Lotus Cup Europe 2012

Lotus Cup Europe 2010 - Round 2

Snetterton race report

19-20 June

Introduction

Snetterton circuit is not one that immediately springs to mind amongst the international racing community but to the Lotus marque it holds a very special place as the local circuit to the factory, Classic Team Lotus and the revived Formula One squad. To make this a weekend to remember, the current challenger ran on track, as did several examples from the past and one of every Grand Prix car produced by the team. With further displays and sideshows, the festival brought in a huge crowd, who also witnessed races from the UK-based Elise Trophy.

Practice and Qualifying

Differing conditions faced the drivers as the weather alternated between sunshine and showers. A dry start to qualifying in the midday sun ensured that all drivers were out and quickly up to speed as dark clouds were looming overhead. First to head the leaderboard was Gavin Kirby, continuing his rivalry with fellow Brit Jon Walker, both of them heading the wetter practice times. Scott Cruickshank was snapping at Walker’s heels until Tom Chatterway held third spot, with the Rasse brothers leading the Exiges and David Harvey well clear in the Invitation class.

Mark Gooday then put in a quick lap to separate the top two as Elise Trophy regular BJ Chong, making his first appearance in the Invitation class, was making up the gap to Harvey. With five minutes to go, rain started to fall and it looked as though the final fast times were set. Initially the pitlane was more awash with cars than water but with the pace slowing it was all over.

So Kirby took pole by 1.6 seconds from a delighted Gooday, from Walker, Chatterway and Cruickshank. However Gooday’s joy would be a little tempered as his fastest lap was deemed to have taken a little more than just the race track and he was reclassified fifth.

The Rasse brothers were split by a mere two thousandths with Gregory the faster but both were a long way ahead of Olivier Aggery, back in fifteenth overall.

Philippe Loup and Steve Williams’ 2-Elevens were eighth and ninth, heading Harvey and Chong’s Invitation class machines. Production was headed by Pat McBennett in 24th, with Dan Plant 28th and Markus Nikowitsch 29th.

Race One

A much drier Sunday morning gave the drivers some respite but even before the start there was drama as Harvey was punted off the grid on the green flag lap. After a delay whilst the marshalls removed his stricken 340R, poleman Kirby was under attack into the first corner, however he took advantage of the inside line to hold the lead. Not for long, however, as Cruickshank had made a good start and nipped down the inside of Kirby at the chicane to head the field. Behind, Walker, Chatterway and Gooday kept an eye on developments.

Next time through Kirby regained his lead and by Coram, Walker was past. Gooday then lined up to take his chance but he was less successful, however he wasn’t about to give up. As the pair circulated with Chatterway also in close company, Gooday bided his time and made his move into third place. As the race progressed it was clear that this trio were not going to be separated. Up at the front Walker was unable to take advantage of the backmarkers and it would be Kirby passing the line in first place.

In the Exige class, John Rasse passed his sibling and kept the duelling Loup and Williams between them, whilst David Jacobs and Aggery settled third place in favour of the former.

Andreas Holzleithner overcame difficulties in qualifying to clear Chong in the Invitation class and McBennett took Production from Dan Plant and Mark Yates.

Race Two

After his win, Kirby’s car was found to be a little too powerful and he was sent to the back of the grid for the second race. With a rolling start and 30 minutes running time, the drivers were pacing themselves at the line, with Walker, Chatterway, Cruickshank and Gooday leading from Gregory Rasse, John Rasse, Loup, Williams, Chong and Christophe Lisandre.

Walker pulled out a large lead from Chatterway immediately and the pursuers were soon led by Gooday as he passed Cruickshank, then another place as Chatterway spun at the chicane and made light contact with Cruickshank, dropping him behind Lisandre and John Rasse, themselves leading Laurent Feve and Williams. Cruickshank gradually made the places back, meanwhile Kirby had worked his way amongst the 2-Elevens.

This pair then provided the action as they hunted down their prey. Cruickshank was gaining on Gooday, himself a long way back from Walker, whilst Kirby caught and passed Feve and Williams, as did the recovering Chatterway. With Gooday suffering bad fortune in traffic, second place seemed certain for the pursuer.

All this became academic as Klaus Requat stopped, causing a safety car and the recovery time meant that whilst the leaders bunched up, there would only be enough time for a couple of laps. Cruickshank was a little too keen about this and went very wide at Coram, which dropped him behind Lisandre and with the rest of the order remaining, it was Walker from Gooday and Lisandre in 2-Eleven and overall, John Rasse from Olivier Aggery and David Jacobs in Exiges, BJ Chong the leading Invitation Class car as Holzleithner dropped out early on and McBennett a double class winner in Production, from Plant and Mark Yates.

Conclusion

With the circuit unfamiliar to many drivers outside the UK, this race was always going to favour the local drivers and Gooday and Chatterway put in fine performances outside of the familiar faces of Kirby, Walker and Cruickshank. However, Lisandre came on strong and the Rasse brothers continued their domination of the Exige class on a day when all eyes were on the evocative marque that had provided the cars on the grid.

With coverage shortly to be shown on Motors TV, we next head to Magny-Cours in central France.

Kevin Ritson
Press Officer LoTRDC