Overdrive

Friday, 15 June 2012

CHOLMONDELEY BRACED FOR “BIGGEST AND BEST” PAGEANT OF POWER EVER

Much more to see and do – on land, on the water and in the air
New Supercar race category will herald battle for fastest-lap honours
Interactive activities for all ages boost the fun factor
Ace Cafe leads biggest-ever collection of motorcycles; fast laps performed by TT racer John McGuinness
German Sinsheim Museum sends amphibious vehicle to brave the famous British summer!
‘Cobras at the Castle’ will be largest gathering of AC Cobras in the UK
Red Arrows and Tri-Services Helicopter Agility competition lead airborne schedule

The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (15-17 June, www.cpop.co.uk), the UK’s biggest celebration of power and speed, is gearing up for its biggest and best event yet in 2012 – with more race cars and supercars, more motorcycles, more helicopters, more powerboats, and more interactive features for visitors to grapple with than ever before.

The on-track action will again be a centrepiece for the three-day event, with a packed schedule of timed sprints and parade runs taking place on the venue’s 1.2-mile circuit. The four-wheeled machinery will be an eclectic mix of classic and modern. The noisiest, if not quite the fastest, of the 100 or more vehicles taking to the challenging Pageant circuit will be the weird and wonderful collection of early 20^th-century cars powered by aeroplane engines, with monsters such as the 500bhp 47-litre ‘Brutus’ taking centre stage.

The team at the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany, which is home to Brutus, have been observing the recent spells of inclement weather sweeping the UK and are responding by sending to the Pageant another of their exhibits – the amphibious VW Type 166. Who says the Germans don’t have a sense of humour?!

Competition to set a new Cholmondeley circuit lap record will be intense this year, and the fastest time is expected to be set not by any of the legendary race and rally cars competing, but by one of the entrants in the new-for-this-year timed Supercar class. Entrants will include the brutally quick Lamborghini Aventador and new Porsche 911 Carrera S, and dedicated single-seat track weapons such as the British-built BAC Mono and Ariel Atom V8. Visitors can expect to witness some of the most exciting high-octane action ever to take place at the Pageant as a series of drivers make an assault on the 62.68-second lap record set by racer Nikki Faulkner in a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP570-4 in 2010.

The Pageant of Power will also give visitors the chance to see a large selection of modern and classic supercars during the many parade laps throughout the weekend, including the stunning Aston Martin One-77 – one of only five registered in the UK – and the beautiful race-inspired Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale.

To mark the 50^th anniversary of the iconic AC Cobra, the Pageant will host the largest gathering of the Anglo-American sports car in the UK this year, in a special display entitled ‘Cobras at the Castle’. The event is also introducing a special race category – the ‘AC Cobra 50^th Anniversary Class’ – that will see the most famous Cobras, including one of only three ‘Lightweight Cobras’ ever built, compete for top race honours.

Motorcycling will feature more prominently than before thanks to a new partnership with legendary petrolhead mecca, Ace Cafe London. There will be many more eye-catching hot rods and superbikes – classic and modern – on display, and the Ace Cafe will host a ‘Rockers Restaurant’, recreating the iconic rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere for which the venue in Stonebridge, North London is famed.

Taking to the track will be a host an exciting line-up of some of the most innovative and amazing motorcycles ever seen, including the famed 500cc Moto Guzzi V8 concept, which held the record for fastest Grand Prix motorcycle for 20 years, and which will be ridden throughout the weekend by Double European Trials Champion, Sammy Miller.

Fresh from the latest in a very long line of TT triumphs will be John McGuinness, who will take to the Cholmondeley sprint circuit on the latest incarnation of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. The 2012 model, raced by McGuinness for the Honda TT Legends team, celebrates 20 years as one of the world’s most iconic sports bikes.

James Bond fans are sure to be left shaken and stirred as Pageant organisers have partnered with the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, to display a thrilling line-up of genuine Bond cars. Cars on show will include the vanishing Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from ‘Die Another Day’, complete with its twin .50-calibre autocannons, rocket projectiles, dorsal target-seeking shotguns, and a passenger ejector seat. Also on show will be the Jaguar XKR and Ice Dragster driven by Bond-villains Zao and Gustav Graves in ‘Die Another Day’, and the beautiful BMW Z8 from ‘The World Is Not Enough’.

Taking to the skies will be the ever-popular Tri-Services Helicopter Agility competition, the only public demonstration of its type in the UK, together with an air-sea rescue display by RAF Valley. Bringing added thrills will be the famous Red Arrows, Breitling Wing Walkers, Abarth 300L stunt planes and the RedHawks Duo display team.

The Pageant isn’t just about spectating – this year’s event will be more interactive than ever. Passenger rides will be available throughout the three day event in helicopters, powerboats (taking to the venue’s lakes), hovercraft and even tanks. The event also features more in-field activities than ever before, with attractions ranging from a Top Gear Experience simulator and mini tank-driving arenas, to Segway hire, quad biking and assault courses. A crèche will also be available throughout the three-day event.

