Cheetahs’ star Mitch McDiarmid seventh in SGP2 opener

17-YEAR-OLD Australian Mitch McDiarmid finished in a fine seventh place in the opening round of the SGP2 (World Under-21 Championship) in Malilla, Sweden last night (Friday).

McDiarmid, who joined the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies this season, was handed one of the three wildcard spots in the three-round series, after just missing out on an automatic place in his qualifying round in Debrecen, Hungary, where he was edged out in a three-man run-off.

His performance at Malilla showed he more than deserves his place in the series. He scored nine points in his five qualifying heats. When the heavens opened and flooded the Swedish track, he showed great skill to win Heat 17 in treacherous conditions, becoming one of only three race-winners from the outside gate all night.

After the qualifiers, McDiarmid was fifth, which placed him into one of the two Last Chance Qualifiers, where the winner progresses to the final. He had to settle for third in that race, but that secured seventh place on the night and 10 Grand Prix points. He went through his six outings without a single last place.

McDiarmid at 17 is three or four years younger than some of his competition in the SGP2 series. The winner of the round was defending champion Wiktor Przyjemski, a 20-year-old from Poland.

The remaining rounds of the SGP2 are at Riga, Lativa on August 1 and Vojens, Denmark on September 12.

PHOTO: Mitch McDiarmid ahead of Michael Palm Toft at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium (photo: Steve Edmunds)