The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998
|
The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
|
| Home |
 Features |
Calendar |
News
Archive |
11/56 MotorSport | |
|
Reports |
Gallery |
Links |
Classified |
|
SEAT Cupra Championship (provisional points after Round 20) New Leon Cupra Class 1. Jonathan Adam…309pts 2. Fulvio Mussi…204.5pts 3. Carl Breeze…204pts 4. Neil Waterworth…177.5pts 5. Daniel Welch…152.5pts 6. Gareth Nixon…148pts Leon Cupra R Class 1. Harry Vaulkhard…267pts 2. Ian Churchill…263pts 3. Adrian Churchill…248.5pts 4. Freddy Nordstom…222pts 5. Mike Doble…175.5pts 6. Kristian Wai
|
mail your links to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk
SEAT Cupra Cup Adam and Vaulkhard crowned champions at Thruxton
In the final meeting of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship, Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) finally made his New Leon Cupra class title official, while Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) secured the Leon Cupra R class crown with a 3rd place finish in Round 19. Both drivers will now receive a test in a SEAT BTCC test along with Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) and Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) who finished their close battle in 2nd and 3rd places respectively in the New Leon Cupra class with just half a point separating them. However, at Thruxton, they weren’t the only drivers smiling as both Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) and Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) drove out of their skins to both secure terrific double wins and maximum points for the weekend. ROUND 19 Lining up for the penultimate race of the season there was still plenty to play for in both classes. As the lights went out, pole position holder Breeze didn’t get as good a start as Welch who stormed into the lead and started stretching his advantage straight away. Breeze was left fending off Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning) to keep hold of 2nd place, heading into Campbell with Boardman side by side but managing to exit Seagrave ahead. Breeze’s rival for 2nd place in the championship, Mussi had made up one place from the start and was sitting in 5th spot, but Breeze being ahead in the race meant it was looking good for the Kings Lynn racer. All he had to do was keep that gap from Mussi, and stretch a lead in the championship. Disaster struck for Breeze on lap 2 though, the electrical problems that have plagued his season, returning and sending him into the pits. Mussi, by default moved into 4th spot and the tables were turned. Now Mussi just needed to keep his position to put him ahead in the championship and give him the advantage in the final race. In the Leon Cupra R class, Ian Churchill had the sort of start he’s been famous for this season, coming from 7th in the class on the grid to be at the front of the pack by the end of lap 1. With Vaulkhard ahead in the championship, Ian Churchill needed not only to win the race, but also grab the extra points for most places gained and for the quickest lap time to have any chance of pinching the crown. And it looked like he was doing everything he could to make sure that happened, keeping Vaulkhard at bay in the process. With the blue and yellow car of Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) screaming up behind the pair though, Vaulkhard clearly started boxing clever, opting to slip back into 3rd and have Nordstrom and Ian Churchill battle it out at the front, while he stayed out of danger. It was a move that paid off, Nordstrom putting Ian Churchill under pressure heading into Club on every lap towards the end, almost neck and neck with the leader each time. Vaulkhard stayed in touch with the leaders, but was in no danger of anything other that driver error or mechanical problems stopping him from scoring the valuable 13 points that would clinch him the title. Despite Ian Churchill’s heroic efforts to win the race and gain an extra point for most places gained, it wasn’t enough to mean anything else than the final race being just a formality for Vaulkhard to complete in order to ensure the title. Ian Churchill admitted afterwards that he made a mistake, “I shouldn’t have got ahead so early. If I’d stayed behind Freddy I could have used him as a tow to get the point for quickest lap too.” Meanwhile, Vaulkard was already celebrating. “I’m over the moon,” stated the surfing fan afterwards, who was also celebrating his 22nd birthday, “I waved the other two through as there was no point getting in a scrap. The job’s a good ‘un,” added the Newcastle Upon Tyne driver and soon-to- be-crowned Leon Cupra R class champion.
Welch(pictured leading) in the New Leon Cupra Breeze has qualified ahead of Mussi for Round 20 though, and Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing) and Boardman may both put the pressure on Mussi from behind, so it’s going to be tight as the drivers look to scoop the £40,000 prize and test in a SEAT BTCC car for 2nd place. ROUND 19 RESULTS 1. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)… 16:11.739 2. Tom Boardman (Triple R)… 16:15.206 3. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 16:15.887 4. Fulvo Mussi (Total Control Racing)… 16:20.612 5. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)… 16:20.819 6. Ray MacDowall (Total Control Racing)… 16:29.227 Leon Cupra R class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)… 17:04.993
ROUND 20 Another fantastic start from Welch saw him again lead from Breeze as the cars left the start line for the last time this year. Mussi also started well, squeezing into 3rd spot in the early stages ahead of Adam being pushed back into 4th by the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra champion. Mussi needed to score well to keep Breeze from taking his 2nd place in the championship but wasn’t going to get an easy ride as Boardman latched onto his rear bumper signalling his intent. In the Leon Cupra R class, Vaulkhard who, barring any incidents, had enough points from his finish in R19 to make the title his, looked more intent on finishing the race in tact. It wasn’t the case for Ian Churchill though, the consistently quick driver looking to prove a point with another double victory. Having already won both races in a weekend twice already this season, a victory in R20 would give him a third and take his tally of individual wins to ten for the season. But it was Nordstrom who looked to be the thorn in his side as the young driver pushed him at every turn. Just like in the first race of the day, Nordstrom was entering the Club chicane virtually neck and neck with Ian Churchill, asking questions of Ian Churchill’s defensive abilities on every lap. “The only chance to overtake was there,” said Nordstrom, “but if the driver ahead of you knows what they’re doing then you just can’t. I couldn’t leave my braking any later!” Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) was also having a tough time, entertaining the crowds with some two wheel action through the Club chicane and battling his way up the field to finish the race in 4th place behind Mike Doble (Doble Motorsports) who’d kept hold of the position he’d qualified in. Nordstrom couldn’t find a way past Ian Churchill in the end despite setting a quickest lap time in the class, both drivers finishing in the same 1st and 2nd positions as in the previous race. “I did all I could,” claimed Ian Churchill, “it was good fun. I’d race Freddy any time, he’s a really good driver.” With Eric Bailey (ABRA/Startline Services) and James Morgan (CMS Motorsport) both retiring from the race, it left Vaulkhard bringing up the rear. But the Newcastle Upon Tyne driver wasn’t complaining as crossing the line in 7th spot still ensured the title, a New Leon Cupra FR road car and a test in a SEAT BTCC car. Back in the new cars, Welch continued to burn round the circuit with supreme aggression, setting a quickest lap time in the process, as he had also done in Round 19. The two extra points for quickest lap times during each separate race, added to the maximum points for the double victory he went on to secure, snuck Welch into 5th spot in the championship ahead of Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport), who had been unable to attend the final race meeting. But it was the battle for 2nd spot in the championship that ended up proving the closest. Despite Breeze setting a good pace and finishing Round 20 in 2nd spot and Mussi having to keep Boardman and Stewart Whyte (SWR) at bay, Mussi’s 4th place finish won him the hard fought battle for 2nd place in the championship by just half a point. It doesn’t get much closer than that. “That was tough,” admitted Mussi afterwards, “how to deal with that kind of pressure is one thing I’ve really learnt this season. But the result means that we just about break even for the season which is a massive achievement.” Adam managed another podium finish, his 17th of the season, proving just why he is a worthy champion for 2007. “The car was getting better all weekend but not quite enough to get a last win,” explained the champion, “but it’s been a cracking season, and I’ll never forget that first win at Knockhill!” And it will be Adam, Mussi, Breeze and Vaulkhard who will now be given the chance to test a SEAT BTCC car, Waterworth just missing out but taking home a £10,000 cheque and Welch likewise now £5,000 better off. Congratulations to those drivers and to all the competitors in the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship who have once again provided some spectacular racing for the crowds this year. ROUND 20 RESULTS 1. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)… 16:08.458 2. Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport)… 16:11.800 3. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 16:14.576 4. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing)… 16:18.075 5. Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning)… 16:20.137 6. Stewart Whyte (SWR)… 16:20.509 Leon Cupra R class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)… 17:03.329 2007 Blaupunkt
Hot Scot Adam clinches title at local circuit Knockhill
It was set up to be the perfect moment for Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) to provisionally clinch the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship title. Having failed to score the necessary points at Brands Hatch, Adam went to Knockhill knowing that a win would make his lead in the Championship unbeatable. And what better place to get that victory than the circuit you work at and in front of your home crowd? Despite failing to make it a double victory thanks to Carl Breeze’s (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) pursuit of 2nd spot in the standings driving him to win Round 18, Adam’s victory in the first race was enough to ensure he was not only King of Knockhill but also provisionally crowned 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Champion. ROUND 17 Adam made the perfect start from pole position at his home circuit of Knockhill in Round 17. The 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship leader entered the SEAT Curves still in 1st position and continued to pull away. With a substantial lead the Scottish driver never looked in any danger of throwing away his ninth win of the season and with it the 17 points that would clinch him the title. As he entered the Real Radio Hairpin on the last lap a banner in the crowd was unfurled reading ‘Jonathan Adam, 2007 SEAT Cupra Champion’ and within a few hundred metres the chequered flag confirmed what his home crowd already believed. Greeted by hordes of photographers and a huge number of local supporters, Adam made a beeline for his parents, finally able to celebrate the title that has been within his grasp since Brands Hatch. “That meant a lot to my dad, my mum and myself,” said Adam, proudly grasping a Scottish flag at the podium, “when I saw that banner on the final corner it was really special.” Breeze wasn’t having such a good day though in his hunt to knock Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) from 2nd position in the Championship. Making a strong start from 3rd on the grid it looked like Breeze could enter the first corner ahead of Scottish driver Stewart Whyte (SWR) but ended up taking a trip into the gravel. He managed to pull himself back out, but rejoined the race at the very back of the pack. Whyte’s highest qualifying position of the season wasn’t going to translate into a highest finish either, being taken by Daniel Welch (Marriott/ Welch Motosport) at the last corner of the first lap and being harassed by Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning) for much of the remainder. Boardman had started in 7th place and finally pipped Whyte to the final podium position, leaving Whyte with yet another 4th place finish. Welch spent much of the race on his own and despite Boardman charging, there was no way Boardman would be able to catch him. “That’s a much better result for me at Knockhill,” laughed Boardman, “I wasn’t happy with fourth and really wanted a podium here, but I was still really happy and smiling all the way through that race.” Mussi didn’t have a great time of things from his 8th position start, being passed by Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing) and having to defend from a boisterous Liam McMillan (Maxtreme) for much of the race. “It was nice to do the pestering rather than being the pestered for once,” observed Liam. But despite finishing a disappointing 7th, Mussi’s aim to keep hold of his position in the Championship was given a boost as Breeze couldn’t recover from that early off. Breeze will be kicking himself as this race was the perfect opportunity to make up points on Mussi who had received a grid start penalty already. For Mussi though, it was very much a case of a bad result turning out alright as he bagged more points than rival Breeze. “I actually thought Breeze was out of the race,” reckoned Mussi afterwards, “if I’d known he wasn’t I may have pushed harder, but I still finished ahead of him which is the whole reason behind us being here.” In the Leon Cupra R class it was all about tyre choices. Both Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) and Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) had opted for slicks as, despite a damp track, the famously changeable Knockhill weather looked set to remain rain free. The gamble didn’t pay off though as Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) and Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) made quick work of getting into the top two positions thanks to their wet tyres eating up the slippery surface. The huge difference made itself obvious towards the end of the race as Vaulkhard lapped Championship rival Ian Churchill and took the chequered flag right on the rear bumper of Adrian Churchill for his second consecutive victory. “It was a bit of a shallow victory winning like that but I’ll take it,” admitted Vaulkhard. “I thought picking wet tyres was the tame option but it turned out well.” If Vaulkhard can make that three in a row in Round 18 then the Leon Cupra R class Championship will be his to lose. Debutant SEAT racer Mark Hunt (Pyro Motorsport) also made the most of his wet tyre choice, having swapped over from slicks during the green flag lap, a move that helped him race to 3rd position. So, unless unlikely points penalties are handed to Adam in the final three rounds then the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship has its champion. With that now decided it’s all about the battle for the next two positions and the SEAT Leon BTCC car test and substantial cash prizes that go with them. RESULTS 1. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)…19:42.152 2. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)…19:50.205 3. Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning)…20:01.048 4. Stewart Whyte (SWR)…20:04.526 5. Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport)…20:05.739 6. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)…20:07.448 Leon Cupra R class winner: Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R)…20:37.049 ROUND 18 A grid penalty for speeding in the pit lane during qualification demoted Adam from pole position down to 3rd on the grid for Round 18. As the lights went out, Adam had his eyes set on new pole holder Breeze, momentarily being halted in his tracks by fellow Scot Whyte through SEAT Curves but finding himself directly behind Breeze exiting Scotsman. Whyte appeared to get a knock once Adam had passed which sent him spinning off the track. The unfortunate Whyte, who had qualified superbly at his local circuit could do nothing but rejoin the race at the back and start trying to claw back places. Ray MacDowall (Total Control Racing) shared a similar fate, spinning in front of Liam McMillan (Maxtreme) which lost the pair of them a number of places, but like Whyte they both rejoined the fray. Further ahead of them Breeze and Adam had stretched their battle for top spot away from the chasing pack of Nixon, Waterworth, Mussi, Welch and Boardman. Welch hungrily eyed 5th placed Mussi, putting pressure on the Essex-based racer at every corner. By the beginning of lap four Welch had devoured Mussi’s advantage and had Waterworth in his sights, and by lap 10 Welch could sense his opportunity to move up yet another spot. Taking the inside line through Real Radio Hairpin Welch looked likely to steal the march on Waterworth heading back up the straight. But Waterworth took matters into his own hands, squeezing Welch off the track and through a Dunlop advertising board which not only kept his own position but allowed Mussi back into 5th as Welch rejoined in 6th somewhat stunned by the manoeuvre. The Leon Cupra R’s were challenging each other constantly amid the interruption of Whyte, McMillan and MacDowall in their New Leon Cupras fighting to get back in touch with cars in their own class. Vaulkhard, who started in pole, and Nordstrom, who started in 2nd, had poor starts, Adrian Churchill and Hunt being the drivers to take full advantage. By lap four though Vaulkhard had regained the lead from Adrian Churchill while Ian Churchill had pushed Hunt out of 3rd spot, leaving Nordstrom to battle with the SEAT debutant for 4th place. The battle for top Leon Cupra R honours reached boiling point as Ian Churchill slipped past his brother but Adrian Churchill didn’t give over easily. By lap 17 though Ian had the bit between his teeth, heading across the start/finish line neck and neck with leader Vaulkhard and not being in any sort of mood to bottle out of his challenge by the time they reached SEAT Curves. His boldness paid off handsomely as he took the lead and held onto it until the end and it also allowed Adrian to get the now 2nd placed Vaulkhard in targeting distance. Adrian’s terrier-like persistence also paid off by the end of the race helping him to grab that 2nd spot, although Vaulkhard looked incensed by the manner in which he gained it when he stormed out of his car in parc ferme. The Triple R driver will now have to see what happens at Thruxton to realise his ambitions of winning the class, but this result will give both the Churchill brothers a glimmer of hope. “I had nothing to lose, I wanted to have some fun and show what I could do,” claimed a relieved Ian Churchill afterwards, “Adrian’s always tough to get past and I should have realised by now he’s not going to do me any favours, but it meant more to get Nordstom and Hunt’s battle, briefly joined in by Kristian Waite (Second Time Round), was in danger of upsetting the New Leon Cupra race leaders of Breeze and Adam as Nordstrom’s opportunity to take Hunt was jeopardised by the appearance of the lapping new cars in his mirrors. But Nordstrom scrambled into that valuable 4th spot and the briefly held up Breeze eventually darted past him with Adam ever present on his rear bumper. Despite Adam’s huge familiarity with the circuit he couldn’t find a way past Breeze to make it a clean sweep of victories at Knockhill, but the 2nd place finish further consolidated his winning points accumulation. Breeze notched up his third win of the season and was delighted to not only beat the provisional champion on his home circuit but to score more points over Mussi, further increasing his chances of finishing the season in 2nd place. “It’s nice to beat the provisional champion on his home circuit and I think we’ve shown there are at least six young drivers here that deserve a move up into Touring Cars,’ claimed a jubilant Breeze afterwards. With only Thruxton left to visit this season the battles for 2nd spot in the New Leon Cupra class will be a major focus, Breeze commenting, “I’ll be sitting at home in the long break before Thruxton quite confident after this result, which others may not be. So that should help my preparations.” And there’ll be plenty of eyes on the Leon Cupra R class as the title challenge is going down to the wire. Adam may only need to do a lap of honour but every other driver will still feel they have a lot to prove. RESULTS 1. Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) …18:30.808 2. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) …18:31.252 3. Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport) …18:35.440 4. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing) …18:37.517 5. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) …18:39.408 6. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) …18:39.837 Leon Cupra R class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) …19:15.588 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship (provisional points after Round 18)
Adam made to wait for Championship crown
Returning to Brands
Hatch for Rounds 15 & 16 of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship
and there was every possibility that Jonathan Adam (Total Control
Racing) could clinch the title. But Adam failed to finish Round 15 and
came 2nd to Fulvio Mussi (pictured above) (Total Control Racing)
in Round 16 making his home circuit event of Knockhill (Rounds 17 & 18)
more important for him than ever. Tom Boardman (Triple R) drove to
victory in Round 15 and Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport), Gareth
Nixon (Nixon Motorsport) and Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)
all went well, increasing the pressure at the top. In the Leon Cupra R
class Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) scored well, but his
main rivals Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport), Adrian Churchill
(Churchill Motorsport) and Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) weren’t
far behind.
