It’s the end of the season already and all eyes are on Donington Park and the final round of the Fun Cup Endurance Championship.
UVio/Hofman’s Lotus were double winners at Oulton Park last time out, making it six for the season. So, former Champions Farquini Deott/Fabio Randaccio are looking favourites for both the race and the Championship this weekend.
MakeHappen moved into second in the Championship at Oulton, mainly through Greg Evans/Stephen Walton’s consistency. But, there is a change in their line-up this weekend, as regular Fun Cup sub Neil Burroughs steps in for Walton.
DespatchBay.com’s Andy Bicknell/Harry Mailer have been at the sharp end of the championship standings all year, with a win at Anglesey. If they stay out of trouble they will be looking for the podium at Donington again.
MJ Tec GITI were new on the scene this season and have spent most of the year challenging near the front. They are yet to have a win and also have a change of driver this weekend; With Martin Gibson at Brands Hatch racing his truck, Scott Jeffs is joined by fellow former Euro NASCAR racer Callum Cripps, making his Fun Cup debut.
By their own standards Team Viking have had a disappointing year. Over the last couple of seasons they have been title contenders at this stage, but Mark Holme/Nick Nunn are currently fifth and will be looking to end the season with a strong finish.
Neil Plimmer and Ben Pitch have certainly made up for the dramas they have suffered over the last two seasons. Their PLR car has been near the front almost every race and their new found reliability has seen podium rewards.
Team Greenheath’s Gary Bate/Simon Smith had their first Fun Cup podium this year and have been one of the best improvers on the grid. They are capable of winning, depending on circumstances and a bit of luck.
Track Focused haven’t done every round this year, but are still eighth in the Championship. They are fielding their regular line-up with Sean Cooper starting and finishing, supported by Mike McCollum and Neil Smith.
Team Olympian were last year’s Champions, with Kristian Rose, Riley Philips and Chris Dovell. They have had a win and shown pace in other races, but have taken over the mantle of unluckiest team from PLR this season.
Ellis Hadley had had a number of guests sharing his GT Radial car this year and this weekend he has two more.
David “Knighter” Knight MBE is a three times World Enduro Champion from the Isle of Man.
Completing their line-up,q is Rob Warner, a Downhill Mountain Biker, and former team mate to Steve Peat, who we saw racing earlier this season.
EDF Motorsport’s Vlad Vassiliev/Matt Dorkings went well at Oulton and this weekend they are joined by Kieren Clark/Fabio Leimer in the team’s second car.
Clark is a former BARC Formula Champion who is more into driver management now. Kurt Leimer has been contesting the Porsche Cayman Sprint Series in the UK this year, having taken two podiums and finished seventh in the Championship.
Agua Caliente have both cars out this weekend. Paul Turner/Rob Croydon were another duo to show good pace at Oulton, while it’s regulars Matt Hogg and Rob Perry in the second car.
Greensall Motorsport are running three cars. Ryan Lewis has two new team mates sharing in place of Brother Paul. David Huxley is normally a classic racer and has been seen out in a Porsche, BMW and Ford Mustang of late and is joined by Scott Nicholas.
Sam, Simon and Ted Smeeth share their usual car, while Nigel Greensall himself is back out in the CCS car with Alan Honarmand and Bob Tomlinson.
Enduro Motorsport are back to two cars with British GT race winners Morgan Tillbrook and Marcus Clutton returning to join team mates Chris Weatherill and Jon Currie.
Colin Kingsnorth/Richard Webb are out in their Stobart Sport car, while Alex Macleod has Brother John sharing his Tachosys with RAW Motorsports entry, with Paul Rivet unavailable.
GCI Racing ran strongly last time out and should be near the front with Craig Butterworth and Ian Wood.
Finally JPR Black Widows will hopefully have their car repaired after the Oulton shunt, for Dominic Jackson, Steve Harris and David Clark, whilst Paul Calladine welcomes back Alan Baldwin in the We Have No Idea car after missing Oulton.
Qualifying starts on Saturday morning at 9.40 for 45 minutes and the race is at midday for four hours.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance Championship, November 4th 2021.
