Round 7 of the 2009 Elise Trophy held at Donington Park on 15-16 August 2009.
Introduction
With the first round of the series relocated to Silverstone, the series finally reached Donington Park, again supporting the FIA Formula 2 championship. After the tragic events at Brands Hatch, we paid tribute to the late Henry Surtees, all cars carrying a message of condolence in addition to a moment of remembrance on Sunday morning.
With entries from all three classes, we also welcomed the Lotus Cup Europe drivers, for two ‘allcomers’ races on Saturday and a Production only grid on Sunday.
SATURDAY
Qualifying All Classes
Kicking off the weekend’s events on a cloudy morning, Chris Randall returned with his Europa to face Jamie Stanley and Steve Williams in the battle for overall honours. Stanley put in some fast laps but Randall would have the upper hand, his best lap 1.4 seconds clear. Williams was not far behind and all three would line up ahead of fastest 2-Eleven, pedalled by Mark Fullalove, who set the class pace at Snetterton.
Next up was Chris Headlam, taking his usual place as best of the rest of the modified class. He was half a second ahead of the quickest Lotus Cup Europe runner, Scott Cruickshank, revelling on home ground. Then we had a trio of modified cars, David Harvey’s 340R leading Sean Bicknell and Dan Norris-Jones, then the two European cars of Michael Damoiseaux and Harry Steegmans.
Fastest in Production was Andy Dolan in 16th, three places ahead of Matt Franks, himself two cars in front of Rob Anderson, who had paid £4,000 in a charity auction to drive the car. Just in front of him at the start of the race would be the sole European Exige of Denis Van Der Savel.
Race 1 All Classes
A rolling start and breezy conditions gave Randall’s slippery Europa a useful advantage in race one, helped by Stanley having to fend off Williams in the Craner Curves. The latter took the inside line into the Old Hairpin but couldn’t find traction on the way out and Stanley asserted his authority. Fullalove was ready to capitalise and using the inside line on Schwantz Curve, found himself a little too wide into McLeans, tipping him into a spin. Rejoining at the rear of the field, he was unable to make much progress.
With a frantic first lap over, Randall eked out a large gap on Stanley, himself as far ahead of Williams as he was trailing the Europa. Bicknell settled into fourth, from leading Lotus Cup Europe runner Cruickshank, Chris Headlam, Connaire Finn, Harvey, Steegmans, Norris-Jones, Robert Montgomery and Damoiseaux. Meanwhile back in Production, Dolan found himself well clear of Anderson and Peter Driver, who was having to fend off the pack, first from Simon Phillips and later from BJ Chong, who would take the final podium place.
With the top three lapping alone, interest soon turned to Cruickshank, who was trying to divert the attentions of Finn. Taking the inside at the Old Hairpin on lap three, he succeeded where Williams had failed earlier on. Also involved was Harvey, awaiting developments immediately ahead, all three capitalising on Headlam falling back and Bicknell, who pitted with problems. Things would come to a head, as Cruickshank and Finn and Harvey tangled and the three switched order as Cruickshank now found himself behind Headlam and having to defend his lead in the European class from the recovering Damoiseaux and Steegmans. This he would manage successfully to the flag, also making him the first 2-Eleven home.
So it was an easy win for Randall, who paced himself well to keep out of the reach of Stanley, 12 seconds behind. Williams finished 30 seconds in arrears and five ahead of Harvey. Then we had a gap of 15 seconds to Headlam before the three Lotus Cup Europe 2-Elevens. Finn fell back to an eventual 9th place, from another European runner, Montgomery, heading the first of the UK 2-Eleven of Mark Gooday, a second clear of Fullalove.
The production trio of Dolan, Anderson and Chong finished in 16th, 18th and 20th respectively, Van Den Savel’s sole LCE Exige finishing amongst them in 19th.
