FUN CUP ENDURANCE 2025 – ROUND EIGHT – DONINGTON PARK – PREVIEW
It’s the penultimate Fun Cup weekend of the season and there are still four teams in with a realistic chance of becoming 2025 Champions.
Olympian/GRD still head the table by nine points, having hit the ground running with four consecutive wins to open the season, to add to their title winning finale.
In the last few rounds the reigning champions have tried a different order, with Simon Rudd starting instead of Chris Dovell, with Riley Phillips finishing as usual. They were second at Silverstone in the last round, having last won at Anglesey in round four.
UVio/Hofmann’s Farquini/Fabulous Randaccio finally returned to winning ways at Croft in round five, after going winless last season. They started this season with podium finishers at both Brands Hatch and Oulton, but just missed out at Anglesey.
Vapeclub with EDF are now third in the points with Vlad Vassiliev and Ted Bradbury. They had their first podium of the season with third at Anglesey, but after four years of trying Vlad finally had his first win last time out at Silverstone.
After a string of disappointments last season, AxiaMetrics have finally gained reward for their pace and determination this year. With Greg Evans and John Perrott sharing with Chris Weatherill, they started with a third place at Brands Hatch, which they have been able to repeat at both round four at Anglesey and more recently at Silverstone. They currently lie fourth in the table.
Red River Sport are both fifth overall in the Championship and currently leaders in the Masters Class too. While Johnny Mowlem has been ever present, both Gareth Williams and Bonamy Grimes have both missed races. Sixth at Brands and Anglesey are their best so far.
Greenheath’s Gary Bate and Paul Turner have had an up ad down season, and have yet to visit this seasons podium. They have had a few incidents, but came home fourth in round four at Anglesey.
For Sherardize UK’s Peter Belshaw it has been a comeback season, after a few years out. Teamed with Teddy Wilson, they started the season with an early retirement at Brands, when Belshaw crashed out. Second at Oulton and Anglesey put them in the title hunt though and after taking third in the sprint at Croft, they won the Endurance race. They are currently seventh, after crashing out at Silverstone.
Ben Pitch is back alongside Neil Plimmer in the PLR Racing car this weekend, after missing Silverstone. They have had a few issues too, but fourth in the Croft Enduro is their best.
FF Corse have had various drivers out in their car during the season, mostly virtual novices, learning their sport for the Ferrari orientated team. This weekend they have Miguel Fascia and Andrea Semina sharing. They haven’t managed a top six yet, but are still 10th overall in the points.
Morpheus Motorsport are back too this weekend, with Chris and Charlie Hart sharing. In the races they have done, they have featured strongly, despite results showing to the contrary. But luck maybe back with them at Donington.
Former Champions GCI Racing are back this weekend with Craig Butterworth and Ian Wood. In the races they have done this season, they have featured strongly too and will probably be near the front this weekend. They have had three top six’s this year, including third at Croft.
Having raced with a number of partners in a variety of cars over the last few seasons, Rob Croydon bought his own car for 2025 with Matt Larbey at Rare Vinyl/TLR. They too have featured strongly at times, but have yet to get the results that confirms their challenge.
Racelogic are former Champions, who have made occasional Fun Cup appearances over the last few seasons. But Julian Thomas and David Denyer have been regulars again this year. They changed cars at Anglesey and took fifth in round four, their best of the season so far.
Demon Tweeks continue to field two cars. The first is led by Jason Minshaw, with son Jack and brother Guy. They ran strongly at Brands in the opening round for a while with a guesting Michael Lyons and showed similar pace at Silverstone last time. They are still seeking a top six.
The second car has Mark Burton, who returned to Fun Cup last season after concentrating on historic racing. He shared his car with Jason Minshaw on occasions last year, but has regular co-driver Graham Pattle with him at Donington, along with Graham’s son Tom.
Signature RV started the season with a brand new car, which has taken a while to sort. But John Whitehouse, Steve Ruston have made it home in the top six twice, at Oulton and then fifth last time out. They have been winners in the past so can’t be discounted.
Seed Data’s Mike Devlin and Matt Hogg had hoped for a better season in 2025, after making steady progress last term. But a number of times they have started to feature, until drama intervened. But after fifth last time out, the tide could be turning for them.
Jonathan Railton and Angus Gough’s Team B.E.R.T was new this season and it if they had any luck they maybe could have ridden it. But it’s been one thing after another for the former bikers, who will be aiming just to finish at Donington.
There is plenty of experience in the Mean Machine car, with former British F3 racer Guido Basile having another outing at his local circuit. He is joined by Steve “Snooker” Harris and Mike McCollum, having his first Fun Cup race for a couple of years.
Team Pesky’s Andrew Dyer and Sam Foden showed plenty of promise on their Fun Cup debut at Anglesey. Both drivers are experienced City Car Cup racers and could be ones to watch.
Team Pacific have Aussies Sam Gibson and Liam O’Donnell sharing. Gibson made his Fun Cup debut at Brands in the opening round finishing fifth, but it will be a new experience for O’Donnell.
The father and son team of Andre and Pierre Renom are back and Donington sees Gary Summers returning, with Graham Winstanley sharing for the first time.
Fastrack’s Simon Lidzen has Patrick Potocki sharing this weekend and youngsters William Smith and Josh Phelps are back for more, after teaming up for the first time at Silverstone. Josh is the brother of GB4 racer Isaac Phelps.
iLockerz have a three driver line-up, with Ryan Slaney and Alistair McKay due to be joined by FF Corse’s Mark Armstrong, a vastly experienced former Formula Ford racer.
Finally the NinkyNonk is back for its seasonal debut. A race winning car last year with Neil Burroughs and Ted Bradbury, this weekend it has Formula Vee ace Matthew Hyde, sharing with debutant Neo Clarke, a British Karting Championship frontrunner on his car racing debut.
Qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10.00 for 45 minutes, with the four race due to start at 13.10.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, September 9th 2025
To find out more about the Fun Cup Endurance Championship visit www.funcup.co.uk for more information and how to get involved.
To view the championship calendar, visit https://funcup.co.uk/events/ for more information.
