Nathan Freke fended off a determined challenge from Frank Wrathall in both Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup races at Silverstone in Northamptonshire Sunday, 30th August, to complete a hat-trick of wins over the course of the weekend and also extend his title advantage to a huge 94 points.
Barring a catastrophe of monumental proportions during the final six rounds, the Century Motorsport driver looks well on course to claim the 2009 crown as Wrathall begins to stamp his authority on the runner-up spot ahead of early season championship leader Carl Breeze.
Dynojet driver Wrathall shadowed Freke home in all three G50 Cup encounters this weekend as Breeze had to be content with a best finish of third in round 22. During this afternoon’s race, the rescheduled 11th round from Oulton Park, the Total Control Racing star’s championship bid was dealt another major blow when a wrong call on tyre choice resulted in a lowly 16th place finish.
At the start of this morning’s outing, round 22, an even getaway was made by Freke and Wrathall from the front row of the grid but it was the former who managed to edge ahead into Copse as Chris Dittmann held his third place starting position ahead of Fulvio Mussi, who passed team-mate Breeze.
At Becketts, contact between Joachim Ritter and Tom Sharp resulted in an immediate exit for the Danish driver while, after his spin, Sharp continued. Into lap two, Mussi pressurised Breeze and Dittmann ahead with the latter seemingly holding up the cars behind as a train started to build including Rob Austin and Benji Hetherington.
While Freke and Wrathall pulled well clear at the front, the complexion of the third place battle changed on lap 11 when Dittmann was forced into retirement at Brooklands following contact from Mussi as he tried to pass on the inside.
Damaging the front of Mussi’s car, he lost pace and Breeze managed to pass his team-mate on lap 12 to go into third place where he remained to the finish. Mussi battled on valiantly but he wasn’t able to keep Austin behind, the category returnee nipping past on lap 14 at Becketts. Hetherington finished sixth ahead of Chairman’s Cup winner Richard Sykes – his second class win on the trot.
Commenting on another faultless win, Freke said: “To be fair to Frank (Wrathall) he was quicker than me in places and if he hadn’t made a mistake with a lock-up I think it could have been a different story. The backmarkers came into play a bit at the end but they actually worked to my advantage.”
Chairman’s Cup winner Sykes added: “I’m really happy with that, there wasn’t much racing later on as things settled down but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I tried to stay with the front guys to begin and then it became all about holding on to my place near the end.”
Dominant Freke takes win number 11This afternoon’s rescheduled 11th round offered Wrathall’s best chance of usurping Freke but in the end the result was the same as the previous two races, Freke taking the win and Wrathall having to settle for second place.
Prior rainfall had left the track damp and slippery for the start of the third G50 Cup outing of the weekend and although most drivers ran with slick tyres due to the circuit appearing to dry, Breeze and Mussi both chose to try treaded-rubber with a gutsy gamble believing the rain would return.
It became apparent almost immediately this was the wrong call as both TCR men started to plummet down the order and eventually finished in 16th (Breeze) and 18th (Mussi). In contrast, Danish team-mate Ritter did a sterling job to finish in the top 10.
At the front, Wrathall pressed on as he tried to pull out a gap but on lap five at Becketts Freke got back past and was never again headed as he took a 1.7 second victory. Austin came through to take a fine podium in third ahead of Dittmann, Hetherington and Sharp. Colin White was eighth overall and also won the Chairman’s Cup
“It was perfect”, said Freke, “Frank got the start but I bided my time and then when he clipped the kerb at Becketts, I seized the opportunity. It was a close call on tyres at the start but we made the right decision in the end and it all worked out very well indeed.”
Wrathall commented: “I thought if I could make the start and beat Nathan into the first corner I’d be away but he was so quick in that race. If you look at the weekend as a whole for us, it’s been great with three podiums and I’ve also moved up into second in the championship so I’m really pleased.”
Chairman’s Cup winner Colin White, meanwhile, said: “There have been loads and loads of cars out in the Chairman’s Cup this weekend which has been brilliant. This is my 13th Chairman’s win and everything came right for this one after a lot of bad luck throughout the weekend.”
Special mention must be given to Autosport Magazine journalist Ben Anderson who produced an outstanding display on his first ever weekend at the wheel of a Ginetta G50. After picking up a 12th place result in Saturday’s 21st round, Anderson finished a superb ninth in round 22 and 11th in the last of the weekend’s races – a tremendous effort against some very rapid and experienced opposition.
Rockingham International Super Sports Car Circuit in Northamptonshire is to host the penultimate event of the 2009 Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup, rounds 23, 24 and 25, three weeks from now over the weekend 19th/20th September.
Provisional 2009 Ginetta G50 Cup Championship Positions (after Rd22):1st Nathan Freke, 667pts; 2nd Frank Wrathall, 573pts; 3rd Carl Breeze, 547pts; 4th Fulvio Mussi, 377pts; 5th Tom Sharp, 350pts; 6th Christian Dick, 325pts
