Chaplin and Walker on top as VW Cup returns at Rockingham

Reigning VW Racing Cup champion Steve Chaplin has edged a little closer to making it back-to-back series titles despite a disappointing opening run at the Rockingham circuit.

Poleman Chaplin made a good start but was quickly passed by Aaron Mason. However Mason misjudged the conditions and ran wide almost immediately, handing Chaplin back the lead.

However James Walker was the man with the pace in the wet conditions and would soon depose Chaplin of the lead once more. Walker was untouchable, quickly pulling away at the head of the field.

Behind Walker Jr was Richard Walker, who battled his way to the head of the chasing pack and stayed there to the flag, ensuring a father-son one-two. Joe Fulbrook completed the podium with Chaplin down in fourth at the flag.

“I was quite surprised how slow people were in the early stages of the race,” said race winner James afterwards. “I knew that it was important for me to build a gap after I had taken the lead as I was able to find the grip that others weren’t able to and that’s exactly what I did. I just had to ensure that I kept a reasonable gap.”

Race two would see Chaplin brush aside his disappointment at the opening run’s result with a victory that edges him closer to the championship.

The circuit now dry, it was Fulbrook made a good start in the pole man Beaumont off the line as the pack approached turn one. Chaplin would quickly relegate Beaumont a further place before going in hunt of Fulbrook.

He would find his way past the double series champion on lap three and pull in to a lead that he would not surrender. Fulbrook followed him home, 2.3 seconds in arrears by the time the flag fell.

Behind them Mason and Beaumont fought over third before Mason made an incisive pass on lap two. Race one winner Walker relegated Beaumont a further position to compound the polesitter’s misery.

“It was a very good race from the start,” said Chaplin. “I got a very clean start but Joe also made a blinding start as well so it was a question of following Joe to see where he was going to go.

It all proved a bit green out there and a bit slippery but I knew that I had to keep putting the pressure on Joe; in the end there was a bit of a gap and I took the advantage. From then on it was just a question of keeping an eye on Joe and ensuring that I had a gap on him that I was able to maintain.”

Chaplin’s advantage at the top of the standings is now 46 points, with James Walker heading the chasing pack from Mason, Fulbrook and Steve Wood. Two double header rounds remain, with a trip to Donington (September 25) followed by the Silverstone season closer (October 9).

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James Weeks