Final round of the 2011 Lotus Cup UK held at Brands Hatch on 22 October 2011.
Introduction
The final round of Lotus Cup UK would provide the inaugural champion, with the battle going down to the wire. Whilst the overall wins came from the 2-Eleven and Evora classes, it was the Production cars that would provide the champion.
Ken Savage went into the last round with a twelve point lead over Steve Quick and with the class mostly made up of newcomers that were not eligible for points, he just needed to finish – a relatively straightforward task. Meanwhile Mark Fullalove had to be favourite for the race winm with Steve Williams, plus David and Rob Fenn the likely challengers.
Qualifying
Fullalove immediately set the pace as the tense battle between Savage and Quick played out its opening movements. The former took the initiative early on, with provisional class pole halfway through. Overall pole however, was being disputed by Fullalove, Williams and the Fenns, six tenths separating them but it was the leading 2-Eleven of Fullalove that had something in hand. Meanwhile Jamie Stanley hauled the Exige Cup class leader into contention, as the Fenns dramatically stole pole.
Quick closed in on Savage as Jon LaMaster spun at Clearways, slowing everyone a little. Pete Storey then spun at Paddock Hill after establishing himself in sixth place and the red flag came out with four minutes remaining. A slippery surface flag at Paddock Hill suggested that the times were set as Stanley set off at the head of the queue. He jumped Williams to take third as Fullalove slipstreamed the Fenn car to retake pole.
Marcus Jewell was a second adrift in his 2-Eleven, whilst Doug and Chris Setters continued their impressive form at their local circuit in sixth. Simon Deacon borrowed Mark Gooday’s 2-Eleven to take seventh, ahead of Storey, Campbell Cassidy/Matt Cherrington and Tom Chatterway. The crucial Production battle was won by Savage, whilst LaMaster and David Hay demoted Quick to third in class.
Race
It was the perfect start for Fullalove but not so much for the Rob Fenn, as Williams and then Jewell forced their way past. As the early laps played out, Fullalove led Williams, Fenn (who got one place back), Jewell, Deacon, Storey, Cassidy/Cherrington, Sherwood, Setters and Chattaway. Further back Savage picked his way round the first lap but lost the class lead to Dave Carr, then Quick took second. Nevertheless, the points gap was enough for him to hold station and he settled into the race.
At the front, Fenn was making good progress and cruised up to the back of Williams’ 2-Eleven. The experienced head was working overtime to keep the faster Motorsport Elise at bay. However a moment of huge drama changed the complexion of the race as Rob and Savage spun at Druids, the latter losing a great deal of time to Quick. Whilst Fenn didn’t lose a place, Savage dropped several, however with the points advantage, he just needed to finish to be champion.
An off at Clearways bought out the safety car and whilst it circulated, Savage’s car started to smoke heavily. When the race resumed, Savage, receiving the black and orange flag, completed two slow laps and entered the pits as the stop window opened. Pulling into the garage, frantic work was carried out on the car to salvage a classified finish. Sadly, there was nothing they could do and a distraught Savage could only think about what might have been. “Absolutely gutted”, he rued. “This is the first time the car’s failed all season. It’s a sad way to lose the championship. Steve just needs to finish to win the championship and I suspect he probably will.”
The front runners started to make their stops, Williams and Sherwood the first to blink. When Fullalove pitted with 25 minutes remaining, Rob Fenn stayed out in the lead. He was the last to stop and as the car was pushed out of the garage, Fullalove and Williams took the first two places.
With Stanley now installed in the leading Exige, he started to make up loads of time on the cars ahead. First Chatterway was dispatched, helped by a spin, then he latched onto Storey. However the 2-Eleven proved to be a worthy match, although they both managed to clear David Fenn, who was slowing with an alternator failure that had first reared its head in qualifying.
As the final lap started it was do or die for Stanley but Storey was equal to the task and he took the final podium place amongst the 2-Elevens of Fullalove and Williams, who had done enough to win his class championship. Simon Deacon, Chatterway and Jewell made it six 2-Elevens in the top ten, whilst Doug and Chris Setters finished eighth and won the Open class, ahead of rivals Cassidy/Cherrington and the Fenns. Class champion Vitthal Chauhan finished sixteenth.
Stanley’s fourth place confirmed Sherwood as Exige Cup champion, whilst fifth in class, behind Stuart Plotnek, Adam Bewsey, Dave Carr and Dan Plant, Quick celebrated the Lotus Cup UK crown after a tough season of competition.
Conclusion
That the title was only settled on the final lap of the race, when Quick confirmed his finish, made for a tense and exciting battle. However, thoughts must be spared for Savage, who lost the championship in a cruel twist, whilst Quick drove a calculated campaign to take the title.
Fullalove’s pace would have been enough to win, had he not have missed rounds and completed his pitstop at Snetterton too early. However with the first championship completed, everyone is sure to be calculating the best strategy for 2012. But not before the final race of the LoTRDC season – the Lotus 1000km in just two weeks’ time.
Kevin Ritson Press Officer LoTRDC LtdPhotos courtesy of Chris Valentine, Hockeyphotos.com.
