2024 Rd 3 Donington Park National
Last weekend marked the third round of the 2024 7 Racing UK Championship and Euro Cup, and the half-way point of the season – already! Donington Park is always a popular event, and a superb circuit to showcase just how amazing Caterhams are.
310R/270R
After winning the 310R championship title last season, and dabbling in some European outings earlier this year, David Baldwin returned to the UK championship at Donington Park. Immediately back on form, it was Baldwin who secured a pole position start for race one, ahead of David Yates.
As the first race got underway it was action from the off, as the lead group immediately launched into race mode. Baldwin held onto the lead as the pack navigated its way down the Craner Curves, despite increasing pressure from the following Yates, James Wingfield, James Hall and Jamie Winrow. As the lead group exited the Old Hairpin on lap one, Yates saw his opportunity to sneak ahead.
By the end of lap one, Baldwin was back ahead, as he and Yates dived into Redgate side by side, vying for the lead once again.
Before long the top five managed to break away from the chasing pack, just as the safety car made an appearance on circuit, simmering the action for a short period. As the race restarted one lap later, it was all systems go once again, as the top five again continued their battle for the lead.
As Baldwin, Yates and Wingfield remained line astern, Winrow was the man on the move, as he passed Hall for fourth place.
As we approached the half-way point of this first race, the numerous battles throughout the field continued, as the fastest lap changed hands from Sam May to Mark Roberts.
After 20 minutes of full throttle action, and in true Caterham style, it all came down to the final lap, to see who would cross the finish line ahead. After trading places during the final laps, it was Winrow who claimed victory, just 0.162 seconds ahead of Baldwin, with Yates in third place, Wingfield fourth and Hall fifth.
Caroline Everett worked her way up to a solitary 6th place, whilst Harry Eyre came out on top of the battle for seventh place, ahead of Roberts, May and Tim Steel.
Onto race two and it was Winrow on pole position, with Baldwin alongside. A slow getaway for Winrow saw him drop down the order, as Baldwin slotted into the lead and immediately began to edge out a gap.
With Yates in second place, it was a superb start for Everett, as she began hassling Yates for second place by the end of lap one, before claiming the position for herself. As Everett began chasing down leader Baldwin, it was Yates’ turn to drop back, as he fell to seventh place.
In a bid to rectify his slower than expected start, Winrow began making his way back through the field. Before long, he was back with the lead trio, making it a four-way battle for honours.
Upon catching leader Baldwin, Everett saw her opportunity to steal the advantage, however as the pack headed into Redgate for the next lap, it was almost three wide, as Everett, Baldwin and Wingfield each refused to relinquish position.
After another brief safety car period to rescue two cars stranded in the gravel at the chicane, the field was ready for the final eight minute showdown. However, after making it back up to third place, Winrow suddenly disappeared from action during the last safety car lap, due to a clutch issue.
In his absence the race resumed, as Baldwin, Everett, Wingfield and the recovering Yates launched into battle once more.
With the field bunched up following the neutralisation of the safety car, it was difficult to see space between much of the pack. At the front, the lead changed hands multiple times on route to the chequered flag.
As Everett and Wingfield tussled over the lead, slight contact saw Everett out of contention for victory. With many of the original challengers in the wars, it was Wingfield who eventually secured the win, ahead of Yates and Harry Eyre. Hall narrowly missed out on a podium finish in fourth place, ahead of Michael O’Reilly and Steel.
After running wide at the chicane towards the end of the race, Baldwin slid down to seventh place, whilst Everett recovered to ninth place.
A reverse of the top 10 from race two saw Mark Roberts awarded pole position for race three, whilst Everett lined up alongside in second place.
With positions reversed, attentions were focused on who would claim honours this time around – would it be the usual suspects or would we welcome someone new to the top step of the podium.
As the field headed on circuit for the formation lap, sadly Winrow pulled off circuit and out of the race, as his woes continued.
As this final race got underway, it was Roberts who lead the way, despite Everett’s best attempts to pass around the outside into Redgate.
After a furiously entertaining opening few laps, during which the lead changed hands numerous times, it looked as though the battle for honours would be between O’Reilly, Yates, Everett, Wingfield and Baldwin. However, in true Caterham fashion, who would come out on top was anyone’s guess.
