FORMULA WOMAN NATIONS CUP
The Formula Woman Nations Cup Series Challenge lived up to its promise withtwo thrilling races around the 2.443 mile Rockingham Motor Speedway on Sunday. The showcase races, the precursor to next April and May'sofficial eight-round Nations Cup Series, saw Natalie Butler upholdinghonours for England to take double victory ahead of Jennifer Murray (SouthAfrica) and Lauren Gray (Australia) in race one and Margo Gardner and Murrayagain in race two.
"This is unbelievable!" said a delighted Natalie at the end. "It has beenfantastic racing with the girls, it was so much fun. I was just so happyafter winning my first race I could not really take it all in. Then in thesecond race, I made an absolutely brilliant start but I really had to workhard for the win as they were all over me."
Former Swedish touring car driver Nettan Lingren took the lead in race onefrom pole but after a close-fought first lap with Butler, pulled off thetrack with a gearbox problem at Gretton Hairpin, her race over on the spot.This left 31 year-old Natalie to enjoy a huge scrap for honours with Gray,who briefly led on lap two, and Murray, which continued until Murray ranwide dropping her to fifth and moving Polish Anna Walewska into third.
As Butler and Gray then pulled away at the front, Murray recovered to moveinto third, leading a train of five cars, before chasing down the lead pair.Behind Murray, a five-way battle between Margo Gardner, who slipped down atthe start after a missed gear off the line, Walewska, Jennifer Daniel, EmmaHayles and Rachel Owen (Wales), finally went the way of Gardner, the Scotleading home Daniel (Ireland) and Hayles (England) as Walewska dropped backto seventh ahead of Owen.
At half-distance, Gray's valiant attempt to retake the lead ended when shespun at Gretton Hairpin, dropping her to third and allowing Butler to takean untroubled run to the flag, with a 4.577second advantage over Murray, whomoved back into second at Deene on lap nine. Completing the finishers,Amanda Hennessy from the United States led home a battling Theresia Balk(Netherlands) and Annie Templeton (England) and a great performance fromLisa Avis, making her first ever appearance in a racing car.
Race two had Murray start from pole with Hennessy alongside but at thelights Butler from the second row, made an amazing getaway to slot inbetween them and take the lead as they entered the first corner. BehindButler, the battle for second between Hennessy and Murray, was joined byGardner, the trio exchanging places several times over the opening laps,enabling Butler to stretch her lead.
From the back of the grid, Lingren in a replacement car, also made a greatstart, moving up five places at the start and up into seventh at thecompletion of the opening lap. By lap two she was up into second, afterdisposing of the battling trio and set about chasing down the leader.Hennessy though had other ideas, retaking second at the Hairpin, althoughshe lost the place again, this time to Gardner as they crossed thestart/finish straight.
As Butler maintained a 1.5sec lead, the battle for second intensified, thetrio running three abreast along School straight and into Brook Corner,Murray taking the place ahead of Gardner and Lingren as they entered thecorner. Thereafter Murray closed down the gap, determined to make amendsfor failing to capitalise on her pole position, and by lap nine the gap wasdown to just 0.295secs. With just three laps remaining, the top three rannose-to-tail, and with a superb move, Murray moved ahead of Butler to takethe lead at Turn 4, with Gardner still on the tail of the former leader.
But Butler was determined to take the double and after a major battle on thepenultimate lap, which saw Gardner also briefly lead, she retook theposition at Tarzan and just held on to take the win ahead of Gardner andMurray, the three virtually side by side and covered by just .122 of asecond at the flag. Lingren took a superb fifth behind Gray and ahead ofOwen while Walewska, Daniel and Hennessy led home another tremendous battlebetween Templeton and Balk, with Avis again taking another solid finish.Emma Hayles was unfortunately sidelined with an electrical problem on thepenultimate lap.
Formula Woman founder Graeme Glew was understandably delighted with the day'sracing; "It's been a superb day. These women clearly have a lot ofability, in identical cars they have provided some fantastic racing."
Results of Race One - 12 laps1. Natalie Butler (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B23:52.7902. Jennifer Murray (RSA) Caterham Roadsport B23:57.3673. Lauren Gray (AUS) Caterham Roadsport B23:57.5974. Margo Gardner (SCO) Caterham Roadsport B24:05.1765. Jennifer Daniel (IRL) Caterham Roadsport B24:08.1116. Emma Hayles (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B24:09.9977. Anna Walewska (POL) Caterham Roadsport B24:10.9518. Rachel Owen (WAL) Caterham Roadsport B24:17.8689. Amanda Hennessey (USA) Caterham Roadsport B24:36.67510.Theresia Balk (NED) Caterham Roadsport B24:54.28711.Annie Templeton (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B24:54.45212.Lisa Avis (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B25:16.377
Fastest lap: Jennifer Murray 1:57.727sec 68.68mph (110.53kph)
Results of Race Two - 12 laps1. Natalie Butler (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B23:53.9672. Margo Gardner (SCO) Caterham Roadsport B23:54.0823. Jennifer Murray (RSA) Caterham Roadsport B23:54.0894. Lauren Gray (AUS) Caterham Roadsport B24:03.8895. Nettan Lingren (SWE) Caterham Roadsport B24:04.0746. Rachel Owen (WAL) Caterham Roadsport B24:08.6727. Anna Walewska (POL) Caterham Roadsport B24:14.4528. Jennifer Daniel (IRL) Caterham Roadsport B24:14.9899. Amanda Hennessy (USA) Caterham Roadsport B24:39.73610.Annie Templeton (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B25:02.52811.Theresia Balk (NED) Caterham Roadsport B25:02.72212. Lisa Avis (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B25:05.201
Fastest lap: Jennifer Murray 1:57.214sec 68.98mph(111.01kph)
