VICTORY OF 2009
Nathan Freke edged into the lead of the Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup driver standings for the first time at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire Saturday, 13th June, after claiming his fifth back-to-back race win of the campaign.
Opening his account at Donington Park in mid-May, the Century Motorsport racer hasn’t been stopped since and during today’s 12th round of the championship he once again produced a superb lights-to-flag performance to open-up a slender one point advantage in the title race.
For erstwhile series leader Carl Breeze, a battling second place finish – his ninth podium of the year – was all the more incredible considering just two weeks ago it looked as though the Total Control Racing driver would be forced to miss several race meetings following a horror smash at Oulton Park in Cheshire.
Through sheer guts and determination, the former British Touring Car Championship racer arrived at Croft for Friday’s pre-event practice sessions still suffering from severe bruising and ligament damage but after running well during the weekend’s build-up, Breeze went on to qualify on the front row and also claim a very competitive second place ahead of perennial third position finisher Frank Wrathall.
Commenting on win number five, a delighted Freke said: “I think the only doubt about taking another win today was the start. My starts have been a little bit inconsistent so I had to make sure I got the car off the line well – actually I think I’ve found something that works now!
“Carl (Breeze) was hassling me and there were places where I could see he was quicker than me but they were at points where you can’t really attack. Out the back section though I had a really good car and I was able to stretch its legs and open up a bit of a cushion. The race went on from there, I didn’t have to push too hard and that was good as it’s such an easy circuit to make a mistake on.”
At the start of round 12, Freke made the better getaway although Breeze ran him close through Clervaux for the first time ahead of Wrathall and Fulvio Mussi. Further behind, Chris Dittman saw a less than spectacular start go from bad to worse when he was forced into retirement in the gravel trap on the outside of the first corner.
Right on Freke’s tail through Tower Bend, Breeze pushed hard during the early stages while Wrathall and Mussi were intent on remaining in close quarters to the two main title protagonists. Behind, Christian Dick headed Tom Sharp in fifth place while championship newcomer, Brazilian single-seater convert Diego Freitas was an impressive seventh.
The action involving Sharp and Freitas did get a little too close for comfort on laps three and four and the result saw Sharp’s rear bumper become detached. The pair tangled again at Sunny and both slipped down the order, Sharp incurring a puncture which he would eventually pit to repair at the end of lap seven before rejoining a lap down.
Back at the front, Freke was unchallenged and he stretched out to a winning margin of two seconds when he took the chequered flag on lap 10. Injured Breeze, a remarkable second, was over four seconds clear of Wrathall with Mussi equalling his best result of the season with a fine fourth place.
Christian Dick continued his consistent season with fifth place ahead of Swedish racer Hampus Rydman and Dane Joachim Ritter. Series debutant Kourosh Khani, who has been competing in the Formula Renault BARC single-seater championship, was a creditable eighth ahead of Freitas.
Colin White took Chairman’s Cup honours in 10th place but the class battle wasn’t the hardest the CWS driver has had this year – he was the sole entrant this weekend with several of the other championship contenders unable to take part.
Commenting on his gutsy second place finish and the battle he has faced to actually take to the wheel of his brand new G50 this weekend, Breeze said: “It was a bit touch and go whether we’d be here. I had a medical examination at my doctor’s surgery on Thursday and he didn’t think I was ready.
“Luckily, when we got here on Friday I saw Dr. Paul Trafford, who helped me so much at Oulton Park after the accident, and he gave me the all clear and just said with the ligament damage I’ve got I just needed to go out and do the best I could. Laying in bed the last two weeks, I didn’t think we’d be at Croft. The team was hoping I could make it but they didn’t put any pressure on me.
“To get some points would have been good but to get on the podium is obviously great. I must say a big thank you to my sponsors for their help with the new car and also to the medical crew from Oulton who did so much for not only me, but also for Mark Proctor.”
Special mention must go to former BTCC driver Proctor who, although unable to compete due to a broken vertebrae and having actually stated his plans to call time on his motor racing career, was in attendance at Croft today which was fantastic for everyone to see.
Rounds 13 and 14 of the Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup will take place at 13.15 and 17.55 tomorrow, Sunday, 14th June, with the first of the two races set to be screened live on Freeview, cable and digital satellite channel ITV4. Freke will line up on pole position for round 13 with Breeze alongside him on the front row while Mussi lines up third with Dick fourth.
Provisional 2009 Ginetta G50 Cup Championship Positions (after Rd12; Rd11 to be rescheduled):1st Nathan Freke, 336pts; 2nd Carl Breeze, 335pts; 3rd Frank Wrathall, 285pts; 4th Christian Dick, 206pts; 5th Tom Sharp, 174pts; 6th Fulvio Mussi, 146pts
