Harewood was the venue for the 12th round of the 2003 FHCC Championship. The Yorkshire hill, a favourite of the Ferrari drivers, was the scene for a tense Championship showdown between season-long rivals Nick Frost ( right) and Richard Prior, both in 348s.

Nick Frost won and, in doing so, clinched the title, as Prior cannot catch him in the two rounds remaining. Frost was quickest outright but after the first run he was 0.03 secs behind Prior on PEPs, but with a fine second run he found half a second to put the issue beyond doubt, leaving him a well-deserving and popular Champion and Prior a disappointed but gracious runner-up. Championships are only as good as your rivals so for Frost this is a good Championship indeed.

There was a plentiful entry of 14 cars, set to enjoy the hill in the best conditions - it was positively tropical for Yorkshire! As usual, 308s and 328s were the most numerous tipos. Len Watson had entered his F40 but had been overruled by his team manager who decided that his 328 was far more suitable - wise lady. Jolyon Harrison and Andy Grier, both in 328GTSs were welcome returnees, as was Mike Haigh (ex-PMFC "O" class 328). The Hitchmans and Peter Rogerson swelled the ranks of 355s, joining Chris Butler. Jeremy Stubbs and Nick Taylor were in Mondials and Tony Willis turned up in a blue 246 Dino, about which the phrase "pretty, little" might have been coined. BARC Yorkshire Chairman and one-time FHCC contender Simon Clark was seen arriving in a Porkie, sad to see one of our lot gone to the bad.

Richard Prior's 348 was without fourth gear after a marathon stint at the Club's Silverstone track day. Damax stripped the gearbox, finding teeth and other debris but all the gears intact! The explanation was that it must have been left from a previous failure which, with the gear oil getting hot and thin, had floated round the 'box and tweaked the selectors. Prior also came up with a novel addition to "The Book of Excuses" by claiming he was tired after being kept awake by owls hooting.

Ali Butler too was awakened early but her anticipation was soon dashed. Chris was only excited about going to Harewood.

Nick Frost was miles quickest in practice with a 67.81. Mike Haigh was a surprised second on 69.15, which he attributed to breakfasting on banana and museli. Prior and Butler followed closely on 69.27 and 69.51 respectively. Nick Taylor was fifth with his first run time of 70.54. Hillclimbers always run as little fuel as possible to save weight but he cut it too fine, running out on his second run.

There was a distinct "end of term" feeling during the interval before the competition runs and much discussion about next season. Nick Taylor is considering a 348 for a crack at the FHCC title and Richard Prior a Mondial for the Club's Classic Series. There must be a deal there somewhere? Many of the hillclimbers are keen on having a go in this Series. Mike Spicer and Richard Allen were already at Castle Combe and Taylor was heading there the next day. All expressed the hope that it would remain restricted to standard cars and wouldn't become too serious.

There was also much discussion about how hillclimb Ferraris could be tweaked without being penalised on PEPs. A racing seat and proper belts were favourites.

So, on to the serious stuff, the first runs. Nick Taylor was trying hard and went off at Quarry. This resulted in the inevitable outbreak of "Mansell Speak", when he claimed, "It would have been the record, for sure". Jolyon Harrison was leaning on it and Andy Grier was fast on the Farmhouse straight, recording 74mph, which he modestly attributed to turbo charging but which was actually the result of getting the throttle open early in the preceding corner. Mike Haigh did the same on his way to 69.14 which proved to be his best time of the day. Unlike some older cars, his car ran flat and level and rode the kerbs well, which he said was just down to good maintenance. Chris Butler was very smooth.

Richard Prior put in a good run to record 68.73, but Nick Frost went into the tight Orchard corner too fast, got it sideways and lost time.

Sally Maynard-Smith was back in charge of the results board and with her customary efficiency; speeds and times were soon posted. This revealed that Frost was quickest with 67.76 but that left him 0.03 secs behind Prior after PEPs had been applied. Chris Butler was third on 68.84 and Mike Haigh fourth, although he could not score points by not having registered for the Championship. Chris Hitchman put in a 69.68, which made his handicap of 72.50 look a bit sick and Peter H. a 70.81. John Dobson (308GT4), Jolyon Harrison and Len Watson were all in the 72s. Tony Willis recorded a highly respectable 76.82 with his Dino which after PEPs put him in touch with the action.

The tension was palpable as the second runs approached. Peter Hitchman was first away in the shared 355 and recorded a 69.09, Nick Taylor a 69.12, clipping the grass on the apex of the first corner. Chris Hitchman improved to 69.30 and John Dobson recorded a 72.13, the same as his first run. Len Watson knocked 1.39 secs off, which he put down to "not changing gear as much". Chris Butler did a storming 68.40 on only his second visit to the hill. Prior could not match this, his 68.75 being 0.02 secs slower than his first run. Nick Frost was last to run and had it all to do and, despite his self-confessed nervousness, kept it all together to record 67.30. Fastest outright by 1.1 secs from Butler and four tenths ahead of Prior's first run time after PEPs.

The BARC Yorkshire Centre organisers were on the ball as always and this allowed a third run, normally welcome but this time only prolonging Frost's agony. Also, as often happens with third runs, testosterone overflowed, drivers tried too hard and were mostly slower or went off. This happened to Nick Taylor, who went sideways in Orchard, tried to grab 2nd gear and got reverse instead. His second run time left him fifth overall. The only drivers to improve were Jeremy Stubbs (Mondial) who recorded a fine 75.90, 4.29 secs quicker than his first practice run and Andy Grier, who admitted to being "race rusty".

Mike Haigh spun in Chippy's, but kept it on the black stuff, Chris Butler was also on a mission and went off in Quarry corner. This left him with an excellent second place outright in his first season of hillclimbing, but as he remarked ruefully afterwards, "the honeymoon is now over".

Prior tried everything on this last run but recorded a 68.80, not matching his best time of 68.73 and not quick enough to beat Frost. Frost didn't know this, having blasted off the start line before Prior finished. He then outbraked himself into the notoriously difficult Esses, went onto the grass and quietly cruised up for the rest of the run. At the top he then learned that he was 2003 Ferrari Hill Climb Champion and gratefully accepted the congratulations of his wife, family, fellow competitors and friends.

Afterwards he stood everyone a drink, where SMS told Lesley Frost that the Champion gets a free room upgrade at the annual awards dinner, a prospect she viewed with much pleasure. She also felt a new frock coming on, so Nick has yet to fully appreciate the true costs of victory.

Finally, as the new Champion celebrated, a young man who earlier in the day had introduced himself as a QV owner and Club member and been given sound advice on how to start hillclimbing, was perhaps driving home and dreaming that one day it might be him.

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A nice entry appeared at Harewood, as always

For Yorkshire it was positively tropical

Two old smoothies together

Nick Taylor fell off once and ran out of gas but still finished 5th

The Hitchmans both annihilated their Handicaps

This is what they call understeer

Jeremy Stubbs improved his times greatly during the day

Dobbo's first two run times were identical

Jolyon Harrison leaning on it

Peter Rogerson enjoying the sunshine in the GTS

Andy Grier was one of only two to improve on the last run

Len Watson's team manager wisely vetoed the F40

Mike Haigh brought out his ex-PMFC "O" Class racer

A fine second place for Chris Butler

Richard Prior tried hard but couldn't quite catch Frost

Frost became 2003 Champion after a season long struggle with Prior

My Dad's better than Schuey!

Respec! The top three at Harewood

Pics by Alan Jackson and Graham Easter