Race summary – 33 starters, 31 finished.
| Production | Modified | 2-Eleven | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
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Race 2 All Classes
A warmer but still breezy afternoon greeted race two and before the start there was high drama as Randall pulled into the pits before the start. With the engine cover whipped off it was clear that this was no minor problem and he was to retire immediately. All of which was good news to Stanley, with the front row to himself he converted this into a sizeable lead, with Fullalove making a great getaway into second, from Cruickshank, Headlam, Williams and Finn. It was a lot less frantic than the previous opening lap.
Headlam had fallen back the next time round and soon after Williams was after third place. Taking the 2-Eleven on the outside of the Old Hairpin, Cruickshank tried the retake the place but it wasn’t to be and the Duratec-powered car set off for second, whilst Cruickshank was left to unsuccessfully defend from Finn, himself only just in front of Headlam.
Williams had a moment at the Old Hairpin and his recovery was not soon enough to prevent Finn and Headlam from passing him. Suspecting a problem with his car he briefly pitted to find a radiator full of grass and rejoined at the tail of the Modified field, before retiring for good with a broken clutch.
A great tussle soon emerged between the 2-Elevens of Cruickshank, Damoiseaux, Harvey, Headlam and Finn. Headlam spun, promoting Finn, whilst Damoiseaux, Cruickshank and Harvey squabbled. Harvey passed Cruickshank and began to threaten Damoiseaux, whilst Finn was experiencing problems with his car. Meanwhile Cruickshank repassed Harvey, then took third from Damoiseaux.
Stanley then took a dominant win, 13 seconds to the good from Fullalove, who was clear of Cruickshank by 18 seconds. Close behind were Damoiseaux, Harvey, Headlam and Finn, with Norris-Jones close behind. Steegmans and Montgomery rounded out the top ten.
Phillips passed Driver to take the Production lead but Russell Hill was soon challenging and past. He would have the company of the sole LCE Exige of Van Den Savel for most of the race. Nigel Ayres held third in the early running but was unable to hold off Chong, before a spin put him out of contention. Chong would chase after Hill, taking second by 5 seconds.
Race summary – 29 starters, 26 finished.
| Production | Modified | 2-Eleven | Overall |
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SUNDAY
Qualifying Production
Returning from a long absence was Martin Donnelly, the former F1 driver back in the Production class with a car formerly campaigned by Paul Pattison. Two years ago at this circuit the former won a race whilst the latter suffered an engine bay fire. No such problems for the car this time as Donnelly was soon back into the routine and locked out pole position early on. His closest challengers were Williams and Marcus Jewell. Not content with racing in Modified yesterday, Williams brought his other race car along and if he was missing the extra power, it didn’t show as he secured a front row place, the only other driver under one minute fifthy-two seconds.
Behind Jewell in fourth was Anderson, building on his fine performances the day before as he kept series regulars Ken Savage, James Knight and David Alexander behind him. Eight fell to Danny Golubovic, ninth Hans Baumhardt and tenth Dolan but the unfortunate Scot would be unlikely to take the start as he only completed part of the session, pulling off at the Melbourne hairpin with clouds of steam pouring out of the engine bay.
Also unfortunate was Rob Austin, the experienced racer ending his session in the gravel, which brought out a red flag with just seconds left on the clock.
After Qualifying, however, Williams and Peter Trott’s cars were demoted to the back of the grid due to technical infringements.
Race 1 Production
In similar conditions to Saturday afternoon, Savage made the best start, shooting into the lead with Jewell second and Donnelly third. Jewell attempted to take the lead at the Old Hairpin but was carrying too much speed. Skipping through the gravel, the car then spun, leaving him at the back of the field. Moving to fourth would be Alexander, from Anderson, then Knight, Baumhardt and John LaMaster.The first three then broke off from the pack, however whilst Donnelly attempted to wrest first place from Savage, Alexander tried his own move, which led to him spinning and handing a temporary advantage to Savage. This incident brought Edwards into contention, whilst Knight was making progress, taking a place from Anderson.
While Donnelly was looking for a way past Savage, Edwards joined the back of this battle and began to attack. A little behind them Anderson and Stuart Kirkbride were catching, replacing Knight, who had retired. Edwards took second from Donnelly into the GP loop, whilst Anderson caught the pair, and immediately tried to displace Donnelly.
Next time round Savage, Edwards and Donnelly were almost three abreast into the Craner Curves! Donnelly, on the inside for the Old Hairpin, took the lead as the top three became four. Then five as Kirkbride joined in but just as he was working out how to attack this group he lost the rear of the car exiting the Old Hairpin and ended up hard into the barriers.
Savage wasn’t happy with second, working hard to regain his lead but Edwards was keener and moved up a place. Anderson then capitalised and was into third, then second when Donnelly fell back to fourth place behind Savage, whilst Edwards took the lead. Williams, from the back of the grid, then took Donnelly whilst Anderson was fighting for the win on his debut weekend!
Then the flag came out. Edwards took the win by half a second but failed post-race scrutineering giving Anderson a sensational win in his third race. A few lengths back was Savage, from Williams who had worked his way up, notably tussling with Kell, Noble and Driver, then Gary Broad and Alexander.
Donnelly was fourth, then Roberts, Alexander, Stephen Docherty, LaMaster, Broad and Baumhardt after a fantastic race.
Race summary – 35 starters, 29 finished.
| Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Rob Anderson | 2. Ken Savage | 3. Steve Williams | 4. Martin Donnelly | 5. Martin Roberts | 6. David Alexander |
Race 2 Production
As is becoming customary, race 2 ran a reversed top ten. Once those unable to start were filtered out, Docherty was on pole, with Kirkbride alongside. Remarkably, his car had suffered only minor bodywork damage and would take the start. Docherty, on the other hand only just took the start as the field swallowed him up off the grid. So Kirkbride set off with some determination, leaving behind Roberts, LaMaster, Baumhardt, Savage and Alexander. Donnelly and Jewell were working their way through the pack, as was Williams, much further back.
Roberts worked at reducing the gap but was powerless to resist Donnelly and by lap three the Ulsterman was in the lead. Jewell then took Roberts, now in fourth place and into the hairpins, Kirkbride tried to challenge Donnelly’s lead but this left him open to attack and Jewell didn’t need asking twice as he slotted into second.
Kirkbride then almost repeated his race one retirement as Roberts, Savage and now Alexander lined up behind him. Meanwhile Jewell challenged Donnelly into Redgate as Alexander worked his way into third, past Kirkbride, who then had another moment at the Old Hairpin, letting past a charging Anderson. Savage, Roberts and Baumhardt close behind.
Kirkbride then spun at the chicane, his car clearly not handling to his liking following his earlier shunt. Up at the front Jewell took the lead, before nearly losing it again at the Melbourne Hairpin. Alexander now held third some way back, with Anderson in fourth and catching up. Jewell was driving hard to extend his lead and initially it was working. However a spin at the chicane ruined his run and he found himself fighting with Anderson for third place. This he took but soon after he threw it all away at the Old Hairpin, nearly taking Anderson with him. It happened after Alexander spun at the chicane, the two events putting Anderson in second place, which he held to the flag, 5 seconds behind Donnelly. For a £4,000 auction bid for the drive it had to be the bargain of the age.
Savage bagged an excellent third place to add to his earlier success. He just held off Williams, who had put in another charging performance. Then we had Roberts, after a fine drive he held off Alexander after the latter’s late race spin. Seventh place fell to Baumhardt, who was buoyed after ruing his race one result. Just behind was Andrew Kell, by now getting used to the low speeds and fast action of Production class racing, he headed LaMaster and Driver. Whilst a hard act to follow after race one, we were not short of entertainment.
Race summary – 32 starters, 24 finished.
| Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Martin Donnelly | 2. Rob Anderson | 3. Ken Savage | 4. Steve Williams | 5. Martin Roberts | 6. David Alexander |
Conclusion
Two very different days of action, with Production race one the definite highlight. For those still hungry for action, the Lotus Cup Europe features at the French circuit of Dijon-Prenois at the beginning of September, whilst the Elise Trophy heads off to the challenging and picturesque Cadwell Park one week later.