“There is simply no other event in the whole of the UK that is so packed with action – on land, on our lakes and in the skies above – and which has so much for visitors to experience first hand,” comments James Hall, Event Director at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. “This year’s Pageant will be the biggest and best ever, with even more for people to do and see. There will be continuous on-track action, water-based thrills and aerial displays, as well as over 40 different rides and activities for visitors to participate in for themselves. The Pageant has secured its place as Britain’s most thrilling and most interactive day out.”

In 2012, the Pageant of Power has teamed up with two charities – Remount, which helps Armed Forces re-adjust to civilian life, and the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. The Pageant has pledged support to both organisations, raising funds through visitor participation during the course of the Pageant.

Now in its fifth year, the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power will take place on the Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 June, with day passes for the event starting from just £26 for an adult and £5 for a child when ordered in advance. To buy tickets or find further information, visit www.cpop.co.uk.

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Busy June for Race2Recovery

This June will be a busy month for Race2Recovery, the team of predominantly injured and disabled service personnel raising money for charity by targeting a finish on the 2013 Dakar Rally. The team will be attending two of the season's highest profile events to raise awareness of the campaign and funds for the Race2Recovery Foundation charity, which in turn supports the Help for Heroes Tedworth House project.

This weekend, the team will be at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, held in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire. The event is in its fifth year and brings together some of the highest-octane action on land, water and in the air.

There is a huge array of action for any enthusiast and particularly relevant for the Race2Recovery team are two main areas: the Dakar Rally arena will allow the team to demonstrate its Qt Wildcats, which it will be using on next year's gruelling event in South America while the event's Military Combat Vehicles Area will have a familiar feel, as many of the Race2Recovery team members are serving military personnel.

However, the activity will begin even earlier than the official start of the Pageant, as the team has been invited to take part in a cavalcade from MediaCityUK in Salford to the venue on Thursday 14 June. This will see one of the Race2Recovery Qt Wildcats on display at Media City early on Thursday morning before forming part of the procession to the event, which will eventually mark the official opening of this year's Pageant.

Two weeks later, the team will again be out in force, this time at the world-famous Goodwood Festival of Speed. Here, it will be split across three distinct areas: several Qt Wildcats will be seen running through the Forest Rally Stage. The team will also have a presence in the main arena where visitors can find out more about the personalities of the team, a chance for fans to donate to the cause as well as purchase Race2Recovery merchandise.

However, by far the most interesting aspect for visitors will be the team's 'Dakar Experience' area set up close to the Formula One paddock. Here, they will build a section of sand dunes, similar to those they faced on the recent Tuareg Rally in Morocco and will face again on the Dakar next year.

But this will not be a static display; fans will have the opportunity to experience, first-hand, some of the pressure and demands that the most arduous motorsport adventure in the world places on team members. The Race2Recovery team will be running a Wheel Change competition, where members of the public can try their hand at changing one of the Silverline wheels and Cooper Tires that the team uses on its Wildcats.

Determination and teamwork, two of the key qualities personified by the team, will be crucial to success here and there will be daily prizes for the fastest time, as well as a unique, money-can't-buy prize donated by the motorsport community for the best time over the course of the three-day event.

Commenting, team driver and co-founder, Captain Tony Harris, said; "We are incredibly excited and honoured to have been invited to attend these two events. They are both very high profile and attract a huge attendance, so we are hopeful that not only will we be able to raise significant funds for the Race2Recovery Foundation and therefore, to directly support Help for Heroes and the Tedworth House project but also, raise awareness of the campaign even further than so far.

"The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power may be a relatively young event but it is one that is incredibly close to our hearts. The fact that it draws together action from land, sea and air makes it particularly relevant to us, as our team is made up of personnel from all three branches of the services. The combat power on display will also be very interesting to see, bringing our 'Day Jobs' into contact with the project we have chosen to demonstrate that our injuries, and wider disabilities, don't necessarily mean an end to your dreams.

"The Goodwood Festival of Speed is probably the best-known motoring event in the world and it is an honour to be invited to attend, and in so many ways. We are delighted that several Qt Wildcat owners are supporting us, as they did at RallyDay last year, by providing passenger rides on the rally stage with proceeds going directly to the Foundation.

"We will also have a big presence in the main arena, where we will be able to chat to people, explain what Race2Recovery is all about and raise more funds for the charity. But of course, it's the Dakar Experience that we are most excited about.

"We know from this year's Tuareg Rally just how demanding competing in the sand dunes can be - half of the eight-day event was run in the Sahara. So it will be really good to see how people react to changing a wheel and tyre on one of our Wildcats. We have had some amazing prizes donated by members of the motorsport community and will be giving these to the best time of the day, as well as the best overall time all weekend."

The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power takes place at the Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas in Cheshire on 15-17 June while the Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place at Goodwood House, Chichester, from 29 June - 1 July.

RENAULT RETURNS TO THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

After a short absence, Renault - one of the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s earliest supporters – will be returning to the world’s largest celebration of motor sport and car culture in three weeks time, as the 2012 Festival and Moving Motor Show (28 June - 1 July) get underway.

Renault has chosen the 2012 Festival of Speed to celebrate 110 years of its engine expertise, and to debut a number of interesting and important new models and concepts.