As the chequered flag fell, it was Yates who claimed victory on circuit, however following the investigation of a last lap incident, it was Everett who was awarded victory, ahead of Roberts and Baldwin.
Behind, after a brief spell at the front, O’Reilly landed in fourth place, ahead of Fraser Riddington and Eyre. After missing Saturday’s race due to family commitments, Doug Christie started from the back of the grid for race two. After two strong races, race three saw Christie finish seventh, whilst Hall, Scott Parker and Steel completed the top 10 behind him. Steel was also awarded the Chapman Trophy accolade for this Donington Park weekend.
With a triple victory, Myrton Wood extended his championship lead in the new-for-2024 270R class.
420R
With the first 420R race of the weekend sadly cancelled, all attentions were focused on races two and three on Sunday.
With the qualifying positions carried across to race two, it was Anthony Barnes who started from pole position, with Stewart Calder alongside. As the race got underway it was three-wide for the lead into Redgate, as Barnes, Calder and Lee Wiggins vied for position. The Outside line proved the right choice this time around, as Calder slotted into the lead as the field thundered towards the Craner Curves.
Wiggins was soon hot on his heels, before sneaking ahead and into the lead, followed by Barnes. As lap two unfolded, Wiggins developed a comfortable gap, as the battle continued behind. It was all change almost immediately in Wiggins’ mirrors, as Stansfield progressed to second place from 13th on the grid, ahead of Mark Farmer.
As Stansfield and Farmer battled profusely, Calder sat in fourth place, biding his time. Before long, Wiggins’ advantage soon evaporated, as Stansfield and Farmer worked together to bridge the gap.
As the top three enjoyed their own battle, the scrap for fourth place behind was just as close, with Calder, Gary Tootell, Barnes and Ben Winrow each keen to come out ahead.
As Wiggins and Stanfield lapped nose to tail for the final 14 minutes or so, Farmer sat just adrift in third place, awaiting his opportunity. After a brief spell in front, Stansfield soon slotted back into second place, as he and Wiggins continued their battle towards the chequered flag.
As the pair crossed the finish line, a mere 0.073 seconds separated Wiggins and Stansfield. After looking set for a third place finish, an issue on the final lap saw Farmer left by the sidelines. In his absence, Calder claimed third place, ahead of Barnes and Ben Winrow, whilst Tom Hayman-Joyce rounded out the top six.
Peter Rimer secured victory in the 420R Sportsman championship, ahead of Matt Drew and Ian Dyble.
After working his way through the pack from the back of the grid in race two, Mike Evans finished in 10th place, also claiming pole position for race three. A rain shower at the start of this final race made for tricky conditions on circuit, however as the final race got underway, it was Evans who led the way around the opening lap.
As the field tiptoed its way around lap one, it was Calder who came out on top, navigating his way from eighth on the grid to lead the race by the start of lap two. As the opening laps unfolded, Calder and Evans continued to battle for control.
Before long, Lewis Tootell launched himself into the mix, as he took control of the race for a number of laps.
As we approached the half-way point, the familiar green machine of Wiggins appeared at the head of the field, after steering his way through from 10th place. Barnes soon followed him through, slotting into second place and making it a five-way battle for the lead.
With just a few minutes remaining on the clock, it was a familiar sight at the head of the field, as Wiggins and Stansfield resumed their battle from race two.
Wiggins, Stansfield and Barnes battled profusely for the final few laps, nose to tail with each tour. As the trio headed towards the chicane for the final time, an incident eradicated Stansfield’s chance of victory, as Wiggins and Barnes went on to secure first and second. Behind, it was a battle of the Tootells, as dad Gary narrowly beat son Lewis to third place.
Hayman-Joyce held on for fourth place, ahead of Russ Olivant and Calder. Pole sitter Evans finished in eighth place, ahead of Ian Cowley and Rimer. Cowley also claimed victory in the 420R Sportsman race, ahead of Rimer and Drew.
Next we move onto the penultimate round of the season, and it’s another bucket list circuit – Silverstone GP. Taking place across the weekend of 27th – 28th July, we have grid space available for 270R, 310R and 420R cars and drivers. For more details about the Silverstone round, please head to our website – https://seven.racing/index.php/event/silverstone-gp-3/ or contact us: Sean Bicknell – [email protected] / 01455 239900.