Hildenborough's Gigglepin Racing Chase Ultra4 Glory in Portugal After Fourth King of Britain Title

A Hildenborough-based off-road racing team is in Portugal this week for one of the toughest events on the European motorsport calendar, a few months after claiming its fourth British title.

Gigglepin Racing is run by Jim Marsden out of Gigglepin 4x4, the Land Rover and winch specialists based on the Gaza Trading Estate in Hildenborough, on the edge of Tonbridge. The team competes in Ultra4 Europe, a championship that pits modified 4x4 buggies against rock sections, river crossings and woodland trails over multi-day events.

In August, Marsden and co-driver James Ayre won the King of Britain round at Parkwood Off-Road Centre in West Yorkshire - the event's first running in five years - securing the fastest prologue time, building a lead of several laps over the field, and fighting off a late front driveshaft failure to take the overall win. It was the team's fourth King of Britain title. "It was an epic three days of racing as Ultra4 Europe saw the return of King of Britain after a four-year break," Marsden said afterwards. "I was lucky enough to head up a superb team and head to the North of England to see if we could claim a fourth King of Britain title."

This week the team is competing in the King of Portugal round of the Ultra4 Europe Championship, running from 7 to 10 October near Vimioso. Entry lists for the event's opening prologue stage confirm car 69, Gigglepin Racing, driven by Jim Marsden and Helder Rocha, among the field. Sources: Gigglepin Racing, Bickers Powersports, Cronobandeira live timing