Renault will be displaying some of the French marque’s most iconic vehicles at Goodwood, including the Type K - fitted with Renault’s first 4 cylinder engine - which won the Paris to Vienna race in 1902, as well as the 1935 Viva Grand Sport, the legendary Alpine A110, plus the contemporary Megane Renaultsport and Clio Renaultsport. Renault’s all-electric ZOE will be making its British debut, and its new electric Twizy urban commuter will also get its UK public airing in the Goodwood Moving Motor Show.

Other exceptional Renaults are due to participate actively, driving up the 1.16-mile Festival hillclimb. These will include the British premier of the brand new Renault Alpine A110-50 concept, built to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the famous Alpine A110 Berlinette, along with the RS01 and RE40 Formula 1 cars, the rally-winning R5 Maxi Turbo, the Alpine A443, Megane Trophy, plus …a very big surprise! These vehicles will be driven by Carlos Tavares, Chief Operating Officer of Renault, as well as Alain Prost, Jean Ragnotti and other well-known Renault drivers.

Tickets and further information for the 2012 Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival can be found on the Goodwood website (www.goodwood.com/motor sport/), or via the Ticket Hotline as follows:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755055

On-line via the Ticket section of the website www.goodwood.com/motor sport/

For all Media enquiries, please contact Gary Axon or Janet Bradley at the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755109

Fax: +44 (0)1243 755115

E-mail: speed@goodwood.com or gary.axon@goodwood.com

Goodwood on Facebook:

Festival of Speed: http://www.facebook.com/festivalofspeed

Revival: http://www.facebook.com/goodwoodrevival

Goodwood on Twitter:

Festival of Speed: http://twitter.com/fosgoodwood

Revival: http://twitter.com/goodwoodrevival

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is proud to support the National Motorsport Week in the UK. For more information visit http://www.gomotorsport.net/

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

MORRIS LEADING THE WAY AS FR BARC HEADS TO ULTRA-FAST THRUXTON

Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship leader Seb Morris (Marford, Wrexham) will arrive at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire next Sunday, 17^th June, hoping to add to his tally of three race wins during rounds six and seven of the 2012 season.

Following on from a victorious double last time out at Rockingham, the Fortec Motorsports driver currently holds a 12 point advantage at the top of the standings after an excellent start to his first season in single-seater racing – one which has produced an unbroken run of five pole positions.

The annual visit to Thruxton will be the sole ‘one-day’ event of the Protyre Formula Renault BARC season with practice, qualifying and two races all packed in to a very busy schedule for the teams and drivers.

“It’s all going well for us so far”, commented the 16-year-old, “It was nice to come away from Rockingham with the two results we’d hoped for before the weekend so hopefully we can do the same again at Thruxton.

“It’s going to be a different race meeting this time, with everything packed into one day – qualifying and both races – it’ll be very busy. We’ve only got one short practice before qualifying as well so it’ll be vital to adapt as quickly as possible. I’m confident we can do well though, the team has given me a fantastic car all year and there’s no reason that should be any different at Thruxton.”

Morris’ closest challenger in the points is two time McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist Scott Malvern (Barkingside, Ilford) who has proven his class despite precious little time in the car. Only joining the series in the days leading up to the season-opener thanks to a late deal with Cliff Dempsey Racing, the 23-year-old overcame a series of issues at Snetterton to record his first win.

Three other podiums, two last month at Rockingham and a new lap record at the Northamptonshire track, show Malvern will be an increasingly potent force as the season progresses. Somewhat surprisingly though, next weekend’s race meeting will mark Malvern’s first ever visit to Thruxton.

“I think it's the only track in the UK I've never been to, I've driven past it a couple of times but that's it - it's all completely new territory for me”, said Malvern, “I've not actually sat in the car since Rockingham, we haven't tested at all but I know Cliff [Dempsey] and the team have been working hard to make improvements.

“In some ways I'm disappointed to be second in the championship. Looking at the situation we're in though, coming in literally days before the start of the season, having never driven a Renault in anger, with a team that's not been in Renault for about 10 years and with a car that hasn’t run for a couple of years, we’re not doing that bad!”

MGR Motorsport’s Josh Webster (Stowmarket, Suffolk) is the season’s other race winner and he actually held the lead of the championship after the opening three rounds of the campaign. Dreadful misfortune at Rockingham though, where he was caught-up in a qualifying accident which wrecked his entire weekend, dropped him to third in the standings.

Although 41 points adrift of Morris, the MSA Team UK driver certainly has the pace and pedigree to begin closing the gap during rounds six and seven and he’ll be more determined than ever to get back on the top step of the podium.

Scorpio Motorsport’s Macaulay Walsh (Northampton) leads the chase behind the top three and after such a tough weekend for Webster at Rockingham, the impressive teenager is just four points shy of the 2011 Vice-Champion. MGR team-mates David Wagner (Glasgow) and James Fletcher (Windlesham, Surrey), meanwhile, are tied for fifth in the standings.

Once again, a near-capacity entry is expected for the Thruxton event which will begin with a 15 minute practice session at 10.45 on Sunday, 17^th June. Qualifying for both races will follow at 12.20 with round six beginning at 14.45 and round seven at 17.25.

