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RACE REPORTS 2007
Race No: 20, Thruxton (Hampshire)
, 14 October 2007
Welch and Ian Churchill score double victories, while Mussi clinches 2nd spot in championship
Another fantastic start from Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) saw him again lead from Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) as the cars left the start line for the last time this year. Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) also started well, squeezing into 3rd spot in the early stages ahead of Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) before being pushed back into 4th by the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra champion. Mussi needed to score well to keep Breeze from taking his 2nd place in the championship but wasn’t going to get an easy ride as Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning) latched onto his rear bumper signalling his intent.
In the Leon Cupra R class, Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) who, barring any incidents, had enough points from his finish in R19 to make the title his, looked more intent on finishing the race in tact. It wasn’t the case for Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) though, the consistently quick driver looking to prove a point with another double victory. Having already won both races in a weekend twice already this season, a victory in R20 would give him a third and take his tally of individual wins to ten for the season. But it was Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) who looked to be the thorn in his side as the young driver pushed him at every turn. Just like in the first race of the day, Nordstrom was entering the Club chicane virtually neck and neck with Ian Churchill, asking questions of Ian Churchill’s defensive abilities on every lap.
Adrian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) was also having a tough time, entertaining the crowds with some two wheel action through the Club chicane and battling his way up the field to finish the race in 4th place behind Mike Doble (Doble Motorsports) who’d kept hold of the position he’d qualified in. Nordstrom couldn’t find a way past Ian Churchill in the end despite setting a quickest lap time in the class, both drivers finishing in the same 1st and 2nd positions as in the previous race. With Eric Bailey (ABRA/Startline Services) and James Morgan (CMS Motorsport) both retiring from the race, it left Vaulkhard bringing up the rear. But the Newcastle Upon Tyne driver wasn’t complaining as crossing the line in 7th spot still ensured the title, a New Leon Cupra FR road car and a test in a SEAT BTCC car. And the added bonus of having something else to celebrate on his 22nd birthday!
Back in the new cars, Welch continued to burn round the circuit with supreme aggression, setting a quickest lap time in the process, as he had also done in R19. The two extra points for quickest lap times during each separate race, added to the maximum points for the double victory he went on to secure, snuck Welch into 5th spot in the championship ahead of Gareth Nixon (Nixon Motorsport), who had been unable to attend the final race meeting. But it was the battle for 2nd spot in the championship that ended up proving the closest. Despite Breeze setting a good pace and finishing R20 in 2nd spot and Mussi having to keep Boardman and Stewart Whyte (SWR) at bay, Mussi’s 4th place finish won him the hard fought battle for 2nd place in the championship by just half a point. It doesn’t get much closer than that. Adam managed another podium finish, his 17th of the season, proving just why he is a worthy champion for 2007, and it will be Adam, Mussi, Breeze and Vaulkhard who will now be given the chance to test a SEAT BTCC car. Congratulations to those drivers and to all the competitors in the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship who have once again provided some spectacular racing for the crowds this year.
ROUND 20 RESULTS
1) Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)… 16:08.458
2) Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport)… 16:11.800
3) Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 16:14.576
4) Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing)… 16:18.075
5) Tom Boardman (Triple R/Special Tuning)… 16:20.137
6) Stewart Whyte (SWR)… 16:20.509
Leon Cupra R class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)… 17:03.329
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Race No: 19, Thruxton (Hampshire)
, 14 October 2007
VAULKHARD JOY, BUT BREEZE FACES STRUGGLE
Lining up for the penultimate race of the season there was still plenty to play for in both classes of the 2007 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship. As the lights went out, pole position holder Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/CMS Motorsport) didn’t get as good a start as Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) who stormed into the lead and started stretching his advantage straight away. Breeze was left fending off Tom Boardman (Triple R) to keep hold of 2nd place, heading into Campbell with Boardman side by side but managing to exit Seagrave ahead. Breeze’s rival for 2nd place in the championship, Fulvio Mussi (Total Control Racing) had made up one place from the start and was sitting in 5th spot, but Breeze being ahead in the race meant it was looking good for the Kings Lynn racer. All he had to do was keep that gap from Mussi, and stretch a lead in the championship.
Disaster struck for Breeze on lap 2 though, the electrical problems that have plagued his season, returning and sending him into the pits. Mussi, by default moved into 4th spot and the tables were turned. Now Mussi just needed to keep his position to put him ahead in the championship and give him the advantage in the final race.
In the Leon Cupra R class, Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport) had the sort of start he’s been famous for this season, coming from 7th in the class on the grid to be at the front of the pack by the end of lap 1. With Harry Vaulkhard (Volkis Boozer’s/Triple R) ahead in the championship, Ian Churchill needed not only to win the race, but also grab the extra points for most places gained and for the quickest lap time to have any chance of pinching the crown. And it looked like he was doing everything he could to make sure that happened, keeping Vaulkhard at bay in the process. With the blue and yellow car of Freddy Nordstrom (Advent Motorsport) screaming up behind the pair though, Vaulkhard clearly started boxing clever, opting to slip back into 3rd and have Nordstom and Ian Churchill battle it out at the front, while he stayed out of danger. It was a move that paid off, Nordstrom putting Ian Churchill under pressure heading into Club on every lap towards the end, almost neck and neck with the leader each time. Vaulkhard stayed in touch with the leaders, but was in no danger of anything other that driver error or mechanical problems stopping him from scoring the valuable 13 points that would clinch him the title. Despite Ian Churchill’s heroic efforts to win the race and gain an extra point for most places gained, it wasn’t enough to mean anything else than the final race being just a formality for Vaulkhard to complete in order to ensure the title.
Welch in the New Leon Cupra class meanwhile continued to pilot his Marriott liveried car around Thruxton well ahead of Boardman in 2nd. Champion Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) looked comfortable in 3rd place and sure enough finished the race with yet another podium appearance. But despite Welch being happy to finally record a race win this season, it was Mussi who will feel most satisfied with the result. Heading into the final race Mussi now sits in the position he hoped for, taking the charge for 2nd place in the championship with Breeze right down to the wire. Breeze qualified ahead of Mussi, so it’s going to be tight as the drivers look to scoop the £40,000 prize and test in a SEAT BTCC car.
ROUND 19 RESULTS
1) Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)… 16:11.739
2) Tom Boardman (Triple R)… 16:15.206
3) Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)… 16:15.887
4) Fulvo Mussi (Total Control Racing)… 16:20.612
5) Neil Waterworth (Total Control Racing)… 16:20.819
6) Ray MacDowall (Total Control Racing)… 16:29.227
Leon Cupra R class winner: Ian Churchill (Churchill Motorsport)… 17:04.993
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Reports Index
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