BTCC Round-Up: Round 2 Donington Park
Ingram ends Sharp’s winning streak at Donington Park
Former Ginetta Junior Champion and 2011 Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup G50 Class title winner Tom Ingram took his first win in the flagship G55 at Donington Park National Circuit on Sunday (15 April) to bring an end to Tom Sharp’s five-race winning streak.
Making the most of the ‘reverse grid’ start to the third of the weekend’s encounters, where Ingram started ahead of Sharp, the JHR Developments driver took a popular victory in round six of the 2012 season but was pushed hard by the points leader.
With victories in rounds four and five, added to his hat-trick of Brands Hatch successes, IDL UK driver Sharp still has an immense lead in the championship – 66 points clear of Ingram with Carl Breeze, who took his first podiums of the year in rounds four and five, in third place 13 points further adrift.
In the Ginetta Junior Championship, a huge collision at Coppice during Saturday’s encounter brought out the red flags and resulted in four cars being written-off. Thankfully no drivers reported anything more than sore joints but the incident did have a bearing on Sunday’s race and will almost certainly play a role in determining the outcome of the championship.
One of the pre-season favourites, George Gamble, opted to withdraw from the series ahead of round four on Sunday after his Hillspeed-run car was wrecked in the incident – triggered after contact from Niall Murray. On count-back, Murray was declared the winner ahead of Charlie Robertson and Sennan Fielding.
In Sunday’s outing, Murray was involved in controversy again when Robertson was shunted off the circuit at the Old Hairpin. Fielding won the race from podium debutants Pepe Massot – driving a spare car after his original was written-off in the Saturday incident –and Andrew Watson.
Goff retains championship lead in Clio Cup…
Team Pyro’s Jack Goff holds a seven point lead in the AirAsia Renault UK Clio Cup following the two Donington Park races, fifth place in round three added to a hard-earned victory in round four. Paul Rivett, the reigning champion, took the race one win with ease in his Per Hire/Stancombe-run Clio while Adam Bonham made second in the standings his with a pair of excellent runner-up spots.
Ant Whorton-Eales won the Rookie Cup class on both occasions, the highlight being a superb top three overall finish during Saturday’s race, while the Masters Cup spoils were shared by Finlay Crocker and Simon Belcher.
Michael Meadows won both Porsche Carrera Cup GB encounters in differing style, the first by just 0.2 seconds from Ben Barker but the round four victory was a little easier with a two seconds cushion over Jonas Gelzinis.
Michelin columnist Daniel Lloyd, the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholar, delivered easily the best overtaking move of the weekend across any championship when he produced a superb cut-back at Redgate in round four to get alongside team-mate Sam Tordoff before then passing for the final podium spot at the top of Craner Curves...no mean feat!
In Pro-Am 1, Omani driver Ahmad Al Harthy dominated with two pole positions and two victories while Tania Mann was the sole representative of the Pro-Am 2 class to take two uncontested wins.
Thruxton in Hampshire hosts the TOCA Tour on 28/29 April
Related Article: Donington Park: Michelin 'Driver Of The Weekend'
