With the first race starting after the DTM cars of David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Paul Di Resta, Garry Paffet and championship leader Bruno Spengler have barely had time to cool down, it promises to be a great show for the crowd, who’ll get a second opportunity to see the cars later in the day.

Just a few days later, many of the drivers will head to the spectacular Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire, whilst several others will travel to Belgium to join their European counterparts in the Lotus Cup Europe at Zolder, to support another major championship. This time it is the FIA European Truck Grand Prix and expect a full grid of 2-Elevens, Exiges and Elises spread amongst the classes.

Both series’ will meet up a few miles east a fortnight later at the majestic Spa-Francorchamps track, but by then we hope that all of the drivers and organisers will have enjoyed a well-earned rest!

Speller’s main challenger was Gavin Kirby, who beat Gary Broad after an intense battle with Michael Edwards and Craig Denman, both of whom spun. Both heats were characterised by fierce battles between the drivers as they lapped the tight circuit.

After a race-stopping startline incident in the final, Speller asserted his authority over chasers Kirby and Broad after Williams again took himself out of overall contention, with Steve Quick claiming victory in a soaking wet consolation race over Denman.

Second time around Williams looked to have blown it after losing several places at the start but he fought his way through the field to head erstwhile leaders Luigi Mazza and Simon Deacon in a race ended two laps early after an incident at Surtees involving Rob Austin. Once again the chasing pack were held at bay, this time by Gary Broad who was able to maintain his place.

Marcus Jewell and James Knight fought hard with the former reprising his Silverstone form in race one and coming off second best next time round. Had it not been for Michael Edwards’ early break from the pack as they fought through the reverse grid, they may have challenged his lead. Both races were fiercely contested by the capacity field.

Amongst the multi-class Lotus Cup Europe races, 2-Eleven drivers Gavin Kirby and Jon Walker took a win apiece, the latter having an easier run after Kirby was sent to the back of the grid in race two for a technical infringement. With Mark Gooday showing great form and Christophe Lisandre beating Scott Cruickshank to the final podium place of the weekend, John Rasse defeated his brother Gregory in the Exige class and Pat McBennett claimed a brace of Production class victories.

It’s still very much a test for the Elise Trophy TV team trying to produce what is a first in UK motorsport: full length programmes, produced and presented professionally and broadcast within a few days of the race weekend rather than many weeks as is the case for conventional TV.

The web programme is being shown with a temporary host this week as Guy is away on honeymoon, congrats to him and Danni.

www.elisetrophy.tv

While race two may have started with a reverse top-ten grid, it was a very familiar story with Williams and Funnel missing this time, the former delayed in traffic and eventually sixth, the latter eliminated in the chaos at Quarry resulting from a spinning Ben Pitch. Wolfe’s car survived the race and he was rewarded with second as both he and Denman kept Speller honest.

The programmes will be broadcast in full race length and run approximately 30 minutes each rather than the usual 30 minute full programme that is broadcast on Motors TV. The shortened Motors TV programme will still be shown during the summer, full details to follow.

This is very much another ground breaking move from LoTRDC as no other UK series produces it’s own quaility TV programme which is broadcast just 3 days after the race weekend on the internet and then follows this up with traditional TV.

http://www.elisetrophy.tv

Second time out Jewell made the most of the reverse top ten as Mazza broke through into second, with Russel Hill third. Phillips hauled his hastily-repaired car to fourth just behind.

The Classic Team Lotus Festival at Snetterton circuit presents a unique opportunity to see Team Lotus racing cars spanning more than fifty historic years of history all in the same place at one time with many taking to the track!  Celebrating 50 Years since the first Lotus Grand Prix win by Sir Stirling Moss, Classic Team Lotus will bring together a mouth-watering selection of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula Junior and sportscars to entertain enthusiasts, the highlight of which is sure to be three legendary cars made famous by Jim Clark, together for the first and probably only time; the 1963 World Championship Type 25, the 1965 Indianapolis 500-winning Type 38 and the DFV-powered Type 49 that claimed the 1967 Dutch GP on its debut.

Lotus 38 at Indianapolis

Jochen Rindt's legendary 1970 Monaco victory

In addition appearances will also be made by World Championship-winning Lotus F1 cars that were originally driven by Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti, plus examples raced by Ronnie Peterson, Nigel Mansell, Elio De Angelis and Ayrton Senna. Aside from the historic Team Lotus displays there will be a full programme of racing, appropriately headlined by rounds of both the action-packed Elise Trophy and Lotus Cup Europe.

Away from the track, there will be plenty to see with static displays from Classic Team Lotus and various Lotus owners’ clubs plus a full array of trade stands too, with everything from memorabilia, clothing and models to tuning components.

A thrilling day is assured – don’t miss it!

Further details can be found at www.lotus-festival.com

With many new faces it was the familiar names of Martin Donnelly and Mark Speller dominating the heats, the former Lotus Grand Prix driver triumphing in a thriller of an opening race, which saw Marcus Jewell capitalise on a great start, slotting through row two on his way to second place on a damp but drying track. Fighting with Steve Williams and Michael Edwards, he was also tracked by spectacular debutant Luigi Valentino Mazza, who made quite an impression from tenth place.

Speller’s victory was in front of another fighting pack, with David Hay defending from Paul Harding and Simon Phillips. Harding took second, whilst Phillips spun and Hay was almost overhauled by another fightback from Gary Broad.

It was always going to be Donnelly and Speller’s race in the final. Whilst the former took off at great speed, Speller caught up and whilst he made several attempts to wrest the lead, a lurid slide out of Graham Hill bend ended his challenge. Settling for second, he headed Jewell who fought hard with Edwards and Harding over the final podium position. In an equally entertaining race, Steve Quick overhauled Phil Stratton-Lake, who was enjoying his first race weekend, with Andy Dolan third.