FUN CUP ENDURANCE2023 – ROUND ONE – BRANDS HATCH – PREVIEW
It’s almost a month later than last season, but this Saturday the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit resounds to the sound and excitement of the opening round of the 2023 Fun Cup Endurance Championship.
Reigning Champions GCI are notable for their absence, but UVio Hofmann’s Motorsport are back, as regular drivers Farquini Deott and Fabio Randaccio look regain their crown.
Team Olympian are back to their former title winning line-up too, as Riley Phillips rejoins Chris Dovell and Kristian Rose.
Having joined the Greenheath team part into last season, Paul Turner is again set to partner Gary Bate, as they strive for that top step of the podium.
It wouldn’t be Fun Cup without Neil Plimmer either, the ex FF1600 racer has raced in the Championship every year since its inception and it back for more with Ben Pitch, as they look towards the Masters title too.
Having only seen GT Radial’s Ellis Hadley on a few occasions last year along with a selection of guests, he’s back too with former team mate Martin Gibson back on board. The Truck racer was with Scott Jeffs last year, but it won’t be Gibson and Hadley’s first motorsport event of the year, as they shared a Mini on the Dukeries Rally at Donington Park.
Colin Kingsnorth and Mark Holme have teamed up this term. With Kingsnorth’s former partner Richard Webb a reluctant retiree from the Stobart Sport Team, and Holme’s ex Viking co-driver Nick Nunn stepping down to focus on son Harry’s British GT campaign, Team Viking/Ursus Capital Racing are born.
Eddie Farrow’s EDF squad are in for a busy year with a three-car entry. Vlad Vassiliev and Matt Dorkings will be looking to add to their 2022 success in the Vapeclub car, while Victor Kara and Simon Coles are both back too, with different partners.
Coles shares with Campbell Cassidy who had a few outings last season, while Kara shares with debutant Garry Summers.
Sharing the JPR 99 car are two drivers normally associated with other teams. Former Agua Caliente driver Matt Hogg is now partnered by Stuart Ramsay from Apollo Racing.
Former MG racer Zak Mercer joins the Fun too, as he is slated to share the JPR 251 with occasional racer and Pikes Peak driver David Rowe, and Fun Cup legend David “Scrappy” Clark under the Luxury Trackdays banner.
It’s just Paul’s Ellis-Smith and Taylor sharing for Fuelled Up Racing. Keen to impress in their second season, they will have Wendy in a supporting role.
Also back after debuting last year are Team 3 Motorsport with Andy Bennett, John Perrott and David Postins, along with the James Gang of Brandon, Harvey and Lewis.
There is more family involvement with Sam and Ted Smeeth back at Shire GB, while Team Ratters Racing are debuting too, with ex Caterham racer Peter, joined by David and John.
Question Tools will be debuting too, led by Monoposto racer Paul Booth, with son Harvey and Michael Mulligan.
The Axiametrics name is back on the grid with Chris Weatherill. He has super sub and Sports 2000 driver Neil Burroughs and VW/Britcar’s Simon Rudd joining him, in a very strong line-up.
Finally John Whitehouse and Steve Ruston share the Signature RV car. Better known for their recent exploits in GT Cup with a McLaren GT3, they also made their C1 Series debut last month too.
Saturday’s qualifying is at 10.25 for 50 minutes with the four hour races starting at 13.50.
Published by Peter Scherer for Fun Cup Endurance, April 12th 2023