ROUND 15 RESULTS
Snetterton
Championship leaders' charges
Rounds 13 and 14 of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship held some big highs and lows for drivers in both classes. New Leon Cupra runaway leader Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) scored one win but had to settle for 7th place in Round 14, the first time this season he hasn’t been standing on the podium at the end of a race. Meanwhile Leon Cupra R class championship hopeful Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) looked set to record a third double victory of the year after a convincing Round 13 win, but was caught in startline carnage at the beginning of Round 14 that ended his and six other drivers’ races early. Local driver Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) pleased the home fans though by surviving the incident and record a valuable win, while in the Leon Cupra R’s Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) kept his form going with a second victory in as many meets.
RESULTS
Blencowe and Boardman fight it out for thrid in Round 13 Round 13 A rare dry track for the drivers in the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship as they lined up for Round 13 at Snetterton. With Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) on pole position it was Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) placed best alongside him on the front row to stop him winning an eighth race of the season. As they entered the first corner it looked like Breeze may be able to make his prime location count but Adam wouldn’t be taken, aiming to get as much fresh air between the pair as possible after holding off Breeze’s charge. Meanwhile Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) had looked to start well from 4th on the grid but a stutter caused by power loss problems put him right back down in the New Leon Cupra pecking order, allowing close championship contender Alan Blencowe (Triple R) up into a podium position in the process. In the Leon Cupra R class young Freddy Nordstrom’s (Advent Motorsport) poor luck continued, rolling to a standstill almost immediately after the race started. Worse still for Nordstrom, Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) made a typically strong start getting some early distance from Mike Doble (Doble Motorsport), Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) and Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport). Doble didn’t help his chances of making his fine qualifying count, spinning at Russell Bend at the end of the first lap, forcing him to rejoin right at the back. Mussi had better luck up ahead though, Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing) catching a slide as he entered Seer Corner making both Stewart Whyte (SWR) and Ray MacDowall (Total Control Racing) brake heavily behind him. Mussi seized his chance and leapfrogged the trio with a dive inside to move up into 7th. Up ahead of him the battling drivers had split into pairs, Breeze still chasing Adam, Blencowe holding off team mate Tom Boardman (Triple R) and Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) getting plenty of attention from Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport). start putting pressure on MacDowall in 10th. But MacDowall put on a masterful display of defensive driving to halt Wilkinson’s ambitions and leave the CMS Motorsport driver being grateful that Whyte had been forced to retire, handing him an extra place Ian Churchill
crossed the line just over 25secs behind the last New Leon Cupra to
clinch a sixth victory for the season in the Leon Cupra R class.
Vaulkhard had squeezed past Adrian Churchill earlier on and had
constantly been clawing back time on the race leader. But he couldn’t
find quite enough of those precious seconds to make a serious challenge
for the lead so had to settle for 2nd place and two extra championship
points for quickest lap and most improved position during the race.
