FUN CUP ENDURANCE 2023 – ROUND SIX – SILVERSTONE
PREVIEW
WHO CAN BREAK THE OLYMPIAN V UVIO HOFMANNS DOMINANCE.
Defending Fun Cup Endurance Champions GCI Racing are back for round six of the Championship at Silverstone. Craig Butterworth/Ian Wood’s only outing so far this year was a second place at Snetterton.
So far though it’s Team Olympian’s Chris Dovell/Kristian Rose and Rilye Phillips UVio/Hofmann’s Farquini Deott/Fabio Randaccio that had dominated the top step of the podium, Olympian with three wins to UVio’s two.
But Team PLR’s Neil Plimmer/Ben Pitch split the teams on the current Championship standings, with two podiums and a best of second place at Brands Hatch, they are eight points behind Olympian and 12 up on UVio.
GT Radial are currently fourth in the points, but continue to have guest drivers sharing. Regular man Ellis Hadley is due to share this weekend, with German single seater racer Simone Busch and her manager/rally driver Frank Farber.
Team Greenheath’s Gary Bate/Paul Turner’s best this year was a fifth at Brands Hatch, which sees them fifth in the points. A little luck added to their obvious pace, could see them take their first podium of 2023.
There is a change in the line-up at Team Viking & Ursus Capital Racing, as Jonathan Hoad steps out of the shadows to share with Mark Holme, as Colin Kingsnorth is absent. After a third at Anglesey, they were second last time out at Oulton Park.
MJ tec have looked strong this season, but were missing from the opening round. Second at Anglesey has been their best so far, while this weekend Scott Jeffs has Will Abraham sharing again.
Third at Anglesey has been AxiaMatrics/GRD’s best so far, but they have had more than there share of misfortune too. Chris Weatherill leads the trio again, from Sports 2000 racer Neil Burroughs and ex VW Cup and Britcar man Simon Rudd.
Former GT Cup racers Steve Ruston and John Whitehouse have had a busy season, racing Fun Cup and C1. They have previously raced a rent a car, but should debut their own car this weekend, with GT ace Marcus Clutton joining, having shared at Oulton.
Team Ratters joined the Championship at the beginning of the season, with Caterham man Peter Ratcliff sharing with sons David and John. David raced Saxmax many years ago, but before the opening race at Brands, John had never raced and they finished seventh overall.
EDF Motorsports are in for their usual busy weekend. Vlad Vassiliev/Matt Dorkings have had their share of problems this year in the Vapeclub car, while both Rob Croydon and Simon Coles have shown good pace too.
Victor Kara and Garry Summers are together in the 104 car, Kara being absentee from the Oulton round. Completing their quartet are Asian and Le Mans Cup racer Nick Adcock and son Rupert, with Nielsen boss Sven Thompson.
Former Champions Racelogic haven’t been out for a number of years , but with a gap in his Historic racing calendar, Julian Thomas returns with David Denyer sharing.
Team 3 have their regular line-up of Andy Bennet/John Perrott and David Postins, while Seed Data have their regular pairing of Mike Devlin/Matt Hogg too.
Former International Sports/GT star Johnny Mowlem lead the Red River Racing, with the improving pace of Gareth Williams, while Paul Ellis-Smith has Jamie Price and Paul Taylor share the FuelledUp car.
DW Motorsport make their Fun Cup debut this weekend with the experienced ex BTCC, VW Cup and Mini Challenge racer Stewart Lines on board, having previously raced Fun Cup at Spa a few years ago. Karter and Mini Challenge teen Harvey Riby and F1000’s Mark Crawford join him.
Fellow debutants Britain West Motorsports complete the line-up, with Canadian Formula Fordsters Kieran Murphy and Gord Ross sharing.
Qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10.15 for 45 minutes, with lights out for the four-hour race at 13.50.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, August 16th 2023
