FUN CUP ENDURANCE – FINAL ROUND – OULTON PARK – PREVIEW
With the GCI pairing of Craig Butterworth and Ian Wood having clinched the title at Donington, it’s still all to play for in second place, with Team Viking currently 20 points up on UVio/Hofmann’s Lotus.
Mark Holme has regular partner Nick Nunn back alongside for Team Viking, after Teddy Wilson deputised at Donington. But Farquini Deott/Fabio Randaccio are seeking their fifth win of the season and will be hoping to haul back the deficit.
Currently fourth in the overall and leading the Masters are Colin Kingsnorth/Richard Webb for Stobart Sport, with two wins so far this season.
PLR Racing and Vapeclub with EDF are currently tied in fifth at present and still have a mathematical chance of the runner-up spot too. Neil Plimmer/Ben Pitch are still in contention for the Masters title for PLR, while Vapeclub’s Vlad Vassiliev/Matt Dorkings, have had two fourth places and would like to end the season with a maiden podium.
Fuelled Up Racing are currently third in the Masters, and this weekend it’s Wendy Ellis-Smith back in the car, sharing with husband Paul and Jamie Price.
Team Greenheath have missed three rounds this year, but after sitting out the last round at Donington, Gary Bate is back with Paul Turner sharing.
There are two Team Olympian Cars as Chris Dovell and Kristian Rose have Scott Parkin with them again. Their best result was third in the opening round, so they we will look to match that result or do better.
In the second car Mark Slatter will be teamed with son Alfie Slatter who will be racing for the first time and be joined by Riley Phillips.
It’s going to be a busy weekend for EDF, as well as the Vapeclub car they are running Simon Coles/Rob Croydon again in the 104 car.
MJ Tec GITI are back, having missed Donington following their heavy shunt at Anglesey. Martin Gibson and Scott Jeffs share as usual and if there is to be a maiden victor this weekend, it could just be them?
Track Focused have dabbled in and out of the Championship this season, but are back with Mike McCollum and Neil Smith joined by team boss Sean Cooper.
The Apollo Motorsport trio of John Goodwin, Peter Flynn and Stuart Ramsay had their best result at Donington last time, but CCS Media had problems early on. They have their usual line-up of Alan Honarmand and Bob Tomlinson, with Nigel Greensall likely to start the race.
GT Radial have Ellis Hadley back in the seat too, where he is joined again by TT Motor Cycling legend John McGuinness, having debuted in the Fun Cup last season.
Paul Calladine’s We Have No Idea team are back with Alan Baldwin and Brandon James, while the rest of the “James Gang,” are back out in 157 with Derrin and Lewis sharing with GT racer James Appleby.
Team 3 Motorsport and Three Shires Racing have both been recent additions to the grid and will be joining us again for this Oulton finale. Andy Bennett/John Perrott share for Team 3, while David Postins/Mark Snow are paired for Three Shires.
Finally the Black Widows car has another new line-up this weekend, with Historic racers Mark Dwyer, Neil Glover and Jason Green, often more akin to V8’s and Historic F1 cars.
Qualifying on Saturday is from 9.20 to 10.05 and the four-hour race starts at 12.05
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, October 19th 2022