Along with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault BARC is additionally supported by Michelin, The Lubricant Consultancy, Petronas Syntium and NGK Spark Plugs.

Provisional 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship Driver Standings (after Rd5):

1^st Seb Morris, 140pts

2^nd Scott Malvern, 128pts

3^rd Josh Webster, 99pts;

4^th Macaulay Walsh 95pts

5^th David Wagner & James Fletcher, 86pts

Fast and Furious Honda Action at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Honda will be setting thrilling new challenges and encouraging visitors to get involved in some racing of their own at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Honda Racing-themed stand will be a buzz of excitement as visitors race ride-on lawn mowers and navigate a mini British Touring Car Civic around a scale version of the iconic Goodwood Hill Climb against the clock.

Honda’s Mini Goodwood Hill Climb
Honda, alongside Racing Bug Motorsport; manufacturers of the world's leading scale motor racing systems, will be creating an exciting new challenge for the Festival to give visitors the chance to take on the famous track for themselves. The new challenge will allow participants to navigate a remote controlled Civic on the Hill Climb by using real steering and pedal controls to pit their skills against Honda BTCC drivers Matt Neal and Gordon 'Flash' Shedden who will have set a time at the beginning of the weekend.

Precision timing will measure driver performance to within a hundredth of a second and prizes will be awarded to the fastest drivers to ascend the hill.
Honda Lawn Mower Action
Honda’s ride-on lawn mowers will be racing at a more leisurely pace on a 20 metre course as guests go head-to-head with friends and family to try and top the leader board and be named the ultimate Honda lawn mower racing champion at the end of the weekend.
Relax and soak up the atmosphere in the ‘Pit Stop’
The Honda stand will also feature a specially designed ‘Pit Stop’ chill out area where people are encouraged to stop by, pull up a deck chair, rest their feet and soak up the adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere.

All the activities on the Honda Racing stand are completely free of charge.
Civic MUGEN Concept Unveil
Goodwood Festival of Speed is also providing the ideal backdrop to unveil the new Civic MUGEN Concept. This Concept highlights the magic the MUGEN Euro team can weave and hints at what a production Civic MUGEN could look like. The concept will sit alongside Gordon Shedden’s BTCC racing Civic, the 2012 Samsung Honda Fireblade and James Toseland’s 2007 championship winning Ten Kate Honda Fireblade.
Full Size Goodwood Hill Climb
Fans of the full-sized Goodwood Hill Climb will see triple British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal take his BTCC new racing Civic up the track everyday. Meanwhile, two-wheel enthusiasts will see Michael Laverty and John Kirkham riding the 2012 Samsung Honda Fireblade, John McGuinness on the Honda TT Legends Fireblade and Jason O’Halloran riding the 2006 HM Plant Fireblade machine.

All riders and drivers will be regular visitors to the Honda stand throughout the weekend to take part in the activities and sign autographs.
Book your Tickets NOW
The Goodwood Festival of Speed runs between 28 June and 1 July and tickets can be booked in advance by visiting the website - www.goodwood.co.uk/festival-of-speed

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

UPS AND DOWNS AT OULTON PARK FOR MG KX MOMENTUM RACING

MG KX Momentum Racing secured two podium finishes at today’s three rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Oulton Park, after a somewhat bitter sweet day for the team.

Race One of the day showed how cruel Motorsport can be. After a brilliant Pole Position yesterday Jason Plato suffered a suspension issue on his way to the grid, robbing him of the chance to fight for victory. It was a double blow as it also meant Jason started Race Two from the back of the grid. The silver-lining was that Andy Neate produced his strongest performance of the season to-date, charging through from his 12th place on the grid to score solid points in 7th.

It was all change for Race Two as the bad luck switched to Andy’s side of the garage. After a promising start to the race, a technical failure unfortunately caused him to retire. The size of the task facing Jason Plato was enormous. However, unperturbed he set about battling past the cars in front of him one by one. Incredibly, with three laps to go he had caught Daniel Welch in third place and passed the Proton as they crossed the start/finish straight to secure his sixth podium of the season.

For Race Three the top nine cars on the grid were reversed, meaning Jason lined up on the grid in 7th. He made steady progress in what proved to be a stop/start race that was interrupted by two lengthy Safety Car periods, following on-track incidents. In the closing stages the front four including the two Honda’s, Onslow-Cole’s BMW and Jason’s MG6 battled closely for the lead, with Plato eventually finishing second to record a podium double for the day and secure the team’s seventh podium finish of the 2012 season.

Jason Plato (#99), BTCC Standings: 3rd – 161 points: “Being quickest all day yesterday and getting the pole, it was obviously disappointing to not even start Race One and it’s hurt our weekend. To start from the back of the grid in Race Two and get a podium and then a second in Race Three means we don’t need to be too disheartened. It’s a long year and we’ve scored some good points, onwards to Croft!”

Andy Neate (#49), BTCC Standings: 19th – 21 points: “We’ve had strong pace this weekend, which means the technical issues we’ve suffered are doubly frustrating. Having moved forwards in Race One to a solid seventh, I was confident we could continue that upward trend. Unfortunately the technical failures haven’t allowed us to do so, but that’s racing.”

