Classic VW Cup

Round 8 Thruxton 3/4 Oct 2015

The CBT Business Travel Classic VW Challenge rolled in to the high speed Thruxton circuit on Oct 3rd for the final two races of the year.

With a dry outlook for the weekend the competitors were looking forward to an exciting weekend and it didn’t disappoint.

The last qualifying session of the year got under way with a busy track as we were sharing the grid with Pre-03, Pre-05 and the Hyundai Carbon8 Coupes.

Qualy

After 15 mins of frantic action Steve Wood was on pole for the VWs closely followed by Ken Lark in his Corrado.

Mark Shepard lead Class ‘B’ with Chris Adams doing a sterling job in his Class ‘C’ Golf VR6.

Qualifying positions:

377 VWA 1 Steven WOOD Volkswagen Golf MK4

332 VWA 2 Ken LARK Volkswagen Corrado VR6

336 VWC 1 Chris ADAMS Volkswagen Golf VR6

333 VWB 1 Mark SHEPHERD Volkswagen Golf GTI

348 VWC 2 Tim MOLL Volkswagen Golf Mk3 VR6

53 VWC 3 Tom BATESON VW Scirocco GTi

311 VWB 2 Ray ELLIS Volkswagen Golf Mk2

307 VWC 4 Nick PENFOLD Volkswagen Golf GTi

373 VWA 3 Nick SANDERSON Volkswagen Golf GTi

7 VWC 5 Steven WATSON Volkswagen Mk2 Scirocco GTi

362 VWC 6 Gary JOHNSON Seat Ibiza R

Race 1

With 11 VWs taking the start on Saturday afternoon, the field set off around the high speed curves of Thruxton. While Steve and Ken battled it out at the front of the field with the faster Hondas, further down the field battles raged with action throughout the whole field.

Mark Shepard was showing great pace in his revitalised MK3 Golf GTI, while Tim Moll and Chris Adams fought over class ‘C’ honours. Gary Johnson was again suffering with the turbo problems that blighted him at Snetterton, while it was a great return for Tom Bateson in only his 2nd race meeting this year. With Nick Penfold and Steve Watson mixing it with the Pre-05 runners and Ray Ellis in his fabulous MK2 Golf keeping them in check. Nick Sanderson was getting to grips with the MK4 GTi he was using in place of his usual SEAT Leon.

They finished like this:

377 VWA 1 Steven WOOD Volkswagen Golf MK4

332 VWA 2 Ken LARK Volkswagen Corrado VR6

336 VWC 1 Chris ADAMS Volkswagen Golf VR6

348 VWC 2 Tim MOLL Volkswagen Golf Mk3 VR6

333 VWB 1 Mark SHEPHERD Volkswagen Golf GTI

53 VWC 3 Tom BATESON VW Scirocco Mk2

311 VWB 2 Ray ELLIS Volkswagen Golf Mk2

22 307 VWC 4 Nick PENFOLD Volkswagen Golf GTi

24 373 VWA 3 Nick SANDERSON Volkswagen Golf GTi

34 7 VWC 5 Steven WATSON Volkswagen Mk2 Scirocco GTi

362 VWC DNF Gary JOHNSON Seat Ibiza R

Race 2

Race 2 got underway at lunchtime on Sunday with action from the second the red lights went out with Tim Moll making a fantastic start in his Golf he was up to 3rd overall at the complex, with cars vying for position in the opening corners something had to give….unfortunately it was Tim who lost out, after contact from behind sent him spinning to the infield where he picked up a puncture.

The other VW runners settled into a lively 15 min race, Steve Wood had a battle on his hands with the 2 Hondas at the front, meanwhile Ken Lark settled into a comfortable 4th overall.

Mark Shepard had a moment going into the chicane, getting his Golf into some impossible looking angles, Tom Bateson picked up the "Driver of the day" award for his great efforts.

Chris Adams pace in his Class ‘C’ car took him to 6th overall (3rd VW home) with Nick Penfold and Steve Watson mixing it up with the Pre-05 cars again.

Nick Sanderson had a storming drive through the field after a change of brake pad compound.

Ray Ellis once again had a strong finish in his MK2 Golf, unfortunately Gary Johnson had another DNF, still with turbo issues.

They finished like this:

377 VWA 1 Steven WOOD Volkswagen Golf MK4

332 VWA 2 Ken LARK Volkswagen Corrado VR6

336 VWC 1 Chris ADAMS Volkswagen Golf VR6

53 VWC 2 Tom BATESON VW Scirocco Mk2

373 VWA 3 Nick SANDERSON Volkswagen Golf GTi

311 VWB 1 Ray ELLIS Volkswagen Golf Mk2

333 VWB 2 Mark SHEPHERD Volkswagen Golf GTI

307 VWC 3 Nick PENFOLD Volkswagen Golf GTi

7 VWC 4 Steven WATSON Volkswagen Mk2 Scirocco GTi

348 VWC DNF Tim MOLL Volkswagen Golf Mk3 VR6

362 VWC DNF Gary JOHNSON Seat Ibiza R