Matthew Ryder completed a dramatic hat-trick of 2026 Motorsport UK Nova Motorsport British Hillclimb Championship titles after surviving a thrilling winner-takes-all finale at Prescott on Sunday.
The defending champion arrived at the famous Cotswolds venue with a slender two-point advantage over his two title challengers, William Hall and Wallace Menzies, knowing that whoever prevailed in the final two Run Offs would be crowned champion.
And so it proved, as the championship swung one way and then the other in an extraordinary climax to a fiercely contested season.
Menzies struck the first blow by winning the opening Run Off and, for good measure, collecting an extra championship point by setting a new hill record on the challenging 1,127-yard course.
With Ryder finishing second, the pair were now tied at the top of the championship standings, setting up a genuine winner-takes-all showdown in the final Run Off of the 24-round season.
Hunting a fifth British championship title, Menzies was first to the line. But the flying Scot’s challenge came unstuck almost immediately at the left-hand Orchard Corner.
In cooler late-afternoon conditions, the rear of his Gould stepped out spinning hard-charging Wallace into the barrier, dramatically ending his hopes of taking the title on merit.
Yet the championship was still not settled. With dropped scores coming into play, Ryder knew he still needed to finish in the top two to retain his crown.
Hall, whose own title hopes had evaporated after finishing third in the opening Run Off, responded in style to win the season finale. But Ryder held his nerve under immense pressure, coming home second to retain the British title by just a single point.
“What an incredible year of competition,” admitted a buzzing Ryder. “It’s been a testament to such a great paddock for the sport of hillclimbing. There’s been such great camaraderie and spirit throughout the year. Thanks to Wallace and Will for such amazing racing. I’m just chuffed to be first.
“It’s been a real journey throughout the season. There have been some great weekends and some disappointing ones when you put everything in and end up two hundredths off the pace and down in third place! I know that’s been the same for Will and Wallace, too.”
While understandably disappointed not to have lifted a fifth title, Menzies was upbeat about his season-long campaign and took considerable satisfaction from knowing he had left nothing on the table.
“Two years ago we didn’t win a round, this year we’ve won ten or 11 – so overall I’m delighted, which might sound a little silly looking at the final result,” he grinned. “We gave it a really good go and I’m not going home wondering what if. I put it on the line and it just didn’t work out.”
Ryder will now join recently crowned Woodford Trailers British Sprint Champion, Ethan Faulkner, at Motorsport UK’s illustrious Night of Champions to collect his trophy. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland sealed his title at Knockhill with four rounds remaining.