Ian Harrison, Team Principal, BTCC Standings: Teams - 5th – 181 points, Manufacturers – 2nd - 284 points: “Another mixed day for MG KX Momentum Racing, where disappointingly we have failed to finish strongly with both our cars in each of the days three races here at Oulton Park. There was solid pace from both drivers throughout the weekend and some good results, but we want to start converting our potential into points finishes with both cars and we’ll be looking to do so from Croft onwards.”

UNRIVALLED MIX OF RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS AT 2012 PAGEANT OF POWER

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (15-17 June, www.cpop.co.uk) promises land, water and air passenger rides to complement high-octane on-track displays
More activities than ever for all ages, including Top Gear simulator, assault courses and mini tank arenas
Visitors can witness amazing aerobatic stunt displays and air-sea rescue demonstrations

Organisers of the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (15-17 June, www.cpop.co.uk) are promising that this year’s event will be the UK’s most interactive day out, with an unbeatable array of land-, water- and air-based passenger rides and attractions to accompany the non-stop car and motorcycle action on the venue’s racing circuit.

The 2012 Pageant will also see the return of the ever-popular Tri-Services Helicopter Agility competition, the only public demonstration of its type in the UK, together with an air-sea rescue display by RAF Valley. Also taking to the skies will be the famous Red Arrows, Breitling Wing Walkers, Abarth 300L stunt plane and the RedHawks Duo display team.

While over 100 classic and modern race cars, supercars and iconic motorbikes take to the track, visitors to the event can choose to view the action from an entirely new angle, as passenger rides will be available throughout the three day event in helicopters, powerboats (taking to the venue’s lakes), hovercraft and even tanks. Event organisers are keen for visitors of all ages to experience the Pageant’s many elements for themselves, making it a thrilling day out for families.

The 2012 Pageant of Power also features more in-field activities than ever before, with attractions ranging from a Top Gear Experience simulator and mini tank-driving arenas, to Segway hire, quad biking and assault courses. A crèche will also be available throughout the three-day event.

“We’ve aimed to make the Pageant as much fun to participate in as to spectate – whether visitors are there to see the vast collection of modern and classic race cars, ride in a tank or even take to the skies in a helicopter,” comments James Hall, Event Director at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. “We’ll have over 40 different rides and activities for visitors, so there will be something for everyone throughout the weekend. We’re confident that no other event in the UK offers this level of participation.”

Now in its fifth year, the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power will take place on the Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire from 15 to 17 June, with day passes for the event starting from just £26 for an adult and £5 for a child when ordered in advance. To buy tickets or find further information, visit www.cpop.co.uk.

Sam Tordoff scores first victory in Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Oulton Park

Leeds ace Tordoff drove faultlessly from pole to win round seven
Michael Meadows consolidated his Championship lead with victory in round eight
Victor Jimenez and Oly Mortimer take debut Pro-Am1 wins
Will Goff scores double triumph in Pro-Am2

In a day of action-packed racing in front of a capacity crowd, Sam Tordoff and Michael Meadows were the big winners in rounds seven and eight of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire on Sunday. The colourful grid of identical 450 hp flat-six Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars made an impressive sight under sunny skies after wet practice and qualifying sessions.

Round seven

Sam Tordoff was the star of the race in round seven of the Carrera Cup GB as the young Yorkshireman drove a faultless race under constant pressure to take his first win in the Championship. Tordoff (Leeds) won from pole while Meadows (Banbury) and Jonas Gelzinis (Lithuania) battled hard for second-place as they raced nose-to-tail around the picturesque parkland circuit. Victor Jimenez (Spain) raced to the head of Pro-Am1, while Will Goff (Dereham) took a commanding win in Pro-Am2.

Tordoff set the seal on his victory with a great start, but it was only in the final five laps that he could even start to relax as Meadows and Gelzinis were a constant threat. But Tordoff never put a wheel wrong and controlled the race superbly as Meadows had to balance attacking for the lead with defending against a persistent attack from Gelzinis.

“That was fantastic,” said Tordoff after a breakthrough victory. “I got a great start and Michael never really got close enough to mount a serious challenge. I had that bit of a cushion, but it was pressure all the way.”

In turn, Meadows had to contend with the challenge of Gelzinis and, in the closing stages, they were side-by-side several times as the Lithuanian driver attacked. Eventually, Meadows was able to secure second place, but Gelzinis was less than half a second behind at the flag.

“We were all quick in different places,” said Meadows. “Unless I got past Sam in the first two laps I was never going to overtake him. Off the racing line, the track was very dirty.”

Behind the leading trio, Porsche Carrera Cup Scholar Daniel Lloyd (Huddersfield) ran a close fourth initially, but dropped back a little and was being caught over the closing laps by Rory Butcher (Kirkcaldy) after Butcher charged ahead of Ben Barker (Cambridge).

Derek Pierce (West Kilbride) made the early running in Pro-Am1, but a sideways moment at the Island Hairpin dropped him behind Jimenez. “My own fault,” said Pierce. “I missed the blip on the down change into second and Victor was beside me.” Once through, Jimenez eased away as Pierce had to defend second place from Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman). With a storming opening salvo, Al Harthy got onto Pierce’s bumper, but that was how they stayed as Pierce never allowed his rival any opportunity.

