Round Four Report - Cadwell Park – 1st August 2010
For the second time in succession, Steve Guglielmi recorded outright victory in the Time Attack series, winning this weekend’s round four at Cadwell Park in impressive style. He lapped the 2.187-mile circuit in 1 minute 31.903 seconds, bringing his Lotus Exige across the line just over a tenth of a second quicker than that of rounds one and two winner Gareth Lloyd in the Car Planet Racing Mitsubishi Evo, to make it two wins and two second places a-piece this season.
With this being the Time Attack series’ first ever visit to the Lincolnshire track, it meant that all teams had little or no data to set-up their cars in order to cope with the circuit’s technically demanding corners, inclines and descents. However, because of this trade-mark character of the track, Cadwell Park has become a firm favourite with many drivers.
Adding to the occasion, as they do at every Time Attack event, were the Pirelli European Drift Championship and the Modified Live show, with its static displays, trade stands and ‘Show ‘n’ Shine’ competition.
Pro-Class
The action on the track was as fierce as ever, with Guglielmi setting his best time on the third of the three-laps in the final session. He was pushed hard all day by second-placed Lloyd, the 0.128 second gap highlighting just how close a battle it was. The Lotus driver now holds the Time Attack lap record at Cadwell Park Oulton Park and Brands Hatch.
“I’m really pleased with this victory”, said Guglielmi. “As I’m not familiar with the circuit - and knowing of its reputation - I treated it with respect, but it suited the Lotus perfectly. Today’s result also means it’s going to be a head-to-head shoot-out between Gareth and I at the final round.”
Gavin Renshaw, in the Lateral Performance Subaru Impreza, finished a fine third with a time of 1:33.619, just 1.364 seconds down to that of Lloyd’s 1:32.255. Driving the other CPR Evo, Jamie Nicholls finished fourth, with Robin Duxbury in the Redbrick Racing Cyber Mitsubishi fifth, the first five drivers in the Pro-Class also setting the top-five overall times.
Club-Pro Challenge
In the category for cars with fewer modifications to those running in the Pro-Class, Paul Doyle in the ex-Zen Performance Impreza posted an excellent time of 1:35.770 to secure him the class win. Second place on this occasion went to Lee Broadhurst in his Evo IX, with a 1:36.532 run.
Third place went to experienced circuit racer and one-make series specialist Martin Byford. Driving the pink japdna.com Evo, an excellent performance with a lap of 1:36.882 seconds on his Time Attack debut rewarded him with third place in the Club-Pro class.
Outside of the four-wheel-drive class, because of the recent performances by some of the rear-wheel-drive cars, a new category was introduced at Cadwell Park: Club-Pro RWD. Again, it was a Lotus that won the day, Jamie Wilson using the agility and handling of his car to conquer the circuit’s topography with an impressive 1:37.803, a time good enough to put him 10th in the overall results.
Club Challenge
Scott Robson extended his lead in the category for nearer-to-standard cars by taking his first class victory of the season. During the day he set times that were well within those of the more powerful cars in the Club-Pro Class and eventually took the win with a time of 1:39.654.
The energetic driving style of Matthias Bachler enabled him to claim second in the 4x4 catagory, although many of the spectators would have awarded him first place just for entertainment alone – especially for his ‘big air’ over the Mountain. Walter Morris in his R32 Skyline rounded off the podium positions, despite his car smoking quite heavily by the end of the event.
In the Normally Aspirated (NA) class, Daniel Gannon delivered another outstanding performance in his BMW M3, setting a time that was not only quickest in the class, but also second fastest in the Club Challenge category and up-amongst the turbo-charged machinery. Paul Hughes in the BuddyClub Honda Integra had a good run into place, while the ever-popular Metro 6R4 of Mark Pollard finished 3rd.
In the RWD Club Class it was Matt Webb in his Mazda RX7 that came out on top by a comfortable – and uncustomary for Time Attack - 2.5 second margin. Ronnie Amis was second in his Sierra Cosworth with Gordon Wright a further two-seconds back in his Nissan R33 GTS-t.
The FWD category was dominated by Bo Nielson in his Astra VXR. The Vauxhall driver’s time of 1:41.017 saw him punch well above his weight and on a par with some of the more powerful 4WD cars. Julian Holdcroft and his Civic Type R were just over two seconds behind, narrowly beating the screaming supercharged Mini of Nigel Brown.
The fifth and final round of this year’s Time Attack series takes place on 10 October at Snetterton, the flat and super-fast circuit providing competitors with yet another different style of track. And of course, with both Guglielmi and Lloyd level-pegging on points and a string of Class titles still to be decided, it’s going to be an exciting end to the 2010 season.
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.
