Lotus Cup Uk Snetterton Race Report

Round 3 of the 2011 Lotus Cup UK held at Snetterton 300 circuit on the 26th June 2011.

Introduction

After a two-month break, the Lotus Cup UK Championship returns to the scene of the opening round at the Snetterton 300 circuit, as part of the annual Lotus Festival. Last time the series was there Simon Deacon and Pete Storey benefitted from a safety car period late into the pit window, to take first and second. However Mark Speller, the Exige of Jamie Stanley and Glenn Sherwood plus the Motorsport Elise of David and Rob Fenn were in contention for the win.

However round two was dominated by Mark Fullalove and he is entered for this race, along with the first Evora to enter the series. This car is piloted by Martin Donnelly, in his first works drive for Lotus since Formula 1 in 1990, who is partnering Lotus driving guru Gavan Kershaw. A further wildcard entry is provided by World Series by Renault driver Olly Webb.

Practice and Qualifying

Kershaw and Fullalove dominated practice until Webb jumped into Harvey's 340R. On his first lap he was second, on the next he was fastest!

However he could not replicate this pace later as a tense session where the Evora and Fullalove traded fastest times, Donnelly put the car on pole with seconds to go. Safety Cars intervened twice, giving many little chance to really get to grips with the circuit.

So, with Donnelly and Kershaw on pole, Fullalove second and Harvey/Webb third, Stanley and Sherwood lead the Exige class, making it four classes in the top four places. Next up was Pat McBennett, making a welcome return on the pace, then Steve Williams, Mark Gooday and Pete Storey in the 2-Elevens, with the Fenns and Marcus Jewell completing the top ten. Production was led by James Knight in fifteenth, with Steve Quick and Mike Vase close behind.

Race

Donnelly maintained the lead at the start, followed by Fullalove and a threatening Webb. Meanwhile Knight's tough season continued as a few of the production cars tangled at Hamilton corner, leaving him several seconds off the tail of the field. Bennett didn't even get to see the end of the pitlane, the car succumbing to a broken driveshaft.

Donnelly proceeded to pull out a sizeable gap to Fullalove, who was also putting space between himself and Webb in the early laps. Meanwhile McBennett was keeping the 340R's star driver honest, with Williams and Gooday in the hunt too. Sherwood was dropping back, however.

Knight was beginning his fightback in earnest, visibly pushing his Elise as aimed to emulate Jenson Button's famous Canadian GP comeback drive, but the rapidly approaching Donnelly showed the magnitude of his task, so far back was he.

With Donnelly and Fullalove off into the distance, Webb was holding off McBennett, with Williams chasing him down. Then there was a short gap to Gooday, Storey, Deacon, the Fenns and Chatterway. Jewell was suffering an issue with his car that kept him back and tried to pit for a cure.

Quick was leading Production at this point, from Plotnek and Savage but the latter passed both as the pit window opened. Williams was one of the first in, soon followed by Quick and Gooday, whilst Sherwood stopped at half distance, as did, significantly, the race leader.

The pitlane became a very busy place as drivers headed in, and there would be no late safety car this time. Webb, McBennett, Storey and Deacon were the top four but all headed into the lane as the window was soon to close. McBennett was in too late as there was no room in pit road for him and he had to queue up for his stop.

However as Kershaw and Fullalove resumed the lead, the latter and Harvey were given a 2 lap penalty for leaving the pits too quickly. Stanley's race was then over with a rear suspension failure. So Williams held second from Storey but Deacon and a delayed McBennett were keen to take the last podium position. Tussling around the track, Deacon slowed with problems. However he finished in fifth place, behind Donnelly and Kershaw's Evora, Williams and Storey's 2-Elevens and McBennett's Open class Elise.

The Fenns were sixth, from McNeily and Chong, Cassidy and Cherrington and Vitthal Chauhan's Open class cars. David Sear was the Exige winner in tenth, whilst Savage won production from Plotnek and Quick.

Overall 1. Donnelly/Kershaw 2. Steve Williams 3. Pete Storey 4. Pat McBennett 5. Simon Deacon 6. Fenn/Fenn Conclusion

No safety cars this time meant that whoever was quick on the circuit, provided they finished and followed pitstop procedure, would do well. The winner was in little doubt and both Donnelly and Kershaw showed their class, indeed this was a works effort that Lotus took great pride in, showing the calibre of this championship.

Fullalove and Harvey/Webb's pit issues were to Williams and Storey's benefit, the latter finding the 300 circuit a happy hunting ground. McBennett will be pleased with his performance, despite a delayed pitstop losing him a potential podium, however the class win will be fine consolation. Finally, Savage will be pleased to have picked up a class win, keeping his championship hopes on track.

The next round is in a months' time on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. Steve Williams has a fine record on this track, will he break his duck at this circuit? In the meantime, look out for TV coverage on Motors TV very soon.