Oulton Park 28 June 2008

Round 5 of the 2008 Elise Trophy held at Oulton Park 28 June 2008.

For round 5 of the 2008 Elise Trophy we headed to one of the drivers' favourite circuits, Oulton Park, probably one of the most challenging circuits in the UK and an absolute hoot to drive. There was some great racing at Oulton last year and we were really looking forward to a repeat visit.

Qualifying

Andrew Walsh was the pace-setter from the off in class C, taking overall pole with a time of 1:51.795. Chris Headlam took 2nd with a 1:52.032, with ex Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly 3rd in his 2-Eleven.

In class B Gavin Kirby was on top with a time of 1:53.458 in his 2-Eleven, followed by Dave Porter in 6th overall and Ben Pitch in 8th. David Harvey retired from proceedings during qualifying with mechanical failure.

In class A it was once again Paul Quinn heading up the time sheets, with a time of 1:59.684 putting him 12th overall, with James Knight and Andy Dolan in 14th and 15th respectively.

Scratch Race

Class A	Class B	Class C	Overall
Paul Quinn James Knight Andy Dolan Gary Broad Rob Shipley Martin Roberts	Gavin Kirby Dave Porter Steve Williams Ben Pitch Rob Beves Phil Chatterton	Andrew Walsh Martin Donnelly Andrew Kell Doug Setters	Andrew Walsh Martin Donnelly Gavin Kirby Andrew Kell Dave Porter Steve Williams

A start-line incident involving Kirby, Headlam and Chris Pearson put Headlam out of contention when he ritired on lap 1. Meanwhile Walsh, from pole position, took a comfortable lights-to-flag overall and class C victory, with Donnelly 2nd and Andrew Kell 3rd in class and 4th overall, crossing the line just 0.5s behind Kirby. Pearson was running strongly with the leaders when he retired on lap 10 with mechanical problems.

After his start-line shenanigans Kirby recovered well to cross the line 3rd overall to take the class B victory. Porter drove a fine race and overtook Steve Williams on the last lap to finish 5th overall and 2nd in class, with Williams crossing the line just 1s behind him in 3rd in class. Martin Johnston spun out of contention into the gravel at Fosters on lap 4.

In class A Quinn was once again unstoppable, taking the class win with 10th overall. Knight stayed in touch throughout the race to take 2nd in class, with Dolan 3rd. Several good battles throughout class A included Hans Baumhardt, Stuart Mason, Russ Treasure and Matt Bartlett who crossed the line with less than 2secs separating the 4 cars in 19th-22nd. Also Simon Deacon and Adam Hamilton-Fletcher were separated by just 0.7secs in 24th and 25th. Paul Harding retired on lap 7 with mechanical problems.

Handicap Race

Handicap Race
Andrew Walsh Martin Johnston Gavin Kirby Chris Headlam Rob Beves Dave Porter

The handicap race starting grid comprised 6 drops separated by up to 95secs.

Walsh started last, found almost 2secs of extra pace from the scratch race and overtook the entire field to take his 2nd victory of the day by 14secs. Johnston started from pole position in his 2-Eleven and held off most comers (except Walsh) to take 2nd, with Kirby coming from 33rd on the grid to finish 3rd, with Headlam 4th, crossing the line just 0.2secs ahead of Rob Beves in 5th. Porter rounded off a successful weekend with 6th.

The handicap race provided its usual thrills and spills with some excellent close battles throughout the field:

Williams, Tess Howell, Pitch in 8th, 9th and 10th respectively, separated by less than 1sec.
Hamilton-Fletcher, Rob Shipley, Phil Chatterton in 14th, 15th and 16th, separated by 1sec.
Gary Broad and Tom Chatterway in 18th and 19th, separated by 0.2secs.
Stu Malt, Bartlett, Knight and Martin Roberts in 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd, separated by 1.4secs

Conclusion

Another excellent weekend's racing at one of our favourite circuits.

Look out for television coverage of Elise Trophy races on Motors TV, with a special 1 hour programme covering the races on the Brands Hatch GP circuit supporting A1GP in May being shown in July. For further details of our television coverage and to see a short promo, please check out the Race Television web site.

For round 6 we're returning to Lotus' home territory, with a trip to Norfolk for the Snetterton Lotus Celebration, on the 20th July.

Race Results in Full

Download the official results & times

Official photos courtesy of TSU Photographic

Andy Dolan	James Knight	Adam Hamilton-Fletcher explores the scenery	Something's not quite right here
Stuart Mason	Doug Setters	Chris Pearson heads the field into Old Hall	The rest of the field through Old Hall
The his 'n' hers 2-Elevens of Gavin Kirby and Martin Donnelly battle it out		Andrew Walsh takes the chequered flag	Pearson's car gets some TLC in the paddock
The Elise Trophy's very own grumpy old men: Knight, Paul Harding and Martin Roberts	Martin Johnston's 2-Eleven
Donnelly tests out new 2-Eleven air brake	Rob Beves and Tess Howell through Knickerbrook	Paul Quinn	Scratch race class C podium: Walsh and Donnelly.
Handicap race podium: Walsh, Johnston and Kirby	Dave Porter's S1 Exige	Quinn	Anthony Clark
Walsh and Kirby through Knickerbrook	Rob Shipley	Phil Chatterton	Hans Baumhardt and Matt Bartlett share a joke in the paddock
Assembly for scratch race	Nigel Goater at the wheel of the safety car
Russ Treasure acknowledges the marshalls at the end of the race	Gemma Scott	Scratch race class A podium: Knight, Quinn and Dolan	Scratch race class B podium: Porter, Kirby and Steve Williams
Treasure - bless!

Oulton_Park - runners & riders

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