We are already into the fifth round of this years Fun Cup Endurance Championship, as we make a return to the spiritual home at Oulton Park. Dominance is not a word usually used in Fun Cup circles, but in conjunction with UVio/Hofmans Lotus it is very apt.
With three wins out of four, 2019 Champions Farquini Deott/Fabio Randaccio, have been the ones to watch throughout, suffering their only defeat at the hands of DespatchBay Expresses Andy Bicknell/Harry Mailer, in the first of the two Anglesey races.
UVio/Hofmans currently hold a 26 point lead over DespatchBay, with second place being their lowest finish so far.
DespatchBay lost time in the last round when they had a throttle cable break, but they still have points in hand over MakeHappen and Team Viking, jointly holding third.
Mark Holme/Nick Nunn have now become regular challengers, but are keen to get back onto that top step.
This weekend Stephen Walton is missing from the MakeHappen line-up, which means Mark Owens shares with Greg Evans. Gary Bate/Simon Smith have got quicker and quicker in the Greenheath car, hence their current fifth in the championship.nBoth drivers have shown they have pace to run at the front and not only podiums now look probabilities, but a possible win too.
Since teaming up with Martin Gibson as MJTec GTi, fomer Mini Challenger Scott Jeffs have been frontrunners in most races. Gibson is still to break his Fun Cup duck, so with Jeffs on board could it be this weekend that the duo climb to the top step?
The Greensall Motorsport car of the Smeeth family lost their win at Anglesey due to a technicality. They don’t have Nigel in their squad this weekend, but with Sam’s pace, he can hopefully keep father Simon and brother Sam in contention.
Greensall’s are also out as usual with brothers Ryan and Paul Lewis, while Nigel is back in the CCS Media car for the second time this season, sharing with Alan Honarmand and Bob Tomlinson.
Stobart Sport’s Colin Kingsnorth/Richard Webb were one of the teams to miss the second Anglesey race after engine maladies, but they are back and ready to make up for lost time, as are defending Champions Team Olympian, currently 15th in the points.
In each race so far Olympian’s Chris Dovell/Riley Phillips/Kristian Rose have been competitive, but their ongoing misfortunes have made PLR almost seem lucky; Neil Plimmer/Ben Pitch have at least seen some race finishes this year and ran in the top three for much of their time on track.
Enduro Motorsport have one car out this weekend due to clashes, but Chris Weatherill/Jon Currie are quite capable of a top six, given some luck too.
Agua Caliente have both cars out, with Derek Basham down to share with Paul Turner, in Rob Croydon’s absence, while Rob Perry/Matt Hogg share the second as usual.
After debuting at Oulton last year, EDF are back with two cars. Matt Dorkings/Vlad Vassiliev share their regular car, but in the second, it’s a welcome back to former Fun Cup regulars Mark Burton with Graham and Tom Pattle.
Track Focused are down to two drivers with Neil Smith and Mike McCollum, so there is no Sean Cooper, away on other team duties.
Stand2 are getting nearer and nearer the front in their Paul Wighton run car. Both Martyn Compton/Warren McKinlay have shown increasingly good pace, so will be looking to progress further.
There are a few changes in the driving line-up with other teams too. At RAW, Paul Rivett is unavailable, so Ray Grimes joins Alex and John Macleod.
Jonathan Benson is due to share at GT Radial with Ellis Hadley, while there is new JPR Black Widow, as BRSCC Chief Operations Manager Paul McErlain joins Steve Harris and Dominic Jackson.
Completing the 23 car grid will be We Have No Ideas’s Paul Calladine/Alan Baldwin .
Qualifying is at 10.10 on Saturday morning for 45 mins, before the return of the brilliant Fun Cup grid walks. The race begins at 13.25 for four hours of action.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance Championship, August 11th 2021.
