Ben Hurran

Ben Hurran
[[Image:|150px]]
Age	49
Nationality	Welsh
Car #	04
Years Competed
Current Team	Abbey Engineering
Championships	0
Pole Positions	0
Wins	0
First Attempt	2012 Round of Indianapolis
First Race	2012 Round of Decatur
TM Master Cup Series Driver

Ben Hurran (born December 13, 1975 in Engedi, Anglesey, Wales) is a Welsh racing driver who has competed in many forms of motor racing, from single-seaters to Rallycross cars.

He made his TM Master Cup debut at the 2012 Round of Decatur, after failing to advance out of pre-qualifying at the 2012 Round of Indianapolis.

Racing career

Formula Inglesby

At the age of 15, having spent years in karts already, Ben Hurran was bought a Formula Inglesby as a Christmas present. His father maintained the car and after the pre-season testing he was confirmed as one of the people most likely to take the title, despite being the youngest driver to ever compete. His season started off well at Snetterton taking 5th and 3rd respectively, at Thruxton he won both races in torrential conditions making him the sport's youngest ever winner. The day was tragically marred by the death of fellow racer Marty Dornby who crashed at church, the fastest corner in Britain and struck a tree. The series then headed to Knockhill,(a circuit which formula Inglesby wouldn't visit again for 5 years) where Ben finished 3rd and 2nd behind the local drivers. He then took two wins at the Mallory Park rounds( which was now his home circuit as he lived less than a mile from the circuit). Silverstone marked the low point of his season, after a misfire put him at the back of the grid, he got up to forth before contact with Johann Ardell broke his rear suspension causing a huge accident on the front stretch, in which his car flew through the air before landing on all four wheels. Rain began to fall for the second race in where he started at the back of the grid, but came through to 3rd. The Spa circuit hosted round six and again mechanical problems plagued the car, this time it was a sticking front brake caliper. Ben started at the back of the grid and came through to take an amazing win, the highlight being his pass on the outside of the Eau Rouge corner in a three wide situation. The second race, he also won dominantly. Donington Park and Oulton Park saw 2nd,1st,1st and 2nd places. The round of Castle Combe saw two of his main rivals taken away from the title battle as they took each other out at the tricky quarry corner, Ben finished 1st and 3rd and at Croft he finished 3rd,2nd. The final round took place at the formula Inglesby festival which saw Ben win the first heat and the semi final. In the final he started on pole but was pushed wide through the gravel at paddock hill bend dropping him to 8th, he fought back too 2nd and had a race long duel with his championship rival Edward Toleman, the cars made contact coming to the line and Edward Toleman took the win by 0.0036, Ben Hurran finished 2nd on his roof but would take the title by 3 points. Earlier in the day he raced in an Inglesby hot hatch race, the car was his girlfriend's with a number and a roll cage on it, he won both races with it and still owns it to this day.

1991-1993 BTCC

Over the winter of 1990/91 Ben took part in numerous winter championships, winning the Production Gessler championship and the Super Saloon series in a Lycoia Brute, powered by a Formula A engine. This sort of driving attracted the attentions of BTCC teams and in 1991, he signed a contract to drive alongside Michael Sykes and became the BTCC's youngest ever driver. 1991 was a successful year as Ben and Michael both scored three wins each, Michael finished second and Ben third in the title, Ben's eight rolls down the back straight at Snetterton didn't help his title fight. 1992 saw Ben play a support role to Michael Sykes, finishing second in the points and winning most of the races Michael didn't win, the highlight of his season was his win at Donington Park where he aqua-planned off at the first corner on the slowing down lap and was joined by six other cars. 1993 saw Ben's team mate severely injured in testing, he would miss the majority of the season. Round 1 and 2 at Donnington Park saw the "get well Michael" car take two commanding wins in foggy conditions and Round 3 and 4 at Croft saw the same. Round 5 and 6 at Knockhill went wrong in race one as Ben clipped a kerb causing the car to roll and skate along on it's roof. No serious damage was done and in race 2 Ben took 3rd after being hit by several drivers leaving the car with no straight panel on it. Round 7 and 8 were won by Ben in drying conditions but Round 9 and 10 at Thruxton went wrong in race 1 as contact on the entrance of the chicane caused him to go off at 100mph and hit the tires backwards. After being knocked out momentarily and going against doctors warnings he raced in race 2 taking 5th from the back of the field. Round 11 and 12 at Snetterton went well with 4th and 2nd place, and Round 13 and 14 at Silverstone saw Ben win race 1 and finish 5th in race two after being spun by his title rival. Round 15 and 16 at Croft saw the title fight intensify, Ben won race 1 after being hit several times by his title rival who in race 2, turned Ben on one of the fastest parts of the circuit. Ben spun off the track and hit a Marshall's van before plowing through a corn field. Rounds 15 and 16 were the final rounds which took place at Brands Hatch which saw Michael Sykes return to the delight of the crowds. In race 1 Ben's championship rival retired after the fuel tank went up in flames giving Hurran the title. Race 2 saw Sykes and Hurran put on a show for the fans as they battled throughout the race, swapping positions which saw Sykes win by 0.3s.

1994-1996

1994 saw Hurran leave touring cars as he went to compete in the British Sports Car Championship. Over the winter he won the Super Saloon series in his Lycoia again, the only race he didn't win was when the steering wheel came off and refused to go back on. Round 1 at Oulton Park saw Ben open up a comfortable lead before transmission failure put them out, Round 2 at Knockhill saw the same. Round 3 at Spa finally came together as Ben won in drying conditions. Rounds 4 and 5 at Silverstone and Donington Park were also won by Hurran putting his title hopes back on track but at Round 6 at Snetterton saw a drive-shaft snap and end his title hopes, 3rd after a wheel worked loose in Round 7 at Croft and a win at Brands Hatch secured 2nd in the championship and 2nd at Round 8 at Thruxton after contact with a slower Juneau.

TM Master Cup

For the 2012 Round of Indianapolis Hurran and Abbey Engineering decided to field a very unusual looking Omecha with several new parts fitted, the plan was to use the modified Omecha as a base for the Huntley Turbine, but unfortunately the car was slower than anticipated and Hurran finished towards the back of the field and failed to prequalify. Dubbed the Omecha MA03-DP1, it was unfortunately off the pace and the team was forced to drastically change the Huntley in every way. Huntley decided to field their next attempt under their own name at the Round of Decatur. They pre qualified successfully and ended up 39th on the grid for the race, ahead of a Lycoia, Tutino and an Omecha proving that the car and driver were capable of being faster than at least some of the competition. After a decent start Hurran found himself sandwiched between Chuck Bloomers and Louis Kingston, Hurran and Kingston made contact taking them both hard into the wall, Hurran cartwheeled down the track ending Huntley's first start at an abrupt and disappointing end. Hurran climbed from his car shaken but luckily uninjured, and he intends to bring Huntley back for a potential assault on the Independents trophy if a spot is available.

Trivia

• Ben Hurran is one of the drivers in the original ASCS which consisted of 20-something cars. He was a regular winner at the Super-speedways due to the straight line speed of his car.