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Quaife Radical Clubman's Cup: Oulton Park, 31 May 2010

1st June 2010

With five wins already under his belt this season, Darren Luke was again the man to beat at Oulton Park. But despite problems in qualifying, he once again reigned supreme and is beginning to look unstoppable in his quest for this year’s title.

Chris Hillaby’s SR3 RS was on pole for the first race. The PR6’s of Nigel Place and James Abbott were next up, with Luke down in sixth after his airbox was loose and he was well down on power.

RACE 1

As the lights went out at the start of the first race Place got the jump on Hillaby, but Luke set off like a missile and was already into second by the end of the opening lap. “Yes it was a good start, I got Mark Abbott at Cascades, then Hillaby and closed in on Nigel for the lead into Cascades on the second lap,” said Luke. 

Hillaby had settled in third, from Mark and James Abbott, while Rachel Davies was struggling to stay in touch in sixth.

It was only another lap though before Place succumbed and Luke hit the front and eased himself clear.  The battle for third had closed up too with James Abbott doing his best to prise an opening to challenge Mark. Their duel however allowed Davies to ease closer too. 

Apart from Luke, the next five had all began to close up, while behind them Mark Boot had Richard Stables closing in, after he took Millar into Old Hall on the seventh lap. 

Hillaby had begun to threaten for second, but after an initial response Place “threw it off” at Knickerbrook and was left fighting back in sixth. While Luke took the flag just over three seconds clear, Hillaby was left clear in second, “I was a bit scrappy at first, but got my head down,” he said. Mark Abbott’s defence held strong to keep James back for third. “I thought I could reel the others in and then started to lose my brakes in the last third of the race. So I was determined to keep third and hold off James,” said Mark. 

My tyres were going off too, but that was really good, my best finish,” James replied. Place managed to steal fifth back from Davies on the last lap, “I had trouble with second gear, “she added, after narrowly holding off Stables in a last lap charge. “I thought I had peaked the day before at Anglesey, but turns out I am just rubbish at qualifying,” said Stables after taking seventh and the fastest lap of the race. Boot, Millar and Paul Steele completed the top ten with David Frankland topping the Invitation class and Graham Ridgeway the Clubsports, after ousting Jon Morris at Old Hall on lap six.

1 Darren Luke (PR6) 14 laps in 19m58.175s (93.63mph); 2 Chris Hillaby (SR8 RS) +3.256s; 3 Mark Abbott (PR6); 4 James Abbott (PR6); 5 Nigel Place (PR6); 6 Rachel Davies (SR3); 7 Richard Stables (PR6); 8 Mark Boot (PR6); 9 Colin Millar (SR3 RS); 10 Paul Steele (SR3).  Supersports: 1 Hillaby; 2 Davies; 3 Millar; 4 Steele; 5 Richard Carver; 6 Gary Baxter; 7 Steve Burgess. Prosport: 1 Luke; 2 M.Abbott; 3 J.Abbott; 4 Place; 5 Stables; 6 Boot; 7 James Breakell. Clubsport: 1 Graham Ridgeway; 2 Jon Morris; 3 Ian Charles; 4 Vincent Rassat. Invitation: 1 David Frankland (PR6); 2 Chris Blades (SR3); 3 Bill Henderson (SR3). Fastest lap: Stables 1m24.163s (95.21mph).

RACE 2

It was relatively plain sailing for Luke in the second race, starting from pole he already had a couple of lengths on his rivals by the exit of Old Hall on the first lap. Hillaby had got away in second, but spun and at least six cars went off in the aftermath. Darren Anley’s SR3 was recovered, while Frankland, Gary Baxter, Richard Carver and Hillaby himself all headed for the pits.

There were three laps behind the safety car, before Luke once again rocketed away from the green flag. It was as before behind though, with Mark and James Abbott heading Stables, but Steve Burgess was up to fifth, after Davies found herself bumped down to 12th place. 

With Luke long gone the Abbott duo resumed their duel from the first race, but this allowed Stables to bring a train of three cars into contention with them, with Millar doing his best to join them too. 

Stables decided to make his move on James Abbott as they turned in for Old Hall on lap 10. But the 16-year-old fought back and after a slight touch Stables almost lost out to Burgess too.

Luke made continued his winning habit and made it seven out of eight, taking the flag nearly 10 seconds clear over is rivals. “I had full power and no understeer for the whole race, it was great,” he said. 

But the fight for second continued to rage for the remaining laps. With Mark Abbott once again holding off the challenge from his teenaged rival. “I knew I couldn’t catch Darren, so just defended again. I could see the queue in my mirrors, but no one seemed to making a move,” he said.  

James Abbott’s frustration of not being able to get into second was compounded when Burgess got by him with a lap to go and Millar followed on the finale. “I got alongside Mark and then everyone caught me, so I was disappointed with the position but still pleased with my performance,” said James.  “Well I avoided the carnage on the first corner and got to the front for a class win, so quite happy with that,” Burgess added.

Stables had also lost out to Millar on the last lap, while Steele, Boot, Davies and James Breakell completed the top ten. Morris took victory in the Clubsports, with Ian Charles second. “First time here and first win,” Morris concluded. 

1 Luke 11 laps in 20m34.344s (71.41mph); 2 M.Abbott +9.800s; 3 Burgess (SR3); 4 Millar; 5 J.Abbott; 6 Stables; 7 Steele; 8 Boot; 9 Place; 10 James Breakell (PR6). Supersports: 1 Burgess; 2 Millar; 3 Steele; 4 Richard Carver (SR3); no other finishers. Prosport: 1 Luke; 2 M.Abbott; 3 J.Abbott; 4 Stables; 5 Boot; 6 Place; 7 Breakell. Clubsport: 1 Morris; 2 Charles; 3 Rassat; 4 Ridegway. Invitation: 1 Blades; no other finishers. Fastest lap: Luke 1m24.621s (94.69mph).

Published by Peter Scherer