In Pro-Am2, Tautvydas Barstys (Lithuania) led away from pole but an early spin at Cascades cost him time and put Goff clear at the head of the category. “Everything was fine,” said Goff. “But the gym programme starts on Monday,” he added with a smile after 18 tough laps of Oulton Park.

Round seven results:

Pro category: 1 Sam Tordoff; 2 Michael Meadows; 3 Jonas Gelzinis

Pro-Am1 category: 1 Victor Jimenez; 2 Derek Pierce; 3 Ahmad Al Harthy

Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff; 2 Tautvydas Barstys

Round eight

Meadows made it five wins from eight races when, in an incident-packed round eight, he fended off the challenge of Gelzinis as round seven winner Tordoff battled back to third place.

With two separate incidents of coolant being dropped on the track, the conditions were very challenging and fortunes changed lap by lap. In Pro-Am1, Oly Mortimer (Edinburgh) held off a big late attack from Al Harthy to win, while Goff completed a double Pro-Am2 victory as category rival Barstys slid off at Druids corner.

Meadows converted his pole position start into a first lap lead from Lloyd and Gelzinis, but Tordoff was squeezed wide on the exit of the first corner and dropped to fifth place behind Glynn Geddie (Aberdeen). However, part way round the opening lap, Michael Leonard (Dublin) damaged a front radiator and dropped coolant.

On the second lap, the leaders hit the coolant at Knickerbrook chicane and Lloyd had a big moment. Geddie suffered even more and bounced across the gravel, losing many places in the process. That drama allowed Meadows and Gelzinis to go clear at the front of the race, as Tordoff battled into third from the recovering Lloyd and Butcher.

Up front, Meadows controlled the race but more coolant was dropped six laps later when Geddie damaged a radiator. Meadows had a big moment across the grass at Knickerbrook as a result and a lap later Gelzinis did the same thing, so that the gap between them remained static. Steadily, Meadows then extended his lead from Gelzinis, while Tordoff closed the gap in third before Gelzinis responded to hold the place.

“That’s been a tough weekend,” said Meadows, who consequently extended his Championship lead to 34 points. “The coolant caused havoc, but it worked in my favour. On one lap I ended up bouncing across the grass, but luckily Jonas did the same thing.”

Tordoff, meanwhile, was named ‘Driver of the Weekend’ and reckoned the race had been tougher than the earlier encounter. “We were all driving on different lines to try and avoid the coolant,” he said. Butcher worked ahead of Lloyd to complete a strong weekend with fourth place.

Despite feeling decidedly unwell, Mortimer drove a superb race to win Pro-Am1 and fended off Pro racer Barker for many laps. Once Barker found a way ahead, Mortimer came under increasing pressure from Al Harthy, who had started at the back of the grid as a penalty for taking new tyres for the race. Al Harthy stormed up the order and closed in on Mortimer, before mounting a persistent attack over the closing stages.

“I got a clear track on the first lap,” said Mortimer after clinching his victory. “That’s the hardest race I’ve ever had.” Al Harthy, meanwhile, had raced from 17th to ninth in a race full of drama. “I had to push hard and I had to take the coolant as an advantage,” he said. “I’m really happy with that.” Pierce had been running with Al Harthy until losing ground on the coolant, but still took the final podium place in Pro-Am1.

In Pro-Am2, Goff raced home unopposed once Barstys slid into the tyre wall, but it was still a testing race. “It was very slippery,” said Goff. “It had just cleared and then more went down.”

Round eight results:

Pro category: 1 Michael Meadows; 2 Jonas Gelzinis; 3 Sam Tordoff

Pro-Am1 category: 1 Oly Mortimer; 2 Ahmad Al Harthy; 3 Derek Pierce

Pro-Am2 category: 1 Will Goff

The next rounds of the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship takes place at Croft, in North Yorkshire, on June 23/24.

Monday, 11 June 2012

HODGETTS ROUNDS OFF DREAM WEEKEND

Stefan Hodgetts won round eight of the AirAsia Renault UK Clio Cup at a mild and sunny Oulton Park yesterday, rounding off a perfect weekend for him and the Scuderia Vittoria team.

Having secured double pole position and Saturday’s round seven victory, Hodgetts held off an aggressive field to lead from lights to flag to take home a healthy collection of points. Backed by One Call Insurance and Scuderia Vittoria, the 29-year old was clearly over the moon with his return to the series.

‘It was another tough race. Whenever you have Paul or the Pyro guys behind you it’s going to be tough. To be honest the work was done yesterday having been very lucky in qualifying sticking it on the front made life a lot easier round here because it’s a very difficult track to overtake in the Clio’s.’

Hodgetts continues, ‘It’s been a fantastic weekend for the Scuderia Vittoria team. To come straight in and get those points has lifted their spirits and it’s mega. Hopefully we can keep going and keep plugging away to get the results.’

