FUN CUP ENDURANCE 2023 – ROUND SEVEN– DONINGTON PARK
PREVIEW
It’s already the penultimate event of the Championship as we arrive at Donington Park, but it’s all to play for in the Championship, after both Olympian and UVio/Hofmann’s had problems at Silverstone.
Neil Plimmer and Ben Pitch’s PLR Racing now have a 19 point lead, before dropped scores, established through consistency. They have had two podium finishers, but have yet to visit the top step of the podium this season.
Olympian’s Chris Dovell, Kristian Rose and Riley Phillips started the season with two consecutive victories at Brands Hatch and Snetterton. They won again at Oulton, but had problems at Anglesey as well as Silverstone, which saw them slip to second in the points.
Victory for Team Viking/Ursus Capital Racing at Silverstone moved them into third place, followed a third in the Anglesey night race and second at Oulton. Having missed the last round, Colin Kingsnorth is back to join Mark Holme, who makes his last appearance of the season. So Jonathan Hoad stands down, but will be back in the seat for the Oulton finales.
It’s been a very up and down season for Farquini Deott and Fabio Randaccio, which sees UVio/Hofmann’s fourth in the standings. Double winners at Anglesey and podiums in the first two rounds, but luck seems to have deserted them in the last two.
Team Greenheath’s Gary Bate and Paul Turner have shown their undoubted pace in most races. Despite no major problems, their results have been marred with little niggles that have tended to prove costly, so fifth at Brands and Silverstone leave them fifth in the points too.
GT Radial are sixth in the table, but have had their usual variety of drivers sharing the car. This weekend it’s down to regulars Ellis Hadley and Martin Gibson to see if they can claim their first podium of the season.
The EDF Motorsports car of Simon Coles and Rob Croydon has shown potential too. They have run in the lead group in a number of races, with fourth at Anglesey their best so far.
Vlad Vassiliev and Matt Dorkings in the Vape Club backed EDF car have had a disappointing year so far. They started the season with lots of promise, but have failed to record a top six finish yet.
AxiaMetrics /GRD Racing’s Chris Weatherill, Neil Burroughs and Simon Rudd have led races and shown the pace and capability to be winners. They have been on the podium at Anglesey and Silverstone, but have had too much misfortune to be title challengers.
10th in the table is the JPR 110 car, which has been run this year as Red River Racing and Signature RV. This weekend it has multiple Mazda MX5 winner Adam Bessell making his Fun Cup debut, sharing with Brazilian Antonio Almeida Souza and Domas Dregva, a Lithuanian sales director from Maidstone.
Defending Champion GCI Racing will be making their third appearance of the season. Craig Butterworth and Ian Wood were second at Snetterton and fourth in the last round at Silverstone.
Silverstone also marked the return of ex Champions Racelogic. Despite having been absent for four years, Julian Thomas and David Denyer took the lead battle down to the wire, having to settle for second place by only 0.09 secs.
Peter Ratcliff and sons David and John are out again as Team Ratters. They made their Fun Cup debuts at Brands with a seventh place, which they matched at Silverstone last time out.
Scott Jeffs and Will Abraham’s MJ Tec car missed the Brands opener, but apart from Silverstone, they have been top five finishers, with a second place at Anglesey when Greg Evans deputised for Abraham.
Team 3 Motorsport’s Andy Bennett, David Postins and John Perrott had their best result at the Anglesey daytime race, taking ninth, while Seed Data’s Matt Hogg and Mike Devlin had three top 10’s, taking eighth at Anglesey too. Hogg probably tops the table for misfortune, having been hit on the opening laps at both Snetterton and Silverstone.
Fuelled Up Racing are still seeking their first top 10 of the year. Paul and Wendy Ellis-Smith will be joined by Jamie Price or Paul Taylor again.
David Farrow and Gary Summers are sharing the third EDF car again and after an impressive debut at Oulton Park, Mazda MX5 star Ted Bradbury is back to lead the 195 JPR car with Britcar regular Ash Woodman and fellow MX5 racer William Chadwick.
The Easy2reach car is back too after a fairly eventful Anglesey. Red Bull Tech Man Jason Cheetham, has rapid Caterham racer Steve Riley sharing, along with Tom Greensall. Tom having proved that Uncle Nigel isn’t the only Greensall to lead a Fun Cup race, having led about 10 yards.
Qualifying is on Saturday morning 10.30-11.15 and it’s lights out for the four hour race from 13.20.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, September 6th 2023
