We are looking forward to racing against a great grid of quality teams and 27 cars show how far the championship has come in only 12 months. AxiaMetrics is looking to have an incident free race and to build on the strong pace we have shown thus far.
Chris Weatherill – 103 AxiaMetrics
FUN CUP ENDURANCE 2024 – ROUND EIGHT– DONINGTON PARK – PREVIEW
27 Fun Cup’s set to battle it out at Donington Park this weekend – who will come out on top?!
With just the Oulton Park finale double-header to come after his weekends visit to Donington, the fight to be crowned 2024 Fun Cup Endurance Champions is reaching its peak.
Defending Champions Olympian – GRD have made it four wins in succession after their win at Brands Hatch and have only been off the podium once, with fourth in the first of the races at Croft.
So Chris Dovell, Simon Rudd and Riley Phillips will once again be the men to beat, as they currently have a 12 point lead over UVio/Hofmann’s Farquini Deott and Fabulous Randaccio,
Despite still seeking their first win of the year, the former champions have been second in the last four races, and ironically only missed a podium once, in the same race as Olympian.
Although MJ Tec are still third in the points, their withdrawal from the rests of the season should make way for EDF Vapeclub’s Vlad Vassiliev and Simon Coles to move up the table. They are looking for their first podium too, having a best so far of fourth at Snetterton.
Signature RV’s Steve Ruston, John Whitehouse and Marcus Clutton have moved up to fifth the points after recording their best finish of the season, fifth at Brands Hatch. Harry Mailer deputised for Clutton at Anglesey, but he is able to see out the rest of the season now with his team mates.
Gary Bate is back with Paul Turner in the Greenheath car too, after Kristian Rose deputised at Brands Hatch. They made the podium at Anglesey with a well deserved third, but still seek that elusive first win.
10 points behind Greenheath in joint seventh are both PLR and Team Morpheus. Neil Plimmer and Ben Pitch were third at Snetterton and fourth last time out at Brands Hatch, so are in good form too for this weekend.
Morpheus were first on the road at Brands, but their post-race penalty dropped them to third. Neil Burroughs and Ted Bradbury were winners at round three at Croft too, and had been title contenders early in the season.
The best team up since the summer pairing of Deadpool and Wolverine? We are called ‘The Rivals’ because we have been up against each other in Caterhams and decided to try and see what would happen if we work together instead!
Secretly, I just wanted to see how quick Roger is without the rocket ship engine he seems to have in his Caterham!
– Matt Larby ‘The Rivals’ Car 251
Team Ratters and Seed Data complete the current top 10 in the Championship. The Ratters trio of Peter Ratcliff with sons David and John, have been striving for a top six finish, but so far it’s eluded them. Hopefully their car will be back in pristine condition, after John’s huge crash at Brands Hatch.
Mike Devlin was another absentee from Brands, but rejoins Matt Hogg in the Seed Data car this weekend. They have been one of the biggest improvers this season, with a best of fourth at Anglesey.
It’s welcome back too to some former Champions. GCI have dipped in and out of the Championship this year, but after two fifth places in the opening three rounds, Craig Butterworth and Ian Wood are sure to be at the sharp end again.
Racelogic’s Julian Thomas has been busy racing historics worldwide. He’s joined by regular partner David Denyer, with memories of their outstanding race at Silverstone last year.
Another former Champ is back too as Chris Hart partners Stephen Walton in the second Morpheus car, while the team are also running a third car in FNS livery, for Chris Walton and Harry Mailer.
AxiaMetrics have continued to top the unlucky part of this years championship, having proved their pace on numerous occasions before drama’s have struck. Chris Weatherill, Jonathan Railton and Greg Evans had a fifth at Anglesey, but only made the top 10 on two other occasions.
Wave 9 have a change in their line-up at Donington, with Tom Pattle joining father Graham and Mark Burton, in place of Jason Minshaw. They are currently third in the Masters Class, behind Team Olympian-GRD and PLR.
Red River Sport have been seventh at Croft, Snetterton and Brands Hatch. Once again Gareth Williams is joined by the experienced Bonamy Grimes and Johnny Mowlem, so they could be in the mix too.
Fuelled Up Racing having nominated both Jamie Price and Paul Taylor to share with Paul and Wendy Ellis-Smith, which is likely to be reduced to a trio, while Skull Club’s Jac Constable and Russell Joyce will be hoping for some luck and a finish too.
Caterham racers Barry Thompson and Nick Highton are back as Team FFS, after finishing 10th at Snetterton and they are up against fellow Caterham regulars Rrutuj Patki and Matt Larbey in the 251 ‘The Rivals’ car who will be gunning for the £10,000 prize pot.
Paul Calladine has former British F3 and F3000 racer Guido Basile rejoining him at Hi-Peak Racing, while Gracie Mitchell has John Perrott and Nick Ellis sharing her GMR/Eco car, and Fun Cup Tifosi return too with Andrew Isherwood, Adam Fawsitt and Steve Payne.
It’s been many years since Brian Heerey raced in Fun Cup, but he’s back too in the Rare Vinyl car with fellow veteran Rob Croydon. Heerey was last in action at the 2CV 24 hour race.
While Garry Summers races in the 158 car with Darren Brown who will be doing his first ever car race! To complete the teams, there are two crews travelling from Australia. Brett Thomas has entered two cars under his TFH Racing/Harvey’s Towing banner, The first will be shared by Brett’s sons Josh and Diesel, both experienced saloon car races, while Brandon Madden and Scott Andriske share the second. Both are of course eligible for the £10,000 first time winner prize.
Qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10.35 for 45 minutes, with lights out for the four hour race at 2pm.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, September 17th 2024
