newton Abbot is looking strong in his 2.5 Gould GR55 Opel V6 and could usurp the runners-up spot.

Rod Thorne from Frampton, Dorchester, who is currently a point behind John Forsyth in third place, will not unfortunately be running after an engine sensor malady on his 3.5 Pilbeam MP58 Judd V8 recurred at the end of August and brought the car to a halt.

In the classes, Simon Purcell from Sherborne shares his 1.4 supercharged Lotus Exige with Gurston Down’s treasurer Dee Stapley from Castle Cary, again in the up to 2000cc modified limited production marquee sports car class.

There will be a scrap among the ladies in the over 2000cc sports libre class as Sue Hayes from Salisbury pits her twin-engined 2.6 Force SR8 against the mighty 5.0 Pilbeam MP43 of Hayley Thorne from Frampton.