Weatherall masters the conditions at Snetterton season-opener
Thursday 14th April 2016
The Lotus Cup UK Speed Championship’s 2016 season got underway on the eve of the spring equinox at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit on Saturday 19 March.
A last minute regulation change meant that the pack was split into four classes, and with the addition of several newcomers and many returning drivers having made updates and improvements to their cars since last season, there was plenty of speculation on who would be leading each set.
Whereas previous sprints at Snetterton covered two-thirds of the 300 circuit, ending at the bridge that marked the end of the Bentley Straight, this time almost all of the 200 circuit would be used from the start line until the exit of the tricky Coram curve. Each driver was given two back-to-back practices, and four timed runs, and everyone adapted well to the additional challenges of the Bomb Hole and Coram corners, which arguably favoured the ex-racers who would potentially push harder in this section.
Fastest driver of the day was Jason Weatherall, taking first place in the new SuperSport Modified class in his Honda-powered Elise. Race experience no doubt helped the other three class winners, with Philip Stratton-Lake taking Production standard in his S2 111S, while Stephen Morrison took Production modified. The SuperSport base class win was taken by Mads Peterson in his Exige V6 Cup, Mads having a busy day taking part in two races alongside his sprinting duties.
Several drivers achieved their first podium places, including Adam Ruck, Martin Roberts, and Paul Neale, with James Tubby taking second in SuperSport on his sprinting debut. Best improvement on the day went to Jill Cheshire who knocked off a full 10 seconds between the practice and race times in her Elise Cup R.
Lotus Cup UK Speed Championship class podium finishers
Production: 1st Phil Stratton-Lake, 2nd Mark Swarbrick, 3rd Adam Ruck Production Modified: 1st Stephen Morrison, 2nd Jez Braker, 3rd Simon Foley Supersport: 1st Mads Petersen, 2nd James Tubby, 3rd Martin Roberts Supersport Modified: 1st Jason Weatherall, 2nd Nick Emery, 3rd Paul Neale
Both drivers and spectators enjoyed a thoroughly good day at Snetterton, despite the cold and damp conditions. The next round of the LCUK Speed Championship will be at Hethel, the home of Lotus, on 1 May.
For full results visit: www.lcukspeed.com/results
Championship tables: www.lcukspeed.com/standings
Words by Karen Harvey @ shutterhub.org.uk, photos by InmotionImages.co.uk
- Early Championship Leader Phil Stratton-Lake
- Martin Roberts
- Stratton-Lake follows Paul Wraith