Marcus Jewell scored another Lotus Elise on track Trophy win at Snetterton at the weekend, while Michael Edwards triumphed in race 2.
Introduction
With some great support slots for the series, it’s quite an achievement to say that our centrepiece of the season is an event where it headlines the racing but when the event also includes a display of every single Team Lotus Formula One car and Lotus Racing’s current challenger plus its drivers, it’s a well-justified statement. With the A11 almost at a standstill whilst the crowds entered the circuit it would be a weekend to remember.
Would Marcus Jewell carry on his good form or could James Knight challenge him at a circuit he has traditionally performed well at?
Qualifying
Just as the cars left the pits a sudden shower erupted, adding to an already greasy track surface. Steve Quick was first to get up to speed, with Jewell just behind. The long Snetterton straights were packed with cars whilst the drivers worked with the variable conditions, the warmth of the June sun ensuring that each lap was a different experience. Indeed, Jewell put in a very fast lap that was 1.5 seconds clear, but it was in no way certain that this would last. Midway through, with the sun really starting to dry the track he then pulled out a 2.2 second gap.
Knight was first to take up the challenge, closing this to under 3 tenths, before beating the time by the merest of fractions. But it wouldn’t last for Jewell then pulled another 2.5 seconds, Knight then gaining another 2 seconds as the track dried. Jewell then stretched it out by another 1.5 seconds, Knight responding but still a second behind. Jewell still gained a few tenths and it was all down to getting that final lap in before the flag.
Rob Myers nearly stole the show with his final lap but Jewell was not to be beaten, nearly half a second ahead. Knight salvaged third from Denman, who was always in the hunt, followed by Ben Pitch, Quick, Michael Edwards, Ken Savage, Stuart Rowland and Donald Canard. The big loser here was Simon Phillips, bundled down to eleventh, from being well in the top five earlier on. However with Denman a reserve and therefore relying on non-starters, Phillips would at least have the consolation of a top ten start.
Race One
Whether it was the changing conditions or the long gap between races, something certainly encouraged the drivers to put on a somewhat excitable event. As they lined up, the rain started again and Jewell made a good getaway, as did Knight, who was in contention for second place until the Russell chicane as Quick made a decisive move into the first right-hander, dropping him to fourth. Following hard were Pitch, Deacon, Edwards, Price, Broad and Canard.
Knight retook third and a lap later was past Myers into second place but all the while Jewell was using the damp conditions and the squabbling pack behind to make his getaway. Edwards had also passed Deacon and was ready to hassle Pitch as the three circulated together. Price, Broad, Savage, Canard, Rowland, Noble, Beer and Phillips remained close behind.
Quick soon slotted into third as Edwards passed Pitch, whilst Myers now started to fall down the order. Putting air between himself and his followers, Quick was, however, unable to make an impression on the leaders as Knight chased down Jewell, getting to within a couple of seconds then staying there for a few laps, biding his time.
Edwards managed to catch Quick and behind the following Pitch, Broad passed Myers, who was falling into the clutches of Savage, Phillips and Noble. The latter would, however, pull off the road at the chicane later on. Edwards then successfully passed Quick for third but the attention at this point was on the leaders. Quick through Coram, Knight was covered by Jewell into the chicane but a good exit led to them running side-by-side down the straight onto the final lap. Knight tried all he could but with only one lap left of the pressure, Jewell was just able to stay ahead to the flag.
As ever there was action all around the circuit. David Skeggs was making his way up the order but at his favoured passing point, Russell chicane, he hit Bartlett in an optimistic move. They were then joined by Denman for a few laps but that didn’t last either as first Bartlett retired with a wheel rubbing, then with Denman slow out of the chicane, a closely-tracking Skeggs had nowhere to go and no option but to return to the pits. Behind them David Hay and Paul McNeilly were spinning in the chicane as the midfield pack were no less aggressive than those ahead of them.
Race Two
Sunday’s Elise Trophy Race was held in honour of Lotus enthusiast Simon Woodward, who sadly passed away earlier this year. A regular visitor to Elise Trophy meetings, he was also involved in motorsport with McLaren, Bentley and Palmer Sport.
Conditions were much better for the following day’s race, on a track freshly laid with Formula One rubber. It was Savage who made the best start from the reversed grid to lead from the first corner but next time round he blotted his copybook with an excursion that dropped him way down the order.
Canard also removed himself from contention by running wide at Coram, whilst Edwards, Rowland, Pitch, Phillips, Knight, Jewell, Deacon and Broad made the early running. Edwards upped the pace whilst the pack behind sorted themselves out. Pitch got up to second and Jewell worked his way into third pretty quickly. Knight then fought past Phillips and Rowland and the crowd were fixed on Pitch, Jewell and Knight, currently running in that order.
Jewell made a move on Pitch but couldn’t make the break and with Knight keeping close company, it was all giving Edwards a lead that would prove unassailable. Pitch tried a move on Jewell round the outside of Sear, which gave Knight a great run along the Revett straight. He used the opportunity to relieve both of them the second place they were fighting over in a fine move.
Would Knight now be able to use the opportunity to close the gap to Edwards? Behind these three Rowland, Phillips and Broad fought to lead the next group, with Nash, Savage, Bartlett and Skeggs a little further back. With the action gathering more pace, Baker spun at the chicane and just as he attempted to rejoin, McNeilly and Stothert made contact and with the latter stranded in the middle of the track there was no choice but to stop the race. Just 3 minutes on the clock meant there was no chance of a restart, so Edwards won from Knight, Jewell, Pitch, Rowland, Phillips, Broad, Nash, Savage and Bartlett.
Conclusion
The action from the two races didn’t disappoint a huge crowd, showing their enthusiasm for the local marque. Knight and Jewell stood out with their duelling performances over both days, complementing the equally enthusiastic Heikki Kovalainen and Fairuz Fauzy in the JPS cars. Edwards and Pitch had strong weekends too but, as has been a running theme in 2010, there was action throughout a large field of cars. You can see the action on www.elisetrophy.tv or watch out for it on Motors TV later in the year. Next time out the series is at Brands Hatch supporting the WTCC or you can follow Lotus Cup Europe at Magny-Cours a week earlier.
Kevin Ritson - www.lotrdc.com
Follow Motors TV on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
International
