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Lotus Cup Europe 2009 - Round 1

Brands Hatch A1GP Race Report

1st - 3rd May

 

Introduction

The first round of the 2009 Lotus Cup Europe also coincided with the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.  A packed grid of Lotuses including many entries from the UK Elise Trophy series were out to impress a huge crowd over three gloriously sunny days at the historic circuit, scene of many Formula One victories for Lotus.  Comparing the fortunes of the participants of both series would be a fascinating prospect.

The maximum grid on this famous old circuit is 44 cars, there was 48 entries for the Lotus races and race 1 saw a maximum grid of 44 cars start including 211’s, Exiges, Elises and a solitary Europa.

Qualifying

Late on Friday afternoon the cars joined the track in warm spring conditions.

Having raced in the previous Elise Trophy round at Silverstone, Scotland’s Scott Cruickshank continued his astonishing form, posting the fastest time of European cars in his 2-Eleven and 5th overall, this being only his second race meeting.  The flying Scotsman headed Jonathan Walker (6th overall) by almost a second, with the leading Elise Trophy 2-Eleven of Simon Deacon back in tenth.

Up at the front, Elise Trophy official and occasional competitor Jamie Stanley returned in the Modified class and set a scorching time but immediately afterwards spun at Paddock Hill bend, which threatened to neutralise the session.  Thankfully he found grip and reversed out, albeit with damaged pride.  He remained on pole, ahead of UK regulars Chris Randall, Steve Williams and Ben Pitch.  Next up would be Lotus Cup Europe’s Cruickshank.

Fastest of the Exige runners was David Seear in 11th, several places ahead of John Rasse in 19th.  Then we had the 2-Eleven of Christophe Lisandre, three places ahead of Olivier Cunat’s Exige, which would be starting in front of 2-Eleven-mounted Antoine Leblois.

Many of the European runners had never driven the technical Brands Hatch GP circuit before, some were given the luxury of a lap or two of the circuit in a mini bus laid on by organisers but then were thrown in at the deep end straight into qualifying.  the weekend so there was a huge learning curve with Harry Steegmans (2-Eleven, 26th overall), Patrick Goblet (2-Eleven, 33rd), Gregory Rasse (Exige, 37th) and Eric Chappard (Exige, 39th). At all future rounds of Lotus Cup Europe we will see free practice and in most cases a full track or test day.

The grid also featured UK Production class runners, many of whom were mainly running Rover-powered cars and these were led by Michael Edwards, a regular frontrunner in the class, 16th overall and 5 places ahead of his nearest challenger, James Knight.

With the European cars mixed in with a packed grid of 44 cars, we were in for an entertaining trio of races.

Qualifying Classification

1. Cruickshank (211)
2. Walker (211)
3. Seear (Exige)
4. J Rasse (Exige)
5. Lisandre (211)
6. Cunat (Exige)
7. Leblois (211)
8. Steegmans (211)
9. Goblet (211)
10. G Rasse (Exige)
11. Chappard (Exige)

Race One

The first of three rounds would take place on Saturday morning.  Conditions were clear but the air was cool, almost perfect for racing.  Chris Randall took the lead at the start in his Europa, pole sitter Stanley following close behind, however going out into the GP loop, Randall made an error which Stanley and the following Steve Williams were happy to capitalise on.

Scott Cruickshank assumed the lead of the European cars and set off after the leaders, but this would have to wait as exiting Druids for the second time of asking, UK runner Chris Baker got on the power too early and found himself in the barrier, which brought out the safety car.  The field circulated for a lap, after which Stanley led the field followed by Williams and Randall. Meanwhile Cruickshank was trying a little too hard to make amends for an earlier error, putting him behind Jonathan Walker.  This wouldn’t last and not long after Cruickshank just managed to retake the Euro lead despite some hairy moments, his car not handling the way he wanted it to.  Around the same time Randall managed to find a way past Williams and second overall.

So Stanley took a fine victory, with Randall some way behind but ahead of Williams.  The Lotus Cup Europe race was won by Cruickshank, finishing seventh overall, one place ahead of Jonathan Walker, who finished just in front of UK 2-Eleven Class winner Simon Deacon.  David Seear took third place and top of the Exige class, with an overall 13th place.  He beat John Rasse, Harry Steegmans, Antoine Leblois, Olivier Cunat and Gregory Rasse, all of whom were battling hard with the UK cars.

Race 1 Classification

1. Cruickshank (211)
2. Walker (211)
3. Seear (Exige)
4. Lisandre (211)
5. J Rasse (Exige)
6. Steegmans (211)
7. Leblois (211)
8. Cunat (Exige)
9. G Rasse (Exige)
10. Chappard (Exige)
11. Goblet (211)

Race Two

The remaining two races entertained the Sunday crowd, bookending the A1GP sprint race.  Overnight rain quickly dried long before the cars took to the circuit but conditions remained cool, albeit with threatening skies. 

This race would feature a rolling start and all the drivers coped admirably with the differing demands at the line, Jamie Stanley rocketing off into another lead.  Scott Cruickshank slotted into fourth place overall and looked certain to challenge Williams and Randall up ahead.  Having made adjustments to his car following his race one issues, they didn’t appear to have the desired effect as the car spun at Pilgrim’s drop and the crowd held their breath as the two following cars just managed to avoid him.

