Archive
Radical Clubman's Cup, Croft, 22-23 August 2009
24th August 2009
Paul Steele celebrated his first Cup victory in fine form and looked as if a second was on the cards, until tyre wear dropped him to third in favour of Colin Millar.
Steele’s PR6 led from pole into Clervaux with Jonathan Wright tucked into second. But there had already been a casualty when Paul McClughan’s SR3 swapped ends at Hawthorn. Millar was into third at Sunny at Darren Luke’s expense, closely followed by Simon Fish’s SR3 and Jon-Paul Ivey’s PR6.
Wright was on Steele’s tail at the Hairpin as both cars started to pull clear of their pursuers, while back in sixth Ivey succumbed to pressure from the SR3’s of Colin Noble and Darren Anley. As Millar shook off any further threat from Luke, he began to close on the lead pair.
But on the third lap Wright headed for the pitlane. “The airbox came loose as I forgot to put the cable ties on, so the crew aren’t talking to me now,” he explained. Steele was therefore in the clear from Millar and Luke and after a couple of laps of pressure Fish had to give best to Noble as they exited the Hairpin.
Charles Loughran had managed to split Anley and Ivey on the third lap and ran line astern until he made it into sixth at Clervaux, with Ivey soon following. Supersports class rival Fish was Loughran’s next target, as Steve Burgess was struggling and finally pitted to retire. “A bolt had come out of my manifold, I could hear it, it was so obvious,” he said.
Both Steele and Millar cruised through the final laps. “It was a bit slippery at the end as I was struggling for rear end grip, that’s what happens when you drive as fast as I did. I drove it like I stole it,” said the modest victor. “Yes it was slippery especially at the Complex. It was my first time at Croft and I went grass cutting too, as it looked a bit long in places,” Millar replied.
Luke managed to retain third but had Noble threatening during the closing laps. “Colin got me on the back straight and then he went wide and I got him back,” said Luke. “It was shakedown for me, new chassis and a bit nervous at the start, but should be right for Snetterton,” said Noble.
Loughran worked hard to close on Fish for the class lead, but his challenge at the Hairpin on lap eight resulted in a spin which not only handed the place to Fish, but left him to chase David Thorburn for sixth, which he successfully reclaimed with three laps to go. “That was all about my start, both Charles and David had bad ones,” said Fish. “I knew I was quicker that was why it was so frustrating, but it was good to have a ding dong with Simon though,” replied Loughran.
A late overshoot at Sunny dropped Ivey to eighth behind Thorburn, who had recovered well after stalling at the start. “I was lapping someone and went straight on and could see the tyre wall looming,” Ivey reckoned. Anley was ninth after a couple of grassy moments, but well clear of a three car battle for 10th. David Frankland made his PR6 as wide as he could and successfully held off Bill Henderson and Richard Stables. “I had a good race with David, he drove well but we both made mistakes,” said Henderson.
Gary Baxter was 13th from Rachel Davies’ SR4, once again running solo in the Biduro class. Mark Boot dominated the Clubsports from Jon Morris and Ian Charles.
RESULTS
1 Paul Steele (PR6) 15 laps in 20m22.571s (93.86mph); 2 Colin Millar (PR6) 20m24.080s; 3 Darren Luke (PR6); 4 Colin Noble (SR3); 5 Simon Fish (SR3); 6 Charles Loughran (SR3); 7 David Thorburn (SR3); 8 Jon-Paul Ivey (PR6); 9 Darren Anley (SR3); 10 David Frankland (PR6). Class winners: Tuned: 1 Steele; 2 Millar; 3 Luke; 4 Noble; 5 Frankland; 6 Bill Henderson (SR3); 7 Jonathan Wright (PR6)Steele. Supersports: 1 Fish; 2 Loughran; 3 Thorburn; 4 Anley; 5 Gary Baxter (SR3). PR6: 1 Ivey; 2 Richard Stables. Biduro: 1 Rachel Davies (SR4); no other starters. Clubsport: 1 Mark Boot; 2 Jon Morris; 3 Ian Charles. Fastest lap: Wright 1m20.132s (95.46mph).
RACE TWO
With Wright starting well down the grid after his first race problems, Steele maximised his advantage to lead again through Clervaux, from Millar, Luke, Fish, Noble and Ivey, all six showing daylight to the chasing pack by the end of the first lap.
Noble took fourth into Tower, but the top three all started to consolidate their positions by the end of the second lap. But no one was able to relax as Wright was charging through the field, from ninth on lap one, to seventh, before taking Ivey at Clervaux and Fish at Sunny on the same lap.
Steele had started to get twitchy through the tight sections which allowed Millar to close in. “I just lost grip and Colin shot past me under braking into Tower,” he explained. Luke followed at the Hairpin which left Steele looking over his shoulder for the advancing Wright, after he had taken Noble through Hawthorn.
Fish, Ivey and Thorburn ran line astern for sixth, as Loughran once again was playing catch up. But they all moved up when Wright went off at Clervaux on lap seven. “The car just let go and I was across the gravel, sideways into the wall and no coming back,” he explained.
Anley also expired from ninth, which promoted Supersports rival Burgess, but at the front Millar and Luke had things pretty well sewn up. “That was a good race, tough when I was behind Paul, but then I was in control,” said Millar after taking victory by just over 7 ½ secs. “I had a few handling problems as well as less power than some of the others. I was driving with the back wheels to cut out the steering for the next corner,” Luke explained.
Steele lost out to Noble at the Hairpin with three laps to go, but the former leader fought back to secure third. Ivey headed Supersports class winner Fish from lap nine, leaving Loughran to take seventh after Thorburn damaged his car in the tyres at the Complex and retired. “Brilliant start again,” said Fish, which was in sharp contrast to Loughran. “Terrible I just didn’t get away,” he added.
Burgess survived in eighth, “it still wasn’t right though, but it’s all to play for in the championship now though,” he said. Henderson broke clear to secure ninth, with McClughan 10th after a duel with Baxter. Frankland just headed Biduro class winner Davies for 12th and once again Boot had the legs of Morris and Charles in the Clubsports.
RESULTS
1 Millar 15 laps in 20m28.545s (93.40mph); 2 Luke 20m36.107s; 3 Steele; 4 Noble; 5 Ivey; 6 Fish; 7 Loughran; 8 Steve Burgess (SR3); 9 Henderson; 10 McClughan. Class winners: Tuned: 1 Millar; 2 Luke; 3 Steele; 4 Noble; 5 Henderson; Frankland. Supersports: 1 Fish; 2 Loughran; 3 Burgess; 4 McClughan; 5 Baxter. PR6: 1 Ivey; no other finishers. Biduro: 1 Davies; no other starters. Clubsport: 1 Boot; 2 Morris; 3 Charles; no other finishers. Fastest lap: Steele 1m20.719s (94.77mph).
Published by Peter Scherer for Radical Sportscars, 24 August 2009.
