Regional News

Quaife Radical Clubman's Cup: Thruxton, 28 August 2010

30th August 2010

Colin Millar continues to inch towards a second successive title, after another double win in his SR3 RS at Thruxton.

Darren Luke’s PR6 had secured pole from Millar’s SR3 and made it count with a good start and the early lead of race one. Steven Lindsay’s PR6 slotted into second, from Millar, with Chris Hillaby’s SR3 making it a four-car break on the opening lap.

Into the chicane for the second time Lindsay inched ahead, but had the wrong line and was forced to back off again. He tried the same move a lap later, but spun on the exit. Luke was delayed and had to go over the kerbing to rejoin, by which time Millar was through and had the lead. “I got a good start and was second into Allard and chasing Darren. I did lead for a few yards and then outbraked myself,” admitted Lindsay. “I had planned to get the tyres warm first, but got the chance and took it,” said Millar.

Hillaby could have followed but he was heading pitwards with engine maladies. “It just went on me going up Woodham Hill,” he said.

Luke was still in second from the SR3s of Richard Carver, Steve Burgess and Simon Fish. But Nigel Place’s PR6 ousted Fish on lap five, and a seven-car train built up for fifth. “I just backed off at Church and suddenly they mobbed me,” Fish explained.

Millar’s lead was growing, but Luke was still unable to make much impression. Unlike Burgess, who once settled reeled in Carver and took third into Church on lap nine.

Place, Mark Abbott’s PR6 and Fish had started to consolidate their holds on sixth, seventh and eighth, until James Abbott’s SR3 latched on and began to pick them off one by one. Eighth into the chicane on lap nine and suddenly Mark Abbott started to close on Place as James threatened them both.

Millar cruised home to victory by well over two seconds, Luke a clear second, and Burgess closing in. “I need an SR3. I had a good qualifying session but can’t believe how quick Lindsay went past me. I just couldn’t catch Colin though,” said Luke. “It was good for me, I hadn’t even seen the place before qualifying, but built up my confidence and got on with it,” Burgess added.

Carver held onto fourth but was well aware that he had James Abbott closing. “I was flagging, wish it had been 12 laps not 17. I could see the gap reducing on James’ board, it was hard work,” he said.

James and Mark Abbott had both pipped Place on the last lap. “I lost out at the start and after that any hole and I went for it. I was surprised to get fifth, but kept getting the hurry up from Dad,” James explained. “I had a nice dice with James, but he had the momentum to pass me when I challenged Nigel Place,” Mark replied.

Place still held onto seventh but complained of a top end misfire at the end, which proved to be a shortage of fuel. Richard Stables’ PR6 was eighth, with Castle Combe GT regular Darcy Smith and Gary Baxter completed the top ten. “I seemed to go back at the start and then lost four places at the Complex on lap six and had to catch up again,” Baxter concluded.

RESULT

1 Colin Millar (SR3) 17 laps in 21m14.004s (113.17mph); 2 Darren Luke (PR6) +2.439s; 3 Steve Burgess (SR3) +0.411s; 4 Richard Carver (SR3); 5 James Abbott (SR3); 6 Mark Abbott 9PR6); 7 Nigel Place (PR6); 8 Richard Stables (PR6); 9 Darcy Smith (SR3); 10 Gary Baxter (SR3). Prosports: 1 Luke; 2 M.Abbott; 3 Place; 4 Stables; 5 Mark Boot. Supersports: 1 Millar; 2 Burgess; 3 Carver; 4 James Abbott; 5 Baxter; 6 Rachel Davies; 7 Simon Fishl; 8 Ray Woolhead; 9 Craig Currie; 10 Paul Marsham; 11 David Jacobs.  Clubsports: 1 Jon Morris; 2 Simon Garmston; 3 Ian Charles; no other starters. Invitation: 1 Darcy Smith; 2 Steven Lindsay; 3 Bill Henderson; 4 David Frankland; no other starters. Fastest lap: Lindsay 1m13.609s (115.22mph).

RACE TWO

Luke once again made the best getaway, with Mark Abbott initially second, before Millar charged by. Carver also challenged Abbott at the chicane on lap two, but a repeat manoeuvre a lap later paid dividends for the ex-biker.

Burgess was next in line to threaten Abbott, while at the front Millar started to close in on Luke’s lead. By the end of lap four Burgess was fourth and straight onto Carver’s tail.

Back in sixth, Place had begun to close in on Abbott, but then came under attack himself from Smith, before Hillaby started to reel them in after his charge from the back of the grid.

Luke was unable to respond as Millar came closer and closer, “it was as much as I could do, Colin got me up Woodham Hill and for some reason I couldn’t carry full throttle into the Complex,” said Luke after losing his lead on lap 13. It was Millar’s win but Luke was much closer in a disappointing second.

Burgess had made it past Carver four laps earlier to secure third again, as the top four all held station over the remaining laps. But Hillaby’s charge continued to make places lap after lap. He shot past Place into Allard on lap 13 and three laps later he took Smith too. Mark Abbott was in his sights as time was running out, but undeterred he went for fifth into the chicane, and emerged with another place gained as they flag came out.

“I enjoyed that absolutely. I had to work hard to get there, but the moves were all fair,” said Hillaby. “I was happy with that too, when I realised Chris was there on the last lap, I didn’t see any point in holding him up,” Abbott replied.

Smith won the invitation class again in seventh overall, with Place eighth. Lindsay’s pace picked up towards the end and he snatched ninth from Stables on the last lap.

In the Clubsports Jon Morris continued a dominant weekend with another win over Simon Garmston and Ian Charles.

Millar now heads for the final two rounds at Donington Park next month, having nosed ahead in the overall points standings, despite Luke having had the greater number of victories.

RESULT

1 Millar 17 laps in 21m11.894s (113.38mph); 2 Luke +0.939s; 3 Burgess; 4 Carver; 5 Chris Hillaby (SR3); 56 Mark Abbott; 7 Smith; 8 Place; 9 Lindsay; 10 Stables. Prosport: 1 Luke; 2 M.Abbott; 3 Place; 4 Stables; 5 Boot. Supersports: 1 Millar; 2 Burgess; 3 Carver; 4 Hillaby; 5 Davies; 6 Woolhead; 7 Baxter; 8 Fish. ; 7 Baxter; 8 J.Abbott.  Clubsports: 1 Morris; 2 Garmston; 3 Charles; no other starters. Invitation: 1 Smith; 2 Lindsay; 3 Henderson; 4 Frankland; no other starters: Fastest lap: Millar 1m13.783s (114.95mph).

Published by Peter Scherer for Radical Sportscars, 30 August 2010