This weekend saw MSV F3 Cup racer Aaron Steele further increase his lead in the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge after a complete clean sweep of 2 pole positions, 2 wins and 2 fastest laps. Steele is now 10 points ahead of second placed Adrian Churchill from the Dunlop Production Touring Cars. Legends also raced this weekend and saw Stephen Treherne lower his average score after an unfortunate DNF but he still remains in third place.
The F3 Cup raced at the weekend alongside the Monoposto series which led to a lot of traffic during both the qualifying and the races themselves. However this didn’t prove a problem for Steele as he went on to collect full points towards the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge.
The first race of the weekend was on the Saturday and saw Steele make the perfect start to the race weekend by taking another victory despite a safety car period and the problem of the traffic. At the end of the first lap there was a safety car called out for a stranded car on the start-line. It was out for two laps which took a considerable chunk of the 15 minute race; when it eventually came in there was just 8 minutes left on the clock. However Steele used this to his advantage and at the restart got a massive jump on a sleeping Matt Draper and built up a lead of 15 seconds. Draper crossed the line in second place taking 75 points towards the challenge and Mark Terry took the last podium spot taking 55 points towards the challenge. Kat Impey was next to cross the chequered flag in fourth with one her best results taking the 40 points on offer, ahead of Chris Needham in fifth and Mark Harrison in sixth. Dave Harrison, Alf Skeels and Tristan Cliffe rounded off the top 10.
The second race took place late Sunday afternoon and was the last race of the weekend. Aaron again went on to steal the show taking the race win by over 20 seconds. Mark Terry also took his second podium spot of the weekend by crossing the line in second place ahead of Chris Needham in third. Matt Draper took fourth place and 40 points towards the challenge followed by Kat Impey in fifth. Dave Karaskas went on to take sixth and Alf Skeels, Tristan Cliffe, Malcolm Scott and Robbie Watts rounded off the top 10 point scorers.
Talking about the weekend Steele said: “Two more poles, wins and fastest laps will go nicely towards the challenge, not a bad way to earn them by driving around the amazing Brands Hatch GP on one of the best days of August!”
The Legends series also raced this weekend with just 3 races instead of their usual 6. Stephen Treherne unfortunately lowered his average point score after having to retire from race 1, however maintains his third place position in the overall standings for the challenge.
Dean Brace also had a great weekend taking 2 out of 3 wins but he also had a DNF after going straight up the back of Ben Power when he had to break hard to allow Dave Ward back onto the track. However he is now sitting tenth in the overall standings taking the spot from John Mickel who has slipped down into 12th.
The next point scoring round for the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge is at Croft where registered racers in the Dunlop Production Touring Car Trophy will be looking to increase their average point scores. Will the gap widen between Churchill and Steele or will Adrian increase his score?
