Post by Dan Blake on Sept 15, 2015 18:31:10 GMT
It was a day of firsts and lasts at Castle Combe, as Dan Blake took his first Coupe Cup win and Tony Lonsdale took his first podium finish. The meeting would also see the last races that the series would have on the Track Attack Race Club package.
Qualifying saw Blake on his home circuit set the early pace before Simon Miles and Gary Miller both eclipsed his time. Blake took pole position back with his final lap of the session before Miles once again took pole with his final lap. The top three were separated by just 0.349 with Ian Brunning and Tony Lonsdale rounding out the five car grid. It was due to be a six car grid but Paul Manyweathers withdrew from the event due to illness on the morning. Blake’s car was being run by Amigo Motorsport, who currently lead the GTA Class of the GT Cup. The team also have experience in the Ginetta GT Supercup and Renault Clio Cup.
Race one saw drama on the first lap as the cars went up Avon Rise towards Quarry. Dan Blake got a little loose over the brow but managed to control the car. Ian Brunning behind also had a moment at the same time but put two wheels on the grass, causing him to lose control and unfortunately t-bone Gary Miller. The incident put both Miller and Brunning back to the pits without completing a lap. Getting the cars back to the paddock meant Jon Winter and his team were able to immediately start the repairs to try and get both out for race two.
On the track, Simon Miles lead from Dan Blake with Tony Lonsdale in third. Blake lost three seconds on the first lap having to avoid a spinning Clio on the back straight. By the end of lap three, Miles had a 3.2 second lead. Lap four saw Blake take 1.2 out of the lead before the safety car appeared, with Blake taking another two tenths off of Miles’ lead. As the safety car came out the lead was 1.9 seconds. This lead to a one lap dash at the end of the race, Miles was able to hold on by half a second to take victory, with Blake getting fastest lap on the last lap. Tony Lonsdale finished third, to take a well deserved first Coupe Cup podium.
The cars of Miller and Brunning were able to make race two after Exit 13, Amigo Motorsport and the Coupe Cup community worked together, to fix both cars to be able to race. The start saw Blake and Miles go side by side