Thruxton

RACE 1

Lee Allen’s dominance of the S Class this year was finally confirmed at Thruxton, when another triple class win crowned him overall champion. For Luke Caudle there was disappointment, another two wins out of three, but a few points lacking to retain his overall title from 2009.

Although Caudle had pole for the opening race, Knox nosed ahead into Campbell on the opening lap, but lost out again as they braked for the chicane. Following his podium finish at Brands Hatch, Chris Smith made it a three car break, with all three having a spell in front.

Knox led up Woodham Hill for the second time, but outbraked himself at the chicane and saw both Caudle and Smith go by. A lap later Smith had edge at the chicane, before it became a two way scrap as Knox struggled to stay in touch.

After a number of exchanges Caudle managed to retain his slight advantage from lap 10 and took victory by 0.376secs. “I had never led a race before, but managed to keep cool. Luke pushed me hard, but there was only slight contact. It’s my best finish but I just couldn’t match Luke under braking at the chicane,” said Smith.

“That was one of the hardest races I have ever had, but knew second would be enough for the class title. I still wanted to win though, but he was better than me every lap through Church, “Caudle replied.

Knox retained a solitary third, “I got my usual good start and led, but then struggled for straightline speed. Once the club Class cars got between us I lost the tow and couldn’t catch up again,” he explained.

Jason Richardson had run strongly in fourth after taking the returning Andrew Bailey on the second lap, but had a clash with a Club Class car at the chicane. “The top three had gone and then the other car turned on me. It damaged the steering and down the side,” he explained after retiring to the pits.

Gavin Bristow had made his way by Bailey and retained a solitary fourth after Richardson’s demise, “a bit disappointing, they just got away from me,” he said.  Allen S class winner settled in fifth from lap 10 and had Bailey’s R56 between him and the battle for second. “I thought I had got it, but had a front puncture on the last lap, couldn’t get drive out of the chicane and suddenly Dean was there,” Chris James explained.

0.024secs was the gap as Dean Raymond won the charge to the line, much to James’ disappointment. “I had a tyre down too and going over the chicane didn’t help,” Raymond replied.

Craig Freeman had a lonely run into ninth, with Justina Williams taking her second Club Class win of the year in 10th overall, after David Ogden went off at Goodwood.  Sam Osborne clinched second in class after a bruising battle with Gary Kounnis and Kevin O’Connor.

RACE 2
Knox again had the better of the start, with poleman Caudle second until Smith surged by into the chicane.

They continued nose to tail, while behind them Richardson out powered Allen for fourth and Bailey followed a lap later. Bristow had also lost out at the start and began to pick his way past Sullivan, before closing on Allen too.

Having got alongside Knox into Noble on lap three, Smith led into Allard on the next lap. But that allowed Caudle to threaten again and he managed to split the pair, by two wheeling through the chicane on lap eight.

Caudle’s charge continued and he hugged the inside line past the pits on lap 13, only for Smith to fight back again at the chicane. Knox had started to fall back again, but with the lead pair side by side into the chicane for the last time, they managed to slow themselves up. Caudle ‘s pace going in left him slower on the exit, making it a three car drag race to the line. Smith claimed his maiden victory, with Knox snatching second, all three covered by only 0.038secs.

“That was too close at times, but a good race. Halfway through I thought I had got a gap and then Luke caught me. I thought oh no and didn’t get a good run at the chicane on the last lap, but then Luke was slower out,” said Smith.  “I just gambled on their tussle slowing them up, which worked,” Knox added.  “I just braked too late into the chicane and it gave Chris the run to the line,” said Caudle.

Bristow claimed fourth again after Richardson pitted with debris after a big spin. Bailey spun off at Brooklands on lap six, which handed fifth back to Allen and a healthy class win over Sullivan and Raymond. “The rain shower put a bit of a twist on it, but I had the class sewn up early on and made it safe,” said Allen. “A bit lonely, just playing on my own,” Sullivan added.

Club class duellist O’Connor and Williams completed the top ten, with O’Connor claiming the spoils on this occasion after exchanging into the chicane on lap eight. “It’s a move you have to start planning from the exit of Church in these cars,” O’Connor explained. Kounnis finally shook off Osborne to complete the class podium.

RACE 3
Caudle, Allen and Ogden had all been crowned class champions, with only 3 points between Allen and Caudle for the overall championship and a reverse grid there was everything to race for in the final round of the season.

Richardson had pole and extending an early lead, when his engine suffered a temporary misfire exiting the chicane, as he pitted Caudle took control, from Smith, Knox, Bailey. Bristow and Allen.

The top three soon broke clear again and Bristow took Bailey for fourth on lap six, before the safety car was scrambled after the unfortunate Kevin O’Connor had been tipped into the barrier opposite the pits.

It came down to a one lap sprint from the green flag. Smith had the lead up Woodham Hill, but Caudle got by at the chicane to end his season on another win. “What a great season, unbelievable. ExcelR8 and my sponsors have been fantastic, and in the end it just wasn’t enough for the overall title this year, but with Lee Allen moving up to the JCW car next year I may have to come back for a head to head…….” Said a smiling Caudle.

“I was ahead into the chicane, made a mistake and lost it again, but hadn’t seen the last lap board,” said Smith. Caudle hadn’t either.  “That was shaping up to be a good race, then I caught the club cars, out came the safety car and it was all over,” said Knox.

Bristow and Bailey held station in fourth and fifth with Allen sixth. “I have got an R56 in the garage, so whatever Luke races next year I will, even it’s lorries,” said Allen. “I did have a bit of a scare though when I thought I had a puncture behind the safety car, so I backed them up before the green flag just make the place safe,” he added.

Dean Raymond was second in class with James pipping Sullivan for third at the chicane on the last lap, after changing a front tyre during the safety car period. Kounnis took the club class laurels, from Williams, Osborne and Ogden.  “A stunning year in my first motor sport season, today I let them get on with it, just to make sure of the points for the class title,” said very happy David Ogden.