Damp Donington disrupts drivers' ambitions
A first corner of carnage at a wet Donington put an early end to the weekend for eight of the drivers in the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship. Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) went spinning through the pack causing a knock on effect further back. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) managed to avoid too much damage to take victory in Round 11 but had to settle for 2nd in Round 12 behind Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning). However, Leon Cupra R class leader Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) was one of the unlucky drivers in Round 11, suffering concussion in the pile-up and unable to score any points all weekend. Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) took full advantage with a win in the first race and a 2nd place behind Ian’s brother Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) in the next. Only half points were awarded for Round 11, the length of the race not reaching the required seventy five percent of the scheduled distance to allow full scoring, which will help ease the pain of the disappointed and damaged drivers ROUND 11
Returning drivers don’t have it their way at Oulton Park The returning Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning) in the New Leon Cupra class and Andy Neate (CMS Motorsport) in a Leon Cupra R looked to set the cat amongst the pigeons after qualifying in pole position in their respective classes for Round 9. But their perfect return to the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship wasn’t to be as fellow veterans Alan Blencowe (Triple R), Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing), Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) and Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) overcame the weather difficulties to all score race wins at Oulton Park. ROUND 9 The starting grid at the beginning of Round 9 was a hive of activity as the race was declared wet meaning teams had to come onto the track and swap slick tyres for wet in situ before the race could get underway. A relief for the drivers who had been at the mercy of irregular weather all weekend and had been praying for it to be either wet or dry. So after a short delay the wet race was underway, Boardman a famously good starter finding himself out-gunned by Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) from the off. Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport) had also started well, cutting through Stewart Whyte (SWR) and Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) to gain a few places almost immediately. Leader Mussi entered every corner under pressure from a chasing Boardman, having to work hard to keep the eager Triple R driver at bay. Crossing the line after one lap, Boardman kept looking for a way past as they entered Old Hall Corner, spotting some potential on the outside of Mussi. But his tyres caught the grass pulling the hard-driving Boardman off the track and into the tyre barrier to end his comeback race in miserable fashion. “It’s my own fault,” admitted Boardman afterwards citing the differences between these cars and the Spanish car he drives in the SEAT Leon Supercopa as a factor. Meanwhile in the Leon Cupra R class, Ian Churchill had made massive strides from his starting position and had found himself in top spot ahead of Neate. Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) had dropped to 3rd in the process, but Neate soon fell foul of the damp track and had his race ended early. It certainly wasn’t proving a great day for the comeback drivers as the safety car came out to escort the cars round for the next two laps. On the restart Mussi started to fly, chased by Alan Blencowe (Triple R), Nixon, Ray Macdowall (Total Control Racing) and Breeze. Championship leader Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) had steered into 7th place just behind Whyte but soon made it into 6th as Nixon pushed too hard up ahead, going off the track and having to rejoin at the back. Within a lap, Nixon again went off as did the Leon Cupra R driver James Morgan (CMS Motorsport) who mad a spectacular nosedive into a crash barrier, both incidents putting the drivers out and causing another yellow flag. At the front though it was Blencowe’s turn to now breathe down Mussi’s neck after another safety car disappeared off the circuit. The race was now going to be cut short on distance due to a 25min limit meaning there was less time for him to make a move, but that just meant he searched harder. Behind them Macdowall had a big off, meaning Breeze and Adam could both smell a podium position but it was Blencowe who had the scent of top spot in his nostrils. Mussi continued to block brilliantly as they went side by side into Old Hall Corner on Lap 9 but opened up just enough room entering Cascades to let Blencowe steal the march and surprise him with a move on the inside. “I had to fight really hard,” said Blencowe afterwards. “I don’t think he saw me coming at Cascades.” Adrian Churchill had closed things up in the Leon Cupra R class, he and his brother sandwiching Nordstrom who sat in 2nd place. Tim Bevan (Beaver Metals/Pyro Motorsport) had charged into contention too, coming from 22nd on the grid to sit in 12th spot overall and 4th in his class. It wasn’t long before Nordstrom was jolted down into that 4th spot though, but Bevan span out moments later allowing Nordstrom to get back into 3rd place behind the two Churchill brothers who would go on to take the top two spots. “I really wasn’t expecting that,” reckoned Ian Churchill. “I’ve been rubbish in the wet all weekend. And the car was only really going round right handers after I knocked the rear wheels.” Conditions were gradually improving at the tail end of the race but there wasn’t any position swapping left to be done despite Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing) charging at Oli Wilkinson (Sureterm Direct/CMS Motorsport) in 6th and Adam trying to pressure Breeze to get onto the podium. Adam couldn’t manage but picked up a point for most places gained, however it was Blencowe who celebrated his second win of the season and an extra point for his last quickest lap. Results 1. Alan Blencowe (Triple R)… 20:26.311 2. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing)…20:28.669 3. Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport)…20:29.797 4. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)…20:30.368 5. Stewart Whyte (SWR)…20:30.952 6. Oli Wilkinson (Sureterm Direct/CMS Motorsport)…20:32.047 Leon Cupra R Class Winner – Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)…20:44.362 ROUND 10 For Round 10 the weather continued to have an effect on the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship, although this time it was indirectly. The number of incidents during the course of the day in the various championships meant the second race for the SEATs got bumped back to the penultimate slot, two hours later than scheduled. On the plus side for once the drivers weren’t faced with indecisive conditions, so Adam lined up alongside Wilkinson on the front row without the tyre dilemma weighing on his mind. And as the lights went out he was away, rushing into first place while behind him Boardman snuck into second at the expense of the black car of Wilkinson. Further back a small amount of carnage soon ensued, Mussi going into a spin after having a good start, forcing a host of Leon Cupra R class cars onto the grass to avoid him and allowing Bevan to jump to the front. Breeze and Nixon also tangled and span putting them way down he pack, while Mussi managed to salvage something out of the melee and get himself back into 8th , a position where he could still fight for more valuable points. Young Liam McMillan (Maxtreme) retired from the race on the first lap leaving less New Leon Cupras in contention for points after MacDowall was unable to get his car fixed ready for Round 10 after that big off in Round 9. So there were points to be gained for any of the class that finished the race, yet the maximum points looked to be in the bag as Adam continued to give the crowd his trademark race of leading from start to finish. Boardman also looked safe in 2nd place, yet it was the battle behind him that was really heating up. Wilkinson was being chased by Waterworth who also found he had the tough task of fending off a determined Whyte and Blencowe, despite proving to be the quickest man on the circuit at this point. Daniel Welch (Mariott/Welch Motorsport) had also moved up a number of places and was in sight of challenging them, having started the race in 12th . Breeze was also making strides, coming up behind the sparring Leon Cupra Rs of Nordstrom and Bevan, who were carrying over a grudge from the previous race. Ian Churchill had earlier slipped past them to sit on the tail of his brother Adrian Churchill who had knocked Bevan out of 1st place early on. The two Churchill brothers continued to push each other, widening the gap between them and whoever would win the tussle for 3rd place. Due to the delays in the day the confirmation came that the race would be cut down to 9 laps from 12, leaving less time for all those chasing to make up ground. Nordstrom managed to make it count on lap 5 though getting past Bevan and allowing Harry Vaulkhard to put pressure on Bevan’s orange car. But Vaulkhard’s efforts hit a stumbling block when he pushed too hard and ended up taking two of his wheels onto the grass, slowing him down considerably and giving Bevan a breather. By the beginning of lap 6 Breeze was back in front of the Leon Cupra R class cars but was still a long way off challenging for further places. Ahead of him Blencowe had made a position on Whyte and was asking a lot of questions of Waterworth who had to defend strongly while still looking to get past Wilkinson and into a podium position. Welch was also past Whyte and looked like he may be in a position to challenge Blencowe but it never panned out. Unsurprisingly Adam crossed the line well ahead of Boardman to clinch yet another victory, and it remained Wilkinson in 3rd followed by Waterworth, Blencowe and then Welch. Whyte finished 7th while the early offs of Mussi, Nixon and Breeze put them in 8th , 9th and 10th spots respectively. With Adrian Churchill holding off his brother to take his second win of the season, Nordstrom managed to keep his title hopes alive with 3rd place points, while Bevan held off Vaulkhard for 4th . Eric Bailey, Rob Austin, Andy Neate and Mike Doble finished in that order behind Vaulkhard, having had a hard four-way joust around the Oulton Park circuit, which had resulted in Austin setting a quickest lap time for the class. So the Championship leaders remain Adam and Ian Churchill, but they didn’t have it all their own way over the weekend. While Adam’s lead still looks daunting, Boardman’s return and Blencowe and Wilkinson’s re-found form could yet prove a challenge. In the Leon Cupra Rs the Churchill brothers continue to both perform well having taken the top two positions in both races, but Vaulkhard, Nordstrom and Doble all know they title is still within their grasp. Results 1. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)…13:50.705 2. Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning)…13:54.185 3. Oli Wilkinson (Sureterm Direct/CMS Motorsport)…13:59.094 4. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)…14:00.316 5. Alan Blencowe (Triple R)…14:00.494 6. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)…14:01.066 Leon Cupra R Class Winner: Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)…14:30.009 2007
Adam stays on top, while Ian Churchill climbs into lead
Oli Wilkinson (Sureterm Direct/CMS Motorsport)- pictured left- upset Jonathan Adam’s (Total Control Racing) winning streak in Round 7 of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship at Croft. However, Adam made sure this didn’t happen again in Round 8, notching up his fifth victory of the year so far. In the Leon Cupra R class it was Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) who looked dominant with two wins in a row, mirroring his achievements in the first two rounds at Brands Hatch. ROUND 7 A flying start by Wilkinson saw him edge the lead from Adam as they went into the first corner at Croft. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) took his opportunities too, darting into third place ahead of Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) from the start and holding onto that position. Despite having a few problems with his car Wilkinson set a quickest time of 1:29.273 on his third lap and managed to hold off Adam’s interests until the chequered flag. Mussi looked content with 3rd spot as the gap between his car and the blue Leon of Breeze in 4th was too large to threaten his podium spot. In fact Breeze was on his own for most of the race while the rest of the New Leon Cupra class rubbed wings behind him. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) and Alan Blencowe (Triple R) gave each other a tough race as they both aimed to finish as high as possible from their 7th and 9th starting positions respectively. Coming together on a few occasions they collided and came close to a standstill as they exited the hairpin towards the end of lap five. Welch managed to hold off Blencowe’s challenge but Liam McMillan (Maxtreme), Ray MacDowall (Total Control Racing) and Stewart Whyte (SWR) all capitalised on the incident by passing the stricken pair with relative ease. But none of them could hold off the charge of Welch and Blencowe for long once they picked up the pace again, Blencowe even being showered with tyres after an incident ahead of him. ‘Everyone seemed to be belting tyres and locking up,’ said Blencowe afterwards, adding, “we know we’ve still got to find something extra for the next race though”. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing) dropped places too after taking a trip across the gravel with Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport) who wasn’t lucky enough to be able to continue the race. Waterworth did eventually manage to finish above MacDowall but it was Welch and Blencowe in that order who salvaged the best they could from their situation with 5th and 6th spots respectively. In the Leon Cupra R class Ian Churchill romped home to his third win of this season. Fellow title hopeful Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) had problems with an oil pump fuse failure and pulled off in the third lap leaving it wide open for yet another contender Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/ Triple R) to slot into 2nd spot. “I missed a gear on the first lap and let a few through, so the result’s not bad considering,” admitted Vaulkhard. Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport), who’d been thinking his weekend was over after engine problems during qualifying, did start the race from 6th on the grid and after taking it easy and dropping places in the first corner had soon made them back up and then some, sitting in 3rd and looking for ways past Vaulkhard in the second half of the race. He couldn’t find it in the end, but will be glad of the 13 championship points. Kristian Waite (Second Time Round) also made up for his time in the gravel during qualifying by moving up six places in the race, finishing an impressive 5th in his class after starting at the back of the grid. So it was Wilkinson who took his first victory of the year ahead of Adam and Mussi, but he would have his work cut out to repeat the performance in the second race, while both Adam and Mussi would look for more podium positions from their front row starting points. Results 1. Oli Wilkinson (Sureterm Direct/CMS Motorsport)… 18:10.109 2. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 18:10.914 3. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing)… 18:15.654 4. Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport)… 18:21.775 5. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)… 18:29.061 6. Alan Blencowe (Triple R)… 18:30.830 Leon Cupra R Class Winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)… 18:49.349
ROUND 8 Whyte started Round 8 in a strong fourth position on the grid. When the lights went out he searched for a way past the front two of Adam and Mussi, having forced Breeze out of his 3rd position along the first straight. But the Scot couldn’t repeat the performance of Wilkinson in Round 7 and ended up buried in the gravel at Clervaux allowing Adam, with Mussi tucked snugly behind, to exit the first corner in 1st position. Breeze also diced with the gravel which allowed Waterworth to join behind his two team mates with Wilkinson and Blencowe also both making a place up on Breeze. The safety car came out at the end of the first lap under a yellow flag, with the New Leon Cupras all bunched up behind. But when it pulled away the trio of Adam, Mussi and Waterworth set off on a mission to repeat the same result they’d achieved in the second race at Thruxton weeks beforehand… and to good effect. As the laps went by the three of them kept their position and distanced themselves from the battle for 4th and 5th places. Blencowe had made a blistering start from 10th on the grid, challenging Wilkinson for 4th after only the first corner. As they entered the hairpin on lap 3 Blencowe made his move, cutting tight on the inside of Wilkinson and powering his way ahead as they hit the start/finish straight. Wilkinson was then in the sights of both Welch and Breeze. Breeze was continually searching for a way past
Welch who defended valiantly against some aggressive advances. Despite
this, Welch
As in Round 7 all eyes were on the battle involving Welch as again he had to drive right on the edge to keep his 6th position. “The car’s still got all four wheels so that’s good,” said Welch afterwards. “It was just one lap that I just didn’t block enough and Breeze came through. Fair enough though.” Nixon had been forced to start Round 8 from the back of the grid despite qualifying in 6th and managed to fight back to finish 8th , just behind Wilkinson. Young McMillan had taken some advantage of MacDowall’s obvious problems by moving into 9th while MacDowall had to settle for 10th in his class but behind the first two cars in the Leon Cupra R class. In this class it was again Ian Churchill who put in a blistering display, steering clear of any trouble and scooping another win. As at Brands Hatch Churchill’s win in the second race made it another double victory and never looked in much doubt after the restart. Tim Bevan (Pyro Motorsport) had made an incredible advance at the beginning of this race forcing his way into 2nd place on the first lap. Likewise, Mike Doble (Doble Motorsport) had found a way past Vaulkhard into 4th place looking hungrily at the rear bumper of Nordstrom. But Nordstrom made his move on Bevan coming out of the hairpin on lap 3, squeezing past after trading a little of Bevan’s bright orange paint with his blue and yellow hues. Vaulkhard also stepped up a gear, getting past Doble and then past a spinning Bevan who lost his third place to Vaulkhard and ended up at the back of the pack. Adrian Churchill had been constantly pushing hard from the back, looking quick but unable to pass a stubborn Eric Bailey (Startline Services/ABRA). “If I could have got past Bailey I could have easily made up more places. Easily!”, commented Churchill afterwards, but as it was he ended up 6th in his class and he and Bailey both received an extra championship point for making the biggest improvement on their starting positions. But it was his brother Ian Churchill who took maximum points with Nordstrom making up for an unfortunate electrical problem in Round 7 by taking 2nd in Round 8 while Vaulkhard kept his championship challenge alive with a 3rd place to add to the 2nd place he got earlier in the day. With Blencowe , Breeze, Welch, Nixon and Wilkinson all showing they’re back near the pace of the likes of Adam, Mussi and Waterworth in the New Leon Cupra class, there could well be some upsets at Oulton Park during the next meeting. Results Round 7 1. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 20:09.697 2. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing)… 20:16.033 3. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)… 20:17.844 4. Alan Blencowe (Triple R)… 20:19.408 5. Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport)… 20:25.143 6. Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)… 20:26.283 Leon Cupra R Class Winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)… 20:56.118 2007
Double delight for Adam and Nordström at Thruxton
Strong qualifying by Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) meant the Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship leader looked in good shape to increase his lead even further. And he didn’t let the opportunity slip, winning both Rounds 5 and 6 at Thruxton. In the Leon Cupra R Class, young Freddy Nordström (Advent Motorsport) mirrored his achievements Round 6 Ray MacDowall’s (Total Control Racing) stall on the grid saw him join Daniel Welch at the back after an extra green flag lap, making Round 6 an 11 lap race. When the lights went out Adam again got away well, this time from pole position, with Mussi defending his second place as they entered the first corner. However, further down the pack an incident saw Whyte spin amongst the throng and Bevan sent dancing across the grass, while Adrian Churchill appeared to be forced off the circuit and head on into the barriers. Eric Bailey (Startline Services/ARBA) couldn’t avoid the chaos either receiving damage to his nearside front but tried to rejoin as the safety car came out. Three laps behind the safety car later and with Adrian Churchill out of the race, it was Adam who led from Mussi, with Nixon, Waterworth and Breeze all looking for that third podium position at the end of the now 14lap race. Welch had made great strides to get past all the Leon Cupra R