In usual Renault Clio Cup fashion, the safety car made a couple of appearances, the first being on the opening lap for a beached Nic Hamilton down at Cascades, who ran wide whilst battling with Finesse Motorsport Ltd’s Jake Giddings. Having been rescued by the stewards, Hamilton was able to briefly continue, before retiring two laps later.

After two laps behind the safety car, the race was again given the green flag. Paul Rivett pounced straight onto the back of Team Pyro’s Josh Files in a bid to take the second spot on the podium, but before he could threaten for position, the safety car made its second appearance, this time for a retired William Davison.

After several laps under safety car conditions, the race got underway again and this time it was who Files pounced onto the back of leader Hodgetts into turn one but was unable to find a way past. Files continued the pressure throughout the race pushing Hodgetts hard whilst defending a threatening Rivett, eventually having to settle for second place.

‘It was good,’ said Files. ‘I got an all right start, not the best in the world but never the less good enough. I took a few posts out on the first corner taking off my wing mirror. Paul [Rivett] chased me down hard, it was quite tough. Stefan [Hodgetts] and Paul were as fast as me but we always had that gap between us so nothing ever really happened. I managed to reel Stefan in a few times and give him a few taps here and there to remind him that I was still there.’

Having clipped the barrier and forcing him into retirement yesterday, Rivett looked to make up for lost ground and went out today with only one thing on his mind, a step on the podium. He got the jump on championship leader Jack Goff off the line into turn one where he would then hold off the 21-year old to finish in a strong third place.

‘We started in the order we finished at the end of the day,’ said Rivett. ‘It’s a tough circuit to overtake, especially in the Clio’s but it’s a great circuit to drive. The PER HIRE Stancombe Vehicle Engineering car has been great all weekend as per usual, apart from my mistake yesterday. It would have been nice to put the new paint colours on our car on the top step of the podium, but it wasn’t to be this weekend. Stefan has driven a couple of great races and has done really, really well.

‘I was hoping for fastest lap in that one, ‘continued Rivett. ‘I knew I wasn’t going to get past [Files] in a hurry so I held back a little bit to see if I could fastest lap and I think I had it, but Adam Bonham took it on the last lap. It’s a shame we didn’t get those last two points.’

As for the Rookie Trophy, it looked set to be MBR’s Mike Bushell who would take to the podium, but a mistake on lap twelve saw him surrender his Rookie lead to yesterday’s third placed man, Josh Cook (Bath). Having won yesterday’s Rookie Trophy, Cook battled hard with Total Control Racing’s new driver James Dixon to hold on to fifth place in a heated race between the two that lasted the whole of the 15 lap race.

‘It was quite a difficult race,’ said an exhausted Cook. ‘It was hard to get a nice rhythm with the two safety cars, but it was the same for everybody. Mike Bushell locked up going into the hairpin. It was an okay race and it was really difficult holding off Dixon. On the last lap I made one little mistake locking a wheel which made me run a little deep so he closed on the back of me, but overall it was a good race.’

Elsewhere, lap ten saw three retirements. Contact between Ignas Gelzinis and rounds five and six winner James Colburn ended both their hopes of finishing the race. Scotsman Finlay Crocker, who started the race from the pits, ran wide at Island Bend forcing him into a second retirement of the weekend.

As for the ELF Masters Trophy, it was the KÄRCHER sponsored driver Simon Belcher who took home the honours for a fourth time this season having finished in eighth place. He battled with Scuderia Vittoria’s Vic Covey for position with just 0.129seconds separating the two at the chequered flag.

‘It was fantastic,’ exclaimed Belcher. ‘It was my best qualifying of the season with the tenth place; I was really chuffed with that. I was disappointed yesterday having been taken out on the first corner so I really wanted to make today pay and to come away with eighth place was absolutely fantastic. Another Masters win and more importantly I’m here to progress up the grid so to have a best qualifying and race finish is brilliant. I love Oulton Park, it’s a great track, I can’t wait to come back here again next year.’

The championship now takes another break, resuming at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit on August 11-12, where the tight title battle is set to continue.

Round 8 Classification

HODGETTS Scuderia Vittoria Laps 15 25:32.018
Josh FILES Team Pyro +0.479
Paul RIVETT PER HIRE/SVE +1.085
Jack GOFF Team Pyro +1.683
Josh COOK 20Ten Racing +4.984
James DIXON Total Control Racing +5.335
Ant WHORTON-EALES Westbourne Motorsport +10.217
Simon BELCHER Handy Motorsport with Pyro +11.111
Vic COVEY Scuderia Vittoria +11.240
Aaron WILLIAMSON Finesse Motorsport Ltd +12.088

Drivers’ Championship after Round 8:

Driver	Points
Jack Goff	211
Paul Rivett	162
Adam Bonham	158
James Dixon	150
Josh Files	148
Ant Whorton-Eales	128
Josh Cook	114
James Colburn	102
Kim Andersson	82
Vic Covey	80
Aaron Williamson	74
Stefan Hodgetts	64
Ignas Gelzinis	62
Luke Wright	60
Simon Belcher	55
Mike Bushell	48
William Davison	47
Rob Smith	47
Jake Giddings	40
Adam Gould	39
Finlay Crocker	31
Darren Wilson	30
Nic Hamilton	28
Tautvydas Barstys	23
Ronnie Klos	21
Mark Tilbury	14

Entrants’ Trophy after Round 8:

Team Pyro	419
Scuderia Vittoria	293
Westbourne Motorsport	262
Stancombe Vehicle Engineering	201
20Ten Racing	144
Finesse Motorsport Ltd	114
Total Control Racing	109
Juta Racing	88
MBR	50
Silver Fox Racing	14

Honda Stars Neal and Shedden Win All Three Races at Oulton

The Honda Yuasa Racing Team had its best Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship event of 2012 so far at Oulton Park last weekend, taking a clean sweep of all three races.

