 |
|
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
RACE REPORTS 2008
Race No: 20, Brands Hatch (Indy), 21 September 2008
Adam crowned provisional Champion despite Byford victory
Starting from pole position in the last ever SEAT Cupra Championship race, it looked certain that Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) would storm into an early lead to take a win and the title of provisional Champion. But Adam’s car made a poor start and Round 19’s victor, Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing), pounced from 2nd place on the grid to fall into Paddock Hill Bend in the lead. Adam meanwhile had to fend off a resurgent Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport) heading up to Druids, which he just managed to do, salvaging 2nd place and keeping Welch as a cushion between himself and title rival Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR) in 4th. Lawson himself was getting pressured by Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Welch Motorsport) who had Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant/JHR) close behind too.
Within a few laps though Byford and Adam were well out in front with Welch a solitary figure in 3rd as Lawson started to make a little space from Breeze. Herron meanwhile had become the focus of Freddy Nordström’s (Plumbertraining.com/Advent Motorsport) attentions and James Appleby (Hardinge Machine Tools) loitered behind him in 8th spot looking ready to pounce. Even at the back of the pack there was action, as Jamie Ackers (Total Control Racing) capitalised on his good start by passing Steve Mitchell (JP Motorsport) through Graham Hill Bend on lap 7 to take 10th spot. Mitchell’s new position wasn’t to hold either as both Daniel Rowbottom (DRM M-sport) and David Nye (Daniels Motorsport) would go on to make successful moves on him.
By the halfway point of the race things looked to have settled though, Adam continuously hunting for a way past Byford through Surtees and into Clearways, but Byford’s pace around Brands Hatch too quick to give Adam any real chance. Welch had remained unchallenged in 3rd place with the front two always in view but never quite within reach, but a podium finish in the last race was a welcome result for the Welch Motorsport driver. Lawson and Breeze’s 4th and 5th place finishes weren’t quite so welcome though, Breeze’s misfortune in Round 19 effectively ending his hopes for a 3rd place in the Championship, and this result only making Byford’s clinching of that position more emphatic. And for Lawson it was tough justice not to at least finish the last race on the podium, having dominated for so much of the season and been an impressive title contender throughout the year. His appeal over an earlier 25 point penalty may yet be successful though, which would then hand him the title, but for now it’s Adam who is the man with his name etched in history as the last ever winner of the SEAT Cupra Championship.
ROUND 20
1.Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing)…19:00.178
2.Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)…19:00.561
3.Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)…19:03.450
4.Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR)…19:06.356
5.Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Welch Motorsport)…19:06.786
6.Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant)…19:11.413
Fastest Lap: Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing)…50.495
|
Race No: 19, Brands Hatch (Indy), 21 September 2008
Byford beats Championship hopefuls at Brands
The penultimate round of the 2008 SEAT Cupra Championship didn’t disappoint the Brands Hatch crowds by ensuring a dramatic start. As the lights went out on the sun-drenched grid it was Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR) who had pole position and the advantage heading into Paddock Hill Bend. Coming out of Druids though, Lawson was totally sideways, pulling it back into line superbly, but losing his lead to a determined Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing) by the time they were at Graham Hill Bend. Behind them Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) had shown some bravery to run on the outside of Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Welch Motorsport) and Daniel Welch (Mariott/Welch Motorsport) at Druids, finding the inside line through Graham Hill to get in behind Lawson in 3rd place. Welch and Breeze meanwhile appeared to make contact with each other on the exit, Breeze spinning off onto the grass and right back down into last place. That was the worst possible scenario for the driver whose main rival for 3rd in the Championship was now leading the race.
The safety car however kept things from hotting up any further, a startline incident between Jeremy Gumbley (Millionpixeldriver.com/ Welch Motorsport), James Appleby (Hardinge Machine Tools) and the pitlane wall being the cause. On the restart, three laps later, Byford started to stretch his lead as Lawson fended off the reigning Champion Adam, while Freddy Nordström (Plumbertraining.com/Advent Motorsport) who had pulled into 4th was also doing his best to keep Welch at bay. Coming out of Clark Curve though Nordström couldn’t quite keep him from getting alongside and by the time they reached Paddock Hill Bend at the beginning of lap 5 Welch had made his place up.
Lawson wasn’t going to let Adam pull that move on him though and kept pushing hard to keep his rival chewing on his exhaust fumes. Byford was well out in front by this point so for Lawson’s Championship hopes all that mattered was not finishing behind the on-form Scot. Adam looked intent on trying to find a way past for a while, but surely aware that some points were better than none should a diving overtake manoeuvre go wrong, he soon looked settled enough in 3rd. Welch was too far back to really challenge too, with Nordström, Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant/JHR), Jamie Ackers (Total Control Racing) and Daniel Rowbottom (DRM M-sport) taking the next four places. Breeze managed to get ahead of both David Nye (Daniels Motorsport) and Steve Mitchell (JP Motorsport) to get into 9th spot, but when David Green (Daniels Motorsport) crashed out at the beginning of lap 20, the red flag came out and Breeze couldn’t push for any more improvement, as Byford was declared the winner.
So the battle for the Championship will go right to the last round of the season, with both Lawson and Adam still in with a shout. Byford has done himself some favours in his bid to clinch 3rd ahead of Breeze, but despite the fine Kent weather, anything could happen in the final ever race of the SEAT Cupra Championship, with drivers throughout the grid determined to finish on a high.
ROUND 19
1.Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing)…17:09.181
2.Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR)…17:12.046
3.Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing)…17:12.510
4.Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport)…17:14.497
5.Freddy Nordström (Plumbertraining.com/Advent Motorsport)…17:18.654
6.Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant/JHR)…17:19.251
Fastest Lap: Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing)…50.430
|
|
Reports Index
|
|
|
|