Caterham R300: Fowell takes title number three at Donington

 
Trevor Fowell won his third Caterham R300 title in succession with a brave drive at the Donington Park circuit.

Race 1


Qualifying times tumbled on a rapidly drying track as James Sharrock, returning to the series for the first time since June, looked to have the advantage in conditions he relishes. But in the final seconds, McMillan Motorsport frontman Andy McMillan’s timing allowed him one more lap than anyone else, giving him the best of conditions and the front of the grid. Championship leader Trevor Fowell was comfortable in sixth with only a fifteenth place finish needed to secure the title.

With the race underway, it quickly formed into a battle between McMillan and Jamie Ellwood, while Fowell slotted neatly into a watching brief position behind the pair. At the head of a tremendous fourth place battle involving pretty much everyone else, various drivers took and then (unsuccessfully) tried to defend the position. Jamie Orton emerged from the mix to make a little break, leaving a sideways Sharrock, Mike Rowland, Mark Shaw and Ollie Taylor to argue it out on the track.

Although many assumed Fowell would settle for third, the Londoner had other ideas and started to challenge McMillan - who was now behind Ellwood - for second. A better exit from Coppice allowed Fowell through a narrow gap beside McMillan on the straight, but a rare mistake saw him clip the front of the white car, sending himself spinning across the chicane. McMillan continued unfazed, while Fowell recovered to fourth, letting Orton slip through into third and his team to open their eyes again. But Fowell still wanted a podium position and set about catching the rapid Orton. The pair caught McMillan, with Orton passing first and an impressively committed Fowell managing to snatch third on the final lap.

A delighted Ellwood took his first, overdue, win of the series with Orton second and Fowell third, making him the 2010 BookaTrack.com Caterham Superlight R300 champion.

Race 2

Race 2 of the weekend was all about third place in the championship with Fowell secure in first and McMillan unassailable in second. Ellwood needed five places on Ambition Racing’s Ollie Taylor to take the place from him. No short order, despite showing that Donington was his circuit.

A poor start by Ellwood allowed Jamie Orton to lead into the first corner, but it was McMillan that was in front by mid-lap. Behind, Ellwood was making up places and heading for the front, overcoming Orton quickly.

Ellwood had a brief spell in the lead until McMillan put himself back in command and became the class of the field with a comfortable margin. Ellwood now found himself in the thick of a pack of cars all vying for second, which would eventually go the way of DPR Motorsport driver Mark Shaw, as things settled down. But the man on the move was Ollie Taylor, making up the all important positions to Ellwood and in overtaking the new champion on the final lap, put his car directly behind his rival’s.

McMillan took the win, five seconds clear of Shaw in second with Ellwood third. Meanwhile Fowell, although off the podium, had set a terrific new lap record, bringing his tally of current Caterham lap records to seven, more than any other driver. Taylor’s fourth was enough for third in the championship.


Ros Jones.