Round Two Report, Knockhill – 16 May 2010
In spectacular style, Gareth Lloyd recorded his second outright victory of the season in round two of this year’s Time Attack at Knockhill on Sunday 16th May. The Car Planet Racing Mitsubishi Evo driver set times quicker than those of the BTCC cars when they visit the circuit and, in doing so, broke the Time Attack track record with a time of 51.355 seconds.
Located just north of Dunfirmaline, Knockhill is Scotland’s premier circuit and hosts a wide variety of events from club races up to British Touring Car Championship meetings. Set on the side of a hill, the 1.3-mile track rises and falls over 200 feet and features some of the most challenging corners found at any UK circuit. No wonder the drivers like it!
Pro-ClassFor anyone who may have thought that Lloyd’s win last month at Oulton Park was a one-off, then his performance in Scotland will have confirmed that it wasn’t. However, Steve Guglielmi in his always-quick Lotus Exige ended the day only 0.616 seconds behind with a lap of 51.971 and, if an incident in the dying moments of the Final had not slowed things up, then the outcome may well have been different.
Lloyd’s CPR team-mate James Nicholls also had an excellent day, setting the third fastest time and claiming another podium finish in his Evo with a time of 52.587. There’s no doubt that with two cars in the top three, the CPR team are now the force to be reckoned with in the Pro-Class this season.
Club-Pro ChallengeAndy Harvey grasped victory in the category for cars with fewer modifications to those running in the Pro-Class, bringing his Scooby Clinic Impreza across the line in a time of 54.084 and, even though the front of his car showed signs of contact with a tyre wall earlier in the day, he set the fourth fastest time overall. Not far behind - and taking second and third places in the class - were the two Evos of Russ Paton and Michael Mahoney, who’s best laps came in at an extremely close 54.921 and 54.972 seconds respectively.
Once again, the Club-Pro Challenge delivered spectacular action and great battles, with Dave Perry in his Pulsar GTiR and the Imprezas of Paul Doyle and Duncan Graham all putting in performances that are likely to see them step onto the Club-Pro podium before too long.
Club ChallengeThe category for nearer-to-standard cars also provided a day of extremely close action, with battles raging within the various groups that make up the Club Challenge field. One of the most inspiring drives of the event came form Fiona Kindress, who took her Skyline GT-R to a memorable first win in the Club 4WD Class, at what is her home circuit.
Another Nissan – this time an R33 – went second quickest in the class, but entered as a ‘one-hit wonder’ meant that Nick Chatburn wasn’t able to claim a place on the podium. Instead, this honour went to Scott Robson who was an impressive fifth fastest overall and, adding his second-place points to his win at Oulton Park means he now tops the Club Challenge tables.
In the Club RWD Class, driving his Toyota Supra Steve Linton just edged ahead of round one winner Jamie Wilson in a turbo-charged Exige by a miniscule 0.045 seconds. Matt Webb took his Rotary-powered RX7 to third place, albeit a few seconds off the pace of the leading duo.
Competition in the Club FWD Class is also hotting-up, with an increasing variety of cars taking part this season. First on this occasion was Marco Haig in his Fiat Coupé, who not only notched up the fastest time in the class, but also went round Knockhill quicker than a number of the 4WD cars. Haig was followed home by Dave Thope in a Civic Type R and Bo Neilsen in an Astra VXR.
In the classes for normally aspirated (non-turbo) engined vehicles up to 3000cc and over 3000cc, the series is seeing an increasingly diverse range of cars - a factor which is bringing the category a great deal of attention - and was reflected in the podium positions. Driving his Metro 6R4 and perhaps unsurprisingly a crowd favourite, Mark Pollard took the top spot, with Daniel Gannon in a BMW E36 M3 second and Jeff Mileham in a Lotus Elsie third.
Adding to the excitement and entertainment at Time Attack events is the spectacle of the Pirelli European Drift Championship. And, as if that wasn’t enough, each weekend hosts Modified Live, a series of shows that brings the automotive modifying and tuning scene to life.
The third event in this year’s Time Attack calendar takes place at Brands Hatch on Sunday 27th June.
Time Attack is sponsored by: Sumo Power, Kleers, Pirelli, Cosworth, K-Sport, SuperPro, Toyo Tires, BC Suspension, Speedhunters.com, HKS, HEL Performance, Samco Sport, Blitz and Santa Pod Raceway.
2010 Time Attack Calendar24 April: Oulton Park16 May: Knockhill27 June: Brands Hatch1 August: Cadwell Park10 October: Snetterton
