Round 11 of the 2009 Elise Trophy held at Silverstone International on 10 October 2009.
Introduction
For the second Silverstone round, this time on the International configuration, the series played host to a very special guest. The BBC’s F1 anchorman Jake Humphrey made his racing debut, coached by regulars Andrew Walsh and Jamie Stanley, as part of the MSA’s Go Motorsport initiative. As could be expected, there was a lot of interest in the pitlane, with Sinclaires providing a garage environment that would certainly meet Bernie Ecclestone’s approval.
Qualifying
With all eyes on the number two car, those concentrating on the times would have noticed that the damp track conditions were favouring the Production cars, with Martin Donnelly sitting on the front row for much of the session. Not to be overshadowed, Mark Fullalove traded times in his 2-Eleven, eventually putting in a lap that settled it in his favour. Neither could get close to Stanley, continuing his form in wet conditions, a two second gap was only whittled down to 1.2.
Best of the rest in production would be Rob Myers, a second off Donnelly’s pace but more than that in front of Mark Speller. Ken Savage, with a fresh engine rebuilt after an expensive weekend at Spa, was next, then Chris Headlam, hoping for more pace in the races. Martin Roberts, Marcus Jewell and Gary Broad completed the top ten, the other modified entries being spaced throughout the field, including Doug Setters in 13th place, Neil England 17th and Tom Chatterway 20th.
And what of our guest racer? After showing good pace in the damp during the Friday test session, Humphrey’s times improved throughout the session, especially on his penultimate lap. However, a spin next time round ended in contact and 41st on the times, meaning he would start 31st in race one.
Race 1
The first of three races was a Production-only affair, promoted by Go Motorsport and featuring Humphrey in the guest car. A break in the morning clouds was trying its best to dry the track but conditions were still very slippery and changing by the minute. Off the line Donnelly got a good start, Myers less so as Speller passed him into Copse, whilst at the rear of the field Tess Howell and Andrew Napier made contact, putting them both out of the race.
In the busy midfield Roberts spun, collecting several cars and it looked as though the safety car would be scrambled, were it not for slick recovery work from both drivers and Marshalls. During the melee, Humphrey was a little too hot into Becketts, clumping Mark Wilson and taking off a large section of bodywork. As the field sorted itself out at the end of lap one, it was Donnelly, then a small gap to Speller, with Myers, Savage, Jewell, Paul Harding, James Knight, Broad, and Steve Williams following. More mayhem ensued as Stuart Kirkbride, Simon Deacon, David Hay, David Alexander and Stuart Mason all had their own moments in the complex, the latter collecting an increasingly unfortunate Humphrey.
Next time through Speller wrested the lead from Donnelly, chased by Jewell, Knight, Harding, then Myers, dropping back after tangling with Savage, who lost a further place to Williams. Donnelly and Speller then put on a great show for the crowd, neither driver prepared to concede their position. Lap after lap Donnelly would take a lunge into Brooklands, the pair side-by-side into Luffield and if he pulled it off, Speller would get his revenge into Becketts. Behind them Jewell, Knight, Myers and Harding tracked the leaders, ready to pounce should the opportunity present itself.
Knight soon decided he wanted a place on the podium and stepped up a gear, displacing Jewell and attacking Donnelly, at this point in second place. However, into the late stages he got all crossed up into Priory and again at Brooklands, just about keeping the car on the tarmac. Jewell needed no invitation to punish him for this and it was his turn to challenge the leading pair. During the penultimate tour Donnelly very near spun in the complex and Jewell was into second place, which he maintained to the flag. Myers was less fortunate and his spin cost him several positions.
So without Donnelly to attack, Speller took the win from Jewell and Donnelly. Just off the podium was Knight, followed by Williams, who was hauling himself into contention during the late stages. Harding followed him home, taking advantage of Myers’ spin and some way back Russell Hill, Peter Driver and Broad finished in the top ten.
Humphrey endured a baptism of fire but brought the car home, albeit in last place and whilst he had his hands full with the tribulations of a race debut, he certainly would have witnessed the series at its best.
