We shall fight on the track, we shall fight in the pit lane, we shall fight in the paddock and in the awning, we shall fight in the cars; we shall never surrender!!
Reigning Champions – Team Olympian
FUN CUP ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP – OULTON PARK FINALS PREVIEW
After taking the dropped scores into account, only 12 points seperate reigning champions Team Olympian GRD’s Chris Dovell, Riley Phillips and Simon Rudd and former champions UVio Hofmann’s Farquini Deott/Fabulous Randaccio, as we reach the climax of the 2024 Fun Cup Endurance Championship at Oulton Park.
After taking four successive wins, Olympian succumbed to brake problems at Donington and finished off the podium for only the second time this season.
UVio have had six podiums out of seven, but after problems of their own at Donington still seek their first 2024 victory.
Currently third in the table after securing their best result ever, with second at Donington, EDF Vapeclub’s Vlad Vassiliev and Simon Coles are still in with a shout of the title too.
Neil Burrough’s and Ted Bradbury have run as Morpheus all season, but are to be known as The Ninky Nonk this weekend. Winners last time out to add to their early season win at Croft, they currently lie fifth in the championship.
PLR’s Neil Plimmer/ Ben Pitch have been in the top four at the last three rounds. They are now sixth in the table with a best of third at Snetterton and Donington and lie second behind Olympian in Masters Class.
Signature RV have moved up to fourth after four consecutive top six finishes for Steve Ruston/John Whitehouse and Marcus Clutton. They are fourth in the Masters too.
Sure, Winning the BTCC is pretty special, but if that Hill geezer wants to elevate himself amongst the creme de la creme of motorsport, he needs to win on his debut.
Fabulous Randycockio, Uvio – Who won on his debut back in 2012!
In joint sixth with PLR are Team Greenheath’s Gary Bate/Paul Turner. They had a third place at Anglesey and have had two other top six finishes.
Team Ratters and Seed Data are the others currently in the top 10.
Peter, David and John Ratcliff finally got the sixth they have been capable of, last time out at Donington.
Seed Data had a particularly strong Anglesey weekend, taking fourth and fifth places. So Matt Hogg and Mike Devlin will be hoping to end their season on another high.
There are two crews vying for the £10,000 first time winners prize. Jake Hill needs no introduction as the newly crowned BTCC Champion and he has Ginetta Junior ace Charlie Hart joining him with Morpheus.
Secondly Ram Racing’s Mercedes British GT4 pair Harry George and Luca Hopkinson team up again as Team HLR – these two are a very strong pairing and are certainly ones to watch at Oulton.
Charlie Hart is up against his father Chris and Stephen Walton, plus Walton’s brother Chris with Harry Mailer, both in Morpheus run cars too.
We’re looking forward to what should be a pretty busy weekend at Oulton Park. With 2 rounds left and a competitive grid, anything can happen!
We control our own destiny and it will be business as usual – we dont need to change anything. Plan A is to drive fast and don’t crash. Chris Dovell hasn’t told me plans B to Z yet!
– Simon Rudd, Team Olympian
Having successfully shared Fun Cup cars over many years, Phil Keen and Peter Belshaw are returnees. Keen shares with his British GT partner Ian Loggie on his Fun Cup debut, while ex Radical and GT racer Belshaw partners Rob Croydon in the Rare Vinyl car.
Red River have had three seventh places, but it’s just Gareth Williams with Johnny Mowlem this weekend, as Bonamy Grimes is absent.
It’s been a season of one disaster after another for AxiaMetrics. Chris Weatherill, Jonathan Railton and Greg Evans have shown front running pace at times but fifth at Anglesey has been their best finish – and where we expect to see these three regularly.
Another returnee who needs no introduction is former BTCC, GT and single seater racer Antony Reid.
Antony raced in Fun Cup about seven years ago with the Iron Maiden Team and returns to share an EDF car with Victor Kara and David Farrow.
Former multiple champions Racelogic are out again with Julian Thomas and David Denyer and in the GMR/Eco car Gracie Mitchell is joined by karter William Antrobus.
Ferrari Challenge racers Andrew Isherwood/Adam Fawsitt/Steve Payne are also back for more, as are Caterham Champion Lewis Thompson, with Nick Highton and Barry Thompson at Team FFS.
Wave 9 are currently third in the Masters Class and once again Graham and Tom Pattle join Mark Burton.
Skull Club’s Jac Constable/Russell Joyce changed cars at Donington, so will be hoping to continue their progress.
At Not Fast, Extremely Furious it’s John Perrott sharing with Steve Harris and Vikram Sudera, Fast Track are Olof Anthon Jahreskog. Elisha Day and Simon Lidzen, while Hi Peak Racing have Craig Keeble sharing with Paul Calladine and Guido Basile.
Jamie Price and Paul Taylor are both down to share with Paul and Wendy Ellis-Smith at Fuelled Up Racing
Finally after debuting at Donington, Darren Brown joins Garry Summers to complete ever growing entry at Oulton Park
Qualifying is at 08.30 for 45 minutes, with the one hour sprint race at 10.25 and the three hour finale at 14.35.
PUBLISHED BY PETER SCHERER, FOR THE FUN CUP ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP, OCTOBER 24th 2024