class and was hot on Liam McMillan’s (Maxtreme) tail while Blencowe had also made a good start moving up from 10th to 6th. In the Leon Cupra R class Vaulkhard had come through the early incident to take the lead with Nordström close behind. But Nordström soon found himself having a close shave with a wall after coming off at Goodwood at around 90mph, but managed to rejoin only to find both Ian Churchill and Kristian Waite (Second Time Round) had gone ahead. Nordström was soon past Waite however and looked to be pushing hard to get back into contention. In the New Leon Cupra class, Adam and Mussi were stretching their lead at the front while the battle between Nixon and Waterworth heated up, the pair of them coming up Woodham Hill side by side on lap 10 Waterworth pushing harder to slip into 3rd place by taking the inside line as they entered Club and forcing Nixon wide. “You’ve got to be aggressive out there,” admitted Waterworth afterwards. “The lads around you don’t give you an inch. That was a great race!” Vaulkhard, Ian Churchill and Nordström were also running each other close as they came to that same tight chicane, heading into it three abreast but coming out the other side in the same order they’d been moments earlier. Nordström didn’t wait to chance it through those bends again though, choosing lap 13 as the time to take Ian Churchill through Church and dive past Vaulkhard as they headed up Woodham Hill. As in the first race of the day Nordström found himself in the lead of the Leon Cupra R class and once there didn’t look like losing it. Vaulkhard meanwhile, maybe having pushed his tyres too hard keeping his lead soon himself in 3rd as Ian Churchill seized his opportunities. So at the chequered flag it was a thoroughly deserved class win for the talented Nordström, his second win of the day, with the equally entertaining Ian Churchill and Vaulkhard both adding more points to their championship tally and Waite showing some clear improvements with his 4th place finish. After the race Nordström explained his poor start but added that “I was driving as fast as I could. We just had to do that, to get another win.” In the newer cars though, Adam also proved he can win twice in a day, his consistency proving to be quite telling in the championship standings. Adam’s Total Control Racing team mates Mussi and Waterworth took the next two steps down on the podium, making it a great result for West Midlands based outfit. Nixon finished 4th to keep him in with a shout while Breeze and Blencowe took the next two spots for valuable points out of a weekend where neither driver performed as they now they can. Adam may have stretched his lead with a dominant display of speed and consistency but as the other drivers know, come Croft at the beginning of June things can change at the drop of a flag. Results Round 6
1. Round 5: Thruxton Advantage Adam
Mixed fortunes at Rockingham
Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship at the
unfamiliar Rockingham circuit proved to be a tough challenge for the
drivers. Alan Blencowe (Triple R, pictured leading above) and
Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) both ended up taking victories and
leading by some distance while the cars behind clashed with varying
fortunes in their plight to take a share of the points. Adam maybe first but Breeze takes the wind out of his sails in the first race
Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) and Carl Breeze (CMS Motorsport/
Blue Chip) look set to reignite last years’ battle in the 2007 Blaupunkt
SEAT Cupra Championship. With both drivers in the New Leon Cupras they
were setting quick times in qualifying and taking those into both rounds
of racing at Brands Hatch. Adam ended up with a first and a second place
and claimed ‘this weekend showed that we’re strong and we should be
strong throughout’.
Round 1
Further up the field Blencowe had squeezed past Nixon and was making
time on the leaders. By lap 21 he had Wilkinson and 3rd spot in his
sights. It looked like Wilkinson would hold him off, but through
Clearways in the final lap he showed Blencowe an opportunity and they
raced towards the finish line in an exhilarating neck and neck finish.
Blencowe just snatched it, giving him 3rd spot on the podium behind
Breeze in 1st and Adam in 2nd. Ian Churchill finished in 9th spot
overall giving him a Leon Cupra R class win, with Vaulkhard and Adrian
Churchill taking 2nd and 3rd spots in that class respectively. Round 1 - Results 1. Carl Breeze (CMS Motorsport/ Blue Chip)…21:59.622 2. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)…22:00.039 3. Alan Blencowe (Triple R)…22:04.608 4. Oli Wilkinson (CMS Motorsport/ Sureterm Direct)…22:04.654 5. Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport)…22:09.934 6. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)…22:10.871 Cupra R Class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)…22:30.114
Round 2 took
the honours for 2nd place and Ian’s brother Adrian Churchill taking 3rd.
‘I made a good start,’ admitted Ian Churchill of his second victory, ‘I
couldn’t be happier, apart from maybe having a little less damage. One
of my wing mirrors was bent back so I wasn’t sure what was happening on
one side of me, but I think the fact we’d saved a set of tyres for that
race gave us a bit of an upper hand.’ Round 2 - Results 1. Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 17:23.117 2. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing)…17:32.593 3. Daniel Welch (Welch Motorsport)…17:34.997 4. Carl Breeze (CMS Motorsport/ Blue Chip)…17:35.648 5. Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)…17:38.126 6. Oli Wilkinson (CMS Motorsport/ Sureterm Direct)…17:38.543 Cupra R Class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)…17:56.198
Rounds 3 and
4 of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship takes place at
Rockingham in Northamptonshire on April 21-
|
|
class meanwhile continued to pilot his Marriott liveried car around
Thruxton well ahead of Boardman in 2nd. Champion Adam looked comfortable
in 3rd place and sure enough finished the race with yet another podium
appearance. But despite Welch being happy to finally record a race win
this season, it was Mussi who will feel most satisfied with the result.
Heading into the final race Mussi now sits in the position he hoped for,
taking the charge for 2nd place in the championship with Breeze right
down to the wire. Doing some quick maths when he was out of his car,
Mussi said “If I finish where I’ve qualified in the next race I should
be OK.” 
Vaulkhard
(pictured)was in the lead, with Mike Doble (Doble Motorsports)
and Adrian Churchill sandwiching New Leon Cupra driver Liam McMillan (Maxtreme)
behind him. With only five Leon Cupra R drivers left in the race and
championship leader Ian Churchill out of things, it was unlikely that
any of the drivers would take unnecessary risks. 
again
kept the crowd entertained by passing Wilkinson, a move which Breeze
also liked the look of and followed Welch’s lead. Then at the beginning
of lap 8 Breeze took his opportunity heading into Hawthorne, snatching
5th spot from Welch who almost immediately hit a tyre marker sending
them skyward. Wilkinson bared the full brunt of this, a tyre smashing
hard into his windscreen, but did brilliantly to not lose sight of the
now significantly damaged Welch.
