FUN CUP ENDURANCE 2026 – ROUND TWO – SNETTERTON – PREVIEW
The all action Fun Cup Endurance Championship is on track again this weekend, with four hours of thrilling action at Snetterton.
With defending champions Team GRD off to a flying start with a victory in the opening round at Oulton Park, the pressure is on for their rivals to stop Chris Dovell, Simon Rudd and Riley Phillips from taking a fourth consecutive title.
As in 2025 UVio/Hofmann’s Farquini and Fabulous Randaccio were the closest challengers at Oulton, but with Vapeclub EDF’s Ted Bradbury and Vlad Vassliev third in the opener, the overall podium was identical to last seasons final championship positions.
Bradbury and Vassiliev had their first win together at Silverstone last year, but having changed last years test car to this years race car, they started Oulton on the back foot with an engine failure in testing.
Greenheath’s Gary Bate and Paul Turner were fifth in last years championship and just missed out on the Oulton podium, so will be looking to go at least one better this weekend.
2022 Champions GCI Racing also made a good start to the season with Craig Butterworth and Ian Wood, and are one of a number of possible winners at Snetterton. They haven’t committed to a full season yet, but success this weekend may persuade them.
Red River Sport were last years Masters Champions, but had a number of issues at Oulton and were non finishers. Gareth Williams rejoins Johnny Mowlem and Bonamy Grimes at Snetterton, having missed the opener.
FNS Morpheus Motorsport had former team mates Steve Walton and Greg Evans reunited to finish eighth at Oulton, but this weekend Evans has teenager Neo Clarke sharing, who was out in 157 in the opener.
It’s now six years since Racelogic dominated the championship, with four consecutive titles up to 2015. After time away focussing on his growing collection of Classic and Historic racers, Julian Thomas returned to Fun Cup last season, with David Denyer sharing.
PLR Racing’s Neil Plimmer is the longest serving Fun Cup driver, having contested every single year since his move from Formula Ford. After winning the title for the third time in 2011, he was third in the Masters Championship last season. Sharing with Tim Wheeldon, they have a brand-new car for 2026, and it’s not red.
Demon Tweeks came into the Championship last season with two cars. Brothers Jason and Guy Minshaw have nephew Jack sharing, they were fifth in the Masters at Oulton.
Mark Burton and Matthew Reeve head the second car, but have former Formula BMW, Formula Ford, BMW Compact and Porsche racer Stephen Roberts joining them, after switching from the Rob Boston team.
Boston has three other entries, one for Mazda MX-5 Champion Will Blackwell-Chambers and James Reilly, who debuted at Oulton and a second with drivers yet to be nominated.
Rob Croydon completes the RBR line-up in his Rare Vinyl car, but hasn’t name a co-driver yet. The car finished sixth at Oulton with Sam Heading and Tom Lebbon.
Track Focused were regular Fun Cuppers for many years, but made a welcome return at Oulton with Sean Cooper and Mike McCollum and led the race in the early stages.
AxiaMetrics have a change in their line-up again this weekend. Chris Weatherill leads again, with William Smith, who drove 157 at Oulton and Chris Bridle making his return, replacing Tom Greensall.
Seed Data’s Mike Devlin and Matt Hogg had a consistent run in the season opener too, but they had been hoping for top six and finished 10th, while returning after two years in the French Championship, Team Viking & Ursus Capital Racing’s Mark Holme were just behind them. This weekend Holme has Fun Cup super-sub Harry Mailer sharing, with Colin Kingsnorth unavailable.
The Ninky Nonk car is a proven race winner, but was missing from the grid at Oulton. Shay Brennan who debuted in the 99 car at Oulton is due to drive and has GT racer Mikey Porter returning to the Championship, after a few outings last season.
Signature RV’s Steve Ruston, John Whitehouse and Marcus Clutton will be hoping for better fortunes than of late, but as former race winners are always worth an outside bet.
Team Clapham North were debutants at the season opener, run by EDF. George Grant had a one-off last season but is in for the season this time, with the vastly experience Abbie Eaton sharing again, having proved her pace at Oulton.
The Sunoco Racing trio of Anders and Axel Hildebrand are making their seasonal debuts with Phil Keen sharing, and at AI Racing Tech there is a complete change in line-up with Ian Morris now sharing with ex Jedi, Radical and GT racer Ryan Harper-Ellam.
Garry Summers and Graham Winstone are out again as G Force and sharing the Black Widows car this weekend with David “Scrappy” Clark, is Emirates racer Rahil Taneja, who has raced Renault Clio’s in the Middle East for the last few years, but never raced rear wheel drive.
Father and son Andre and Pierre Renom are back for the first time since their huge first corner accident at last years Oulton finale and we have one brand new team this weekend to. Northern Velocity have Jack Harding, a front runner from the Mazda MX-5’s and Civic Cup, sharing with Alan Henderson and Daniel Irving, both ex Mazda racers too. They are eligible for the £10,000 first race winners prize.
Qualifying starts at 10.20 on Saturday morning, with lights out again for four hours of action at 14.25.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqKGJUeXgL4
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, May 6th 2026