Not only did reigning champion Matt Neal and team-mate Gordon Shedden prove unbeatable in their NGTC Honda Civics across the three action-packed encounters, they also moved into first and second in the drivers’ table. Shedden now leads Neal by five points, and the squad continues to head the teams’ and manufacturers’ championships.

After Shedden’s dominant performance last time out at Thruxton, it was Neal’s turn to star at Oulton. He narrowly missed out on pole, but took the lead of race one early on and never looked back. Only the independent Honda Civic of Andrew Jordan was able to stay close to the triple champion.

Shedden found the set-up not to his liking, but still battled to a fine fourth before changing his Civic for the second race. When Neal was struck with a turbo problem in the early laps and delayed Jordan, the championship leader was able to move from fifth to third.

The Honda then closed on the squabbling Rob Collard and Mat Jackson at the front, and jumped past both when the two clashed exiting Island hairpin. Shedden then led Jordan home to take his fifth victory of the season.

Despite his turbo issue, Neal managed to salvage fifth, which handed him a row-three start for the reversed-grid finale. He quickly charged to the front, then defeated arch-rival Jason Plato to score his third win of 2012, while Shedden was only 1.1 seconds behind the victor, in fourth!

Neal believes the results demonstrate how good the Civic is, despite the fact that it has to run the lowest amount of turbo boost in the series due to the regulations. “We still don’t agree with the rules, but we’ve won eight out of 12 races, which is monumental,” he said.

“The car’s good and we’ve continued to improve it. We had a great test at Pembrey [before Oulton], but we’re going to keep pushing.”

He also enjoyed defeating Plato. “I was trying to get a car between me and Jason, but every time I made a hole he followed!” added Neal. “I had a moment on oil at Lodge, and you only have to give Jason a sniff.

“To have such a strong weekend in the manufacturers’ and teams’ points is very important to us.”

Shedden admitted he was surprised that the weekend went so well, particularly after the Honda Yuasa Racing Team had to change his fuel system before the event due to problems during the Pembrey test.

“This was totally unexpected, what with the way the boost levels are,” said Shedden. “It shows you just how we’ve worked to improve the chassis. We’re still able to get it on the podium.”

Despite the success, Shedden knows that, with 18 races still to go, the championship is far from won: “We’ve got to keep racking up points so it’s good to score some here and keep it going.”

Fans can follow the Honda Yuasa Racing Team’s exploits on Facebook and Twitter for news and race results as the action happens - www.facebook.com/HondaRacingBTCC and http://www.twitter.com/hondaracingbtcc

GOODWOOD TO REACH NEW PEAKS AT THE 2012 FESTIVAL OF SPEED

In just three weeks time the peace and tranquility of Goodwood Park will be shattered by a gaggle of American racers and Pikes Peak specials as the 2012 Festival of Speed (28 June - 1 July) gets underway.

A class of class acts from the famous Pikes Peak hillclimb - based in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado - will descend on Goodwood. These will include previous Festival hillclimb fastest man Rod Millen in his savage 900 bhp Toyota Tacoma Pikes Peak special, as well as the fearsome Peugeot 405 T16 GR which trounced the American hillclimb in 1988. A 1979 AMC Spirit Pikes Peak racer will be a rare sight in the UK, as will the Donner-Chevrolet DD3.

The undoubted star of the Pikes Peak class, though, is set to be the multiple record-holding Kenworth T2000 truck, making its Festival of Speed debut, and being driven by truck-racing legend Bruce Canepa. He will be driving this thundering 5.2 Tonne, 16-litre, 1,500 bhp monster hard as it unleashes its 4000ft/lbs torque; so Goodwood spectators can expect plenty of smoke-belching madness and monstrous burnouts!

Other forms of American motor sport will also be represented at the Festival, with a diverse range of competition machinery due to tackle the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb. These fearsome vehicles will include the 1962 Thompson-Buick Special and 1969 Eagle-Offenhauser representing the Indy 500, plus the raucous McLaren-Chevrolet M6B ‘McLeagle’, Ty Dillon’s 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, and wild man Jesse James doing demented things in his latest Trophy Truck.

One of the most unusual American cars to ever run at the Le Mans 24 hours will also thunder up the Hill at this year’s Festival of Speed. The 1000 bhp, ‘Spirit of Le Mans ‘76 Greenwood Corvette will be making its return to European shores for the first time since it contested the classic 24hr race in the summer of 1976. Expect its fuel-injected big-block V8 to literally make Goodwood shake!