Jonathan Walker was more than happy to inherit the European lead, as he was several places ahead of David Seear, again leading the Exige runners.  He was under pressure from Christophe Lisandre as the pair fought with the UK 2-Eleven pack.

Attention in the final laps was focussed on Steve Williams’ attempts to hold back Chris Randall and the veteran campaigner used all his considerable experience and race craft to successfully avoid being overtaken for the second race in succession. 

Stanley took another dominant victory from Williams and Randall. Irishman Connaire Finn getting a good 5th.  Jonathan Walker was next, taking his first Lotus Cup Europe win.  David Seear (11th overall) added to his first race class crown, just ahead of Lisandre, second in the 2-Eleven class.  Harry Steegmans (2-Eleven, 15th overall) was next, then John Rasse (Exige, 17th), Antoine Leblois (2-Eleven, 19th), Olivier Cunat (Exige, 21st) and Gregory Rasse (Exige, 25th). The European drivers had picked up a lot of time and would have surely been much further up the grid with more experience of this fantastic circuit.

Race 2 Classification

1. Walker (211)
2. Seear (Exige)
3. Lisandre (211)
4. Steegmans (211)
5. J Rasse (Exige)
6. Leblois (211)
7. Cunat (Exige)
8. G Rasse (Exige)
9. Chappard (Exige)
10. Goblet (211)

Race Three

Some two hours later, the clouds had all but disappeared for race three, however conditions remained chilly.  This time round the top ten cars would be reversed, however with 5th and 6th in Qualifying, both Cruickshank and Walker would have little advantage over the others in the European field.

UK runner Sean Bicknell got the jump at the start, whilst behind him three cars contested the entry to the Druids hairpin and the almost inevitable result was the cars running out of track. With half of the field stationary waiting for a clear way through the debris, the race was stopped.

Chris Randall’s Europa took the brunt of the damage, although the good news is that he should be back for his next scheduled round at Snetterton.  Also in trouble was form man Jamie Stanley - with a loose diffuser, he entered the pitlane rather than taking his place on the grid and would start dead last.  Despite the reduced field, we looked to have an entertaining race.

15 minutes later the grid toured round on the parade lap and Bicknell needed no further invitation to repeat his start and he led the field round on the first lap.  It looked like Williams would be challenging but he spun into the gravel at Paddock Hill on lap two attempting to take second place.  Thankfully the Marshalls were able to recover the car under waved yellow flags and the race continued.

Scott Cruickshank, now with a better handling car, got stuck in with an entertaining tussle with Ben Pitch and Irelands Connaire Finn.  They were soon joined by Jamie Stanley, a stirring drive putting him back in contention at the head of the field.

But we were running out of laps, a legacy of the earlier stoppage and with Stanley’s progress arrested by an aborted attack on Finn, Cruickshank held off Pitch to take an excellent second place overall: “a great week, two wins and two signatures (on his licence – to race in Europe he needs six)”, Cruickshank remarked.  He would finish 6 places ahead of David Seear, who bagged another Lotus Cup Europe second place and a third Exige win.  They headed Harry Steegmans, who said: “very bad qualifying but every time between 10th and 17th in race finish, very nice, good circuit”, then Christophe Lisandre, the 2-Eleven pair putting in good performances to land themselves overall 10th and 11th places respectively.

Antoine Leblois (2-Eleven, 13th overall) "The organisation was perfect ... And the races hot ! ", John Rasse (Exige, 14th) headed Olivier Cunat (Exige, 16th – “Funny races for me – no problems but not first.  I hope to do better next time”), who placed above Gregory Rasse (Exige, 19th) and Eric Chappard (Exige, 20th).

With the UK Modified win taken by Sean Bicknell, Simon Deacon took 6th and the 2-Eleven class.

Race 3 Classification

1. Cruickshank (211)
2. Seear (Exige)
3. Steegmans (211)
4. Lisandre (211)
5. Leblois (211)
6. J Rasse (Exige)
7. Cunat (Exige)
8. G Rasse (Exige)
9. Chappard (Exige)
10. Goblet (211)

Conclusion

The Lotus Cup Europe got off to a fine start, with many of the drivers coping well with the unfamiliar surroundings of Brands Hatch.  Many of the non-British contingent were impressed with the organisation.  John Rasse summed it up when he said “Really well organised, really fun but not so easy because (it was my) first time on (the) circuit, but very nice track”  Unsurprisingly it was the British contingent who did well, Cruickshank, Walker and Seear will no doubt face stiffer competition once we head onto the mainland, Zandvoort, in three weeks’ time.

We’re now expecting to have 30 different drivers to compete in Lotus Cup Europe in 2009, if that happens it will be an amazing success, a long way to go first! With a full grid of 44 cars we’re already guaranteed a full grid at Zandvoort with LoTRDC having to get permission to run additional cars. Donington Park and Spa are also guaranteeing full grids.

 

Kevin Ritson

LoTRDC

 

Pictures courtesy of

1st picture of 44 car grid – http://www.jeffbloxham.com/

All other pictures by http://www.snappyracers.com/

Contact direct for more pictures and originals.

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