Our Silverstone GP race weekend is always a calendar highlight. A bucket list circuit, which presents superb racing, and our annual Saturday evening paddock party – what could be better for a race weekend!
This year’s event was as popular as ever, with drivers in all three classes enjoying some fantastic track action.
420R
Our 420R championship always boasts healthy entry numbers, and Silverstone GP certainly brings out the drivers. With a Saturday afternoon qualifying session done and dusted it was Anthony Barnes who secured pole position, ahead of 7 Racing newcomer Luke Bennett.
As we headed into Sunday morning it was soon time to race. Blue skies and sunshine were the order of the day, such is the standard 7 Racing weather. As the grid formed, all eyes turned to the head of the pack to see who would lead the way into Copse corner on lap one.
As the lights went out it was Barnes who maintained his advantage, whilst Mark Stansfield slotted into second place and the fast-starting Lewis Tootell claimed third place. Before long, as the opening laps developed, Barnes and Stansfield resumed their usual scrap for honours, whilst it was the battle of the Tootells for third place, as Gary and son Lewis jostled over the final podium spot.
With the majority of the race still to come, the safety car was scrambled due to an incident in the 310R field. With the stricken cars rescued, and 15 minutes on the clock, the race resumed for the second half.
Ready and raring to go once more, Barnes launched himself across the line at the restart, as Stansfield trailed on behind. With Barnes, Stansfield and Lewis Tootell line astern for the top three, Rob Watts now led the battle for fourth, forced to defend heavily from the chasing Gary Tootell.
A brief change at the head of the pack saw Stansfield sneak ahead into the lead, as Tootell followed into second place, demoting Barnes to third. With 10 minutes still to go, there was plenty more action to come from this group. However, with just over three minutes to go, an issue forced Stansfield onto the sidelines and out of contention.
As the lead duo mirrored one another’s manoeuvres for the final few minutes, it was Barnes who held on for victory, just 0.3 seconds ahead of Lewis Tootell, with Rob Watts in third place.
Tom Greensall claimed not only his first podium, but his first victory in the 420R Sportsman championship, ahead of Ian Cowley and Matt Reeve.
A reverse of the top 10 for race two saw Greensall start on pole position, whilst Stewart Calder lined up alongside.
As the race began, a manoeuvre around the outside into Copse launched Calder into the lead. As the opening lap developed, Greensall regained control, as the familiar orange car of Barnes began closing in slightly further back.
As the field navigated their way around lap two, Barnes had made his way into the lead, whilst Ben Winrow muscled his way into second place. Behind, Stansfield made up a superb 12 places on the opening lap, eventually landing in fifth place by the end of lap two.
With the fastest lap under his belt, Stansfield was soon in third place, and back to battling for the lead with Barnes and Winrow. Separated by less then one second, the trio battled profusely towards the chequered flag.
After a spell in the lead of the race, and despite leading on the final lap, Stansfield was unable to hold off Barnes on the run to the line. Separated by just 0.038 seconds, the pair crossed the finish line virtually side by side, whilst also navigating a backmarker, with Barnes ever so slightly ahead. Stansfield held on for second once again, with Ben Winrow in a comfortable third place.
Behind, Greensall doubled his weekend’s successes with another 420R Sportsman victory, also finishing in a strong fourth place overall. Lewis Tootell and Tom Hayman-Joyce completed the top six, whilst Matt Drew and Ian Cowley joined Greensall on the 420R Sportsman podium.
310R/270R
Given the grid capacity for the Silverstone GP circuit it was a combined grid, with all three classes sharing the tarmac for both races.
Following a busy qualifying session on Saturday, it was David Yates who claimed pole position for the opening 310R race, whilst 7 Racing newcomer James McCullough secured pole position for the 270R grid.
Lining up on the grid for race one, Yates slotted into top spot, as James Wingfield lined up alongside him. As the race began, it was Yates who held onto his early advantage to lead the way, however it was the fast starting Harry Eyre who elevated himself to second place.
As Yates and Eyre continued their battle for the lead, the pair managed to navigate away from the chasing pack, building a somewhat comfortable gap. Behind, Wingfield led the tussle for third place, with Caroline Everett right on his tail.
Before too long, Everett’s chances disappeared in a plume of smoke, as engine troubles sadly ended her weekend prematurely. In her absence, Wingfield continued his battle for third place, as Mark Roberts, Jamie Winrow and Paul Sethi tried to disrupt him.
After just six minutes of racing, the safety car soon neutralised the pace, following an incident slightly further back. With the stricken cars recovered, the race resumed. With the field closed up once more, Yates was forced to defend from Wingfield, who had navigated his way to second place, with Eyre in third.
With just five minutes to go, there was a five-way battle for honours, as Yates led the way, defending heavily from the chasing pack.
As the final couple of minutes unfolded, Yates and Sethi found themselves slightly too close, as the pair fell out of favour in the lead battle and landed further adrift. In their absence, it was Wingfield who crossed the line victorious, ahead of Eyre and Mark Roberts. Yates later crossed the finish line in sixth place, with Sethi ninth.
Pole position led to a 270R victory for McCullough, claiming a commanding triumph over Jon Moore and Simon White, whilst 270R championship leader, Myrton Wood, finished fourth.
With the top 10 from race one reversed, it was Simon Sharrock who claimed pole position for race two, with Sethi alongside him.
As the opening laps unfolded, Yates was soon leading the way, determined to put his woes from race one behind him. As five cars battle for supremacy once again, it was difficult to see who would be victorious this time around.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Yates, Wingfield and Sethi had managed to break away from the chasing pack, as the trio lapped nose to tail, battling for honours.
As the final lap unfolded it was Sethi who led the way, chased closely by Yates. However, after a sweeping manoeuvre around the outside on the final tour it was Yates who shot ahead.
With the winner far from decided, it was a drag race to the finish line for Yates and Sethi, to see who be crowned winner this time around. With an astonishing 0.006 seconds between them, it was Yates only just head of Sethi, with Wingfield third. Mark Roberts and Jamie Winrow were just behind in fourth and fifth places, with Sam May sixth.
Jon Moore secured his first victory in the 270R class, a comfortable two seconds ahead of race one winner McCullough, with Simon White third, and Myrton Wood narrowly missing out on a podium finish in fourth place.
Superb racing, glorious weather and a fun Saturday evening paddock party sums up another fantastic 7 Racing weekend. There is just one round to go – already! Oulton Park is next on the calendar, however we still have some European events to come, with the fourth round of the 2024 Euro Cup taking place towards the end of September in Valencia.
To find out more about our Oulton Park round, or to join us on the grid, head to our website: https://seven.racing/index.php/event/oulton-park/. We look forward to seeing you all in Cheshire in a few weeks’ time.