Time Attack Round five - Cadwell Park 31st July 2011
For the third time this season, Gavin Renshaw recorded the overall fastest time in a round of the Time Attack series driving his NR Autosport Mitsubishi Evolution IX. And this time it was round five at Cadwell Park. He was followed 0.720 seconds later by Marcus Webster in his Nissan Skyline R32, with the K-Sport Subaru Impreza of Paul Doyle third by almost the same margin - these three also sharing the podium in the Pro Class.
The Club-Pro Class was a closely fought affair, with Walter Morris and his Nissan Skyline taking the spoils ahead of David Jackson and Warren Kelly - both in Escort Cosworths - all three separated by just 0.149 secs! The Club Classes were won by: Romain Levesque (Honda CRX), Jon Mathers (Subaru Impreza) and Ronnie Amis (Sierra Cosworth).
Following last year's successful debut for the series at the 2.173-mile Lincolnshire circuit, Time Attack organisers had no hesitation in including it in this year's calendar. As it turned out, it was another spectacular day for the Time Attack runners in Sunday's hot and dry conditions, with drivers enjoying the unique twisty and undulating character that only Cadwell Park can provide.
With temperatures rising to 25 degrees - and track temperatures even higher - it meant that competitors found a massive amount of grip from their controlled Pirelli P-Zero tyres - a factor that helped the two-wheel-drive and lesser-powered cars post times in the top-ten overall!
Pro ClassThe class that features the series' most powerful four-wheel-drive machinery saw a Mitsubishi, Nissan and Subaru battling it out for the top three places. Adopting his now familiar tactic of coming straight out of the pits at the start of a session and then nailing a time while the track is still clear, Renshaw was able to set a blistering 1:36.856 early in the Final. It was a time that never looked like it was going to be beaten. And it wasn't!
Webster came the closest and even had Renshaw worried when he set a 1:37.576 with just two minutes of the session left to go. It was a determined effort by the Midlands Motorsport Nissan driver, as an off in qualifying earlier in the afternoon meant that parts of his car were held together by tape. His pace succeeded in putting him ahead of Doyle, who's 1:38.290 was good enough for third place.
Alan Freeland claimed fourth with a 1:38.824 in his Mitsubishi Evo VI, whilst round-one winner Duncan Graham was a little frustrated to be a second off the pace with a best time of 1:39.734 in his BC Racing Subaru Impreza.
Club-Pro ClassAlthough featuring less-modified four-wheel-drive machinery than that of the Pro Class, the nature of the circuit combined with the level of grip due to the hot weather meant that the Club-Pro category runners were able to mix it with their more modified counterparts. Making the most of the conditions on this occasion was Walter Morris in his Midlands Motorsport R32 Skyline, a lap of 1:38.971 also seeing him set the fifth-fastest time overall.
Second and third places were both the domain of Escort Cosworths: David Jackson in his Spec-R example on 1:39.066, followed by Warren Kelly in his Airtec car setting a 1:39.120. Their almost identical times resulted in just 0.147 seconds separating the top three places in the Club-Pro Class.
Club ClassMany of the cars in the Club Class are used on the road as well as the track and therefore, the category features cars of closer-to-standard specification. The Class is split into three categories: four-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive. The two-wheel-drive class is then further split into turbo-charged or normally aspirated cars, although all go out onto the track during the same sessions.
Club 4WDAdopting a policy similar to that of Gavin Renshaw, as soon as the lights went green Jon Mathers in the Pro-R Subaru Impreza was the straight onto the track - his philosophy of 'first out' giving him time to return to the pits if he feels the need for any set-up changes. Again, it was a winning tactic and, with a time of 1:39.862, he secured the class win and posted the tenth best overall time of the day.
Eric Holmes in his RigQuip Mitsubishi Evo VI was quickest at one point with a 1:42.393, but could not hold off the charge by Mathers. David Coe claimed third, with a 1:43.021 in his Subaru Impreza.
Club FWDUsually it's the four-wheel-drive cars that top the Club Class time sheets, but not this time. The technical nature of the circuit combined with its hot and sticky tarmac saw Romain Levesque in his Buddy Club Honda CRX deliver an impressive lap of 1:39.654. The time was not only good enough to see him win the front-wheel-drive category, but it meant he was also the quickest of all the Club Class runners and eighth fastest overall, putting him right up there amongst the 4WDs!
Although not able to match Levesque's blistering pace, Gerry Atkinson's respectable 1:41.993 in his Seat Leon SuperCopa rewarded him with the second fastest FWD time. Dave North in the TDI North Honda Civic posted a 1:42.884 and, in doing so, snatched third by just .027 second from regular class winner Bo Nielson and his Forge Motorsport Astra VXR.
Club RWDSupremacy in the Club rear-wheel-drive category was fought out this time by Ronnie Amis in his Sierra Cosworth and Umar Masood in his Mazda RX7. Even though the track had lots of grip, it didn't stop these two from getting it sideways, although it has to be said that RWD was not the best drive-train configuration on the day. However, it was Amis that made the most of the conditions on this occasion with a 1:45.144, against Masood's 1:47.730.
For a full set of results click here <http://www.rpmpromotions.com/timeattack/TApress040811.pdf
To see photos from this event click here <http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/page.php?a=5&s=240&p=142http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/page.php?a=5&s=240&p=142http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/page.php?a=5&s=240&p=142http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/page.php?a=5&s=240&p=142>>
All of this year's Time Attack events share their calendar with that of the Pirelli European Drift Championship - and Cadwell Park was no exception. This time it was Steve Will who won the day, by taking his spectacularly driven SuperPro BMW M3 Turbo to its first ever Pirelli EDC victory.
Each Time Attack round is associated to the ever-popular Modified Live. Now the acknowledged benchmark for tuning to tuning and modifying shows, it includes a huge gathering of car club displays, trade stands, individual exhibits and a host of attractions, including the Kleers Show 'n' Shine competition.
Adding to the day's track action was an appearance by the Mighty Minis and the Super Mighty Minis, with races for each series held during the course of the afternoon. The winners were Chris Slade and Anthony Ford respectively.
Always looking to offer something different for its competitors, exhibitors and spectators, for the very first time Time Attack heads to Anglesey Circuit, where round six of the series takes place on 28th August.
This year's sponsors are: Pirelli, Sumo Power, NISMO Competition.com Kleers, Cosworth, K-Sport, SuperPro, BC Suspension and Santa Pod Raceway.
2011 Time Attack CalendarRound 1: 16 April Oulton ParkRound 2: 15 May KnockhillRound 3: 25 June Brands HatchRound 4: 26 June Brands HatchRound 5: 31 July: Cadwell ParkRound 6: 28 August AngleseyRound 7: 25 September Snetterton
