It’s back to Oulton Park this weekend for the Fun Cup Endurance Championship, but this time there’s a morning Sprint Race, before the four hour main event.
UVio/Hofman’s Lotus duo Farquini Deott/Fabio Randaccio currently hold a 14 point lead after their four wins out of six races, but last time out at Croft it was their first non podium finish of the year.
Andy Bicknell/Harry Mailer are second in the standings, with one win from Anglesey. They started the season strongly too, but had problems at the second Anglesey race with a broken throttle cable and lost out at the previous visit to Oulton too.
Team Viking’s Mark Holme and Nick Nunn have been one of the most consistent teams, but are still waiting for their first win of the season. They were on the podium at Silverstone and Anglesey.
Consistency has put MakeHappen Racing’s Steve Walton/Greg Evans fourth in the Championship. Fourth place is their best result this season too, so they are seeking a podium.
MJ Tec GITI were a new team this year, with former Mini and Euro NASCAR racer Scott Jeffs joined by Truck racer and Fun Cup regular Martin Gibson. They have led races, but are currently fifth in the Championship, having started the season with a third at Donington.
Former Britcar team mates Martyn Compton/Warren McKinlay teamed up this year to form Stand2 Motorsport, run by ex Fun Cupper Paul Wighton. They have become regular top six finishers, but have shown the pace to finish higher.
Gary Bate/Simon Smith at Team Greenheath, are one of the big improvers this season. The ex Caterham racers have run with the leaders at most events and had their first podium in the night race at Anglesey.
PLR’s Neil Plimmer/Ben Pitch were third at Oulton on their last visit, which matched their previous best at Anglesey. They still have their share of bad luck though, which plagued them for much of last season.
Ninth in the Championship are GT Radial, where Ellis Hadley has had a number of co-drivers. TT legend John McGuinness, Downhill Mountain biker Steve Peat and at Croft Freddie Hunt have all taken part, but this weekend, it’s Sim racer, Youtube star and now Britcar racer Jimmy Broadbent, with former GT racer Luke Sedzikowki.
Reigning Champion Team Olympian kept the same line-up as last year, with Chris Dovell, Kristian Rose and Riley Phillips. It had been a disaster of a year until they took second at Oulton, which was followed by victory at Croft in the last round, moving them to 10th in the table.
Greensall Motorsport have a family feel about their two entries, as brothers Ryan/Paul Lewis share one, while Simon Smeeth has sons Sam and Ted sharing too.
Greensall’s also run the CCS Media car, which has former GT racer and now occasional rally driver Steve Johansen sharing with Alan Honarmand and Bob Tomlinson, as he did at Oulton earlier in the season.
Enduro Motorsport have just the one car this weekend, due to the clashing British GT’s, keeping Morgan Tillbrook/Marcus Clutton busy. So it’s down to Jon Currie/Chris Weatherill to uphold team honour.
Agua Caliente are bringing both cars, with usual drivers Rob Croydon/Paul Turner joined by Matt Hogg/Derek Basham in Rob Perry’s absence.
EDF made their Fun Cup debut at Oulton last season and are back with a two car line-up. Vlad Vassiliev/Matt Dorkings, while the second car is for debutants Jonathan Evans/ Victor Kara.
Track Focused have been regulars in the Fun Cup for a number of years when other commitments allow and they are back at full strength with Sean Cooper/Mike McCollum and Neil Smith.
A new name this year but familiar faces were Stobart Sport’s Colin Kingsnorth/Richard Webb. They missed the last round at Croft and had to sit out the Anglesey night race after a blown engine, so are keen for a good result.
Tachosys with Raw Motorsports had a new livery this year and have made steady progress, with multiple Renault Clio UK Cup Champion Paul Rivett guiding Alex Macleod to faster and better times. Alex’s brother John had stepped in when his Radical commitments allow, and when Rivett was away playing in the BTCC, Ray Grimes took over.
GCI Racing’s Craig Butterworth/Ian Wood, were fourth last time out at Croft. They have only done three rounds this year, but have never been out of the top six.
At JPR Black Widows it is as much about fun as racing, with “Big Dom” Jackson doing his best to keep Steve “Snooker” Harris and David “Scrappy” Clark on the pace, yes that’s pace!
Paul Calladine and Alan Baldwin, could maybe change their name to “We now have a bit of an idea,” rather than the existing “We have No Idea”, as they have now done four rounds from six.
Finally, Andy Bicknell’s son Max is out again for the first time since the Donington opener. He’s sharing the DesptatchBay Express Juniors car with William Smith.
There is a 45 minute qualifying session at 10.05 with the one hour sprint race at 11.15.
The feature four hour race kicks off at 14.05.
