Cadwell Park - Event Report

Trackday Trophy took on the challenging Cadwell Park on Saturday 6 September, as part of the circuit’s feature Cult Classics event.

Team Air Supply’s Jack Wright and Matthew Allatt made it a day to remember, by claiming the Class B victory. Equally pleased will be Colin Murphy (Algar Racing) and Steven Orant (STAL Powered for Racing), who claimed the wins in Class C and D respectively.

Qualifying

Wright/Allatt hit the ground running in the morning’s qualifying session, being amongst the first to light up the timing screen. Alister Esam (BC Cars Motorsport) also enjoyed a fantastic start to the session to lead the charge to be fastest Class D qualifier.

Less than ten minutes into qualifying, a tremendous lap of 1m39.987s was posted by Paddock Performance Racing’s Michael Rawlings. The BMW E36 driver had laid down a strong benchmark that would ultimately prove unbeaten, securing an impressive pole position.

Damian Chrupczalski (D.P.Service Racing) would come closest to Rawlings’ time and therefore join the front row, with Jamie McHugh and Wright/Allatt qualifying third and fourth in Class B.

A highly competitive battle to be fastest Class C qualifier wouldn’t be decided until the very end of the session, with CM Racing’s Cameron McLean eventually finishing ahead of: Wayne Cockerill, Tommy Valentine and Shead/Edeson. Five different teams had gone provisionally fastest in Class C through the session, building excitement for a close race.

Esam’s early pace ensured the Mazda MX-5 driver would start the race as fastest Class D qualifier – and an excellent P3 on the overall grid. Fellow MX-5 team Boreham Motorsport (Midlands) would qualify second fastest in class, with Orant and Burnham/Voce rounding out the top four.

Race

A great start by Rawlings ensured the #34 driver remained at the front of the field through the early stages. Chrupczalski overcame an initial poor getaway well to remain second in Class B, while Cockerill managed to get the leap on McLean through the opening lap to seize the Class C lead, with Valentine also making progress.  

Esam maintained the Class D lead, but there was a gripping early battle developing behind between Adams/Adams, Orant and Burnham/Voce. Almost nothing separated the trio through the first few laps, with plenty of other exciting battles happening throughout the bumper field.

After unfortunate mechanical issues cut short both Rawlings and Chrupczalski’s afternoons, Mchugh was promoted to the Class B lead. Cockerill and Esam continued to look strong at the front of their classes, with the race now closing in on the pit window.

Each team was looking to time their mandatory pit stops well, to propel themselves up the order. The Cult Classics crowd were being treated to plenty of overtaking on circuit too, including Wright/Allatt who were charging their way through the pack.

Murphy had utilised his consistent pace to sit second in Class C, with Cockerill now leading not just his class but overall too. Orant and Adams/Adams were still entrenched in a gripping battle, while Shead/Edeson and Brace/Ratford were two more teams rising through the order.

As the checkered flag approached, Wright/Allatt’s push through the field saw the #64 Porsche 944 S2 seize the race lead. The duo wouldn’t relinquish the top spot, to claim a hard-fought victory from P9 on the starting grid. Congratulations to both drivers and the wider Team Air Supply team.

Mchugh followed home to finish second in Class B, ahead of eventual Class C winner Colin Murphy.

Murphy’s strong and consistent drive secured the driver his first class win of the season, while Shead/Edeson made it a Trackday Trophy debut to remember with second place in Class C, ahead of Trevor Hurrell in third.

Steven Orant finished at the head of strong Class D contingent, meaning that each class was won by a team claiming their first victory of the year! Brace/Ratford rose an impressive fourteen places from where they started on the grid to finish second in Class D, with 77 Racing’s Gilbert/Baldacci rounding out the Class D podium in third.

Congratulations to all!

Trackday Trophy will return on Saturday 18 October, when the series makes a debut at Croft.

Race entries are available here.   

Photo: Gary Hawkins Photography