Race summary – 37 starters, 32 finishers.
| Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mark Speller | 2. Marcus Jewell | 3. Martin Donnelly | 4. James Knight | 5. Steve Williams | 6. Paul Harding |
Race 2
After all the fuss and excitement had died down, we were back in the business of an Elise Trophy meeting. The final two races would be open to all classes and with the sun now beating down on a dry track, several Modified and 2-Eleven cars would surely be fighting their way through the Production cars to get on terms with the leaders.
Stanley converted pole into a commanding lead and would soon be joined at the front by Headlam and Fullalove. Second and third places were under dispute for several laps and midway through it looked as though the lead was also up for grabs as Stanley started fall back into their grasp. No such luck for them, however, and the number eight car soon fell out of reach as they started to lap traffic. The big loser here was Fullalove, Headlam now secure in second.
Behind the winning trio were the Production cars of Donnelly and Speller, the pair reprising their race one tussle. In the late stages they were joined by Chatterway then Pat McBennett, as the latter took fourth, Chatterway fifth from mid-grid, a drive that earned him the Leslie Mason Trophy for drive of the day. Whilst sixth and the Production win looked to be going Speller’s way, Donnelly pulled off a late manoeuvre to take the place. However, the move took place under a yellow flag and the Irishman was given a penalty, dropping him to eight and third in class.
Back in the pack, there was plenty of action. Broad was an early victim, continuing to circulate but with much of the rear of his car missing. A recovering Dan Norris-Jones then T-boned Kirkbride, who was probably beginning to rue the complex at the end of the lap. Meanwhile Williams had cleared Myers and took off after Jewell, whom he caught and passed in the mid-stages. Myers was left to hold off Roberts and Harding, which he managed to do at the flag, until his car failed post-race scrutineering and was disqualified.
Race summary – 43 starters, 32 finishers.
| Production | Modified | 2-Eleven | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Race 3
The final race of the day took place at the end of the meeting as the sun was setting. Oil had been laid down on the track at Woodcote in the GT Cup skirmish and made conditions there a little tricky. Stanley again made a good start and Donnelly and Speller were quick off the line too. However the faster cars of Fullalove and Headlam would find their way to the front as before, this time the 2-Eleven getting the advantage as Headlam was unable to get close enough to mount a challenge. These three would hold their positions for the duration as Stanley lapped half of the field.
A minute behind the leader was Donnelly, comfortably leading Production, although he was kept on his toes by his foe for the weekend, Speller. The latter’s car was visibly on the limit round much of the circuit and gradually closing in on the Irishman but the pace was maybe a little too much and eventually cost him a few seconds but no places in class. Tom Chatterway did split the pair, though, with another fine drive from mid-grid to match his earlier performance. Putting in a similar performance, McBennett finished ahead of all three.
Behind these, the production pack provided most of the entertainment. Doug Setters fought his way past a close fight won by Savage, just reward for enduring the engine troubles that put him out of race two and wrecked his weekend at Spa. Just behind, Phillips also benefitted from the chaos and with Vitthal Chauhan’s modified car splitting him and Broad, the pair were followed home by Williams and early challengers Myers and Jewell, the latter losing a chance at third in class with a late spin. A special mention must also go to Neil England following these cars to the flag. The Silverstone Chairman borrowed Mark Gooday’s 2-Eleven for the day and followed advice from no less a driver than one time Lotus F1 driver Jackie Oliver to good effect.
Race summary – 42 starters, 41 finishers.
| Production | Modified | 2-Eleven | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
The Elise Trophy never fails to surprise and thrill and this meeting was no exception. Aside from all the hype the racing was as good as ever, race one being the real highlight for the crowd. Watch out for coverage during the BBC’s build-up to the Brazilian GP as well as our own race coverage on Motors TV.
In two weeks’ time many of the drivers will join in with the Lotus Cup Europe for the season finale at Le Mans and the last UK round will be at Brands Hatch in November for the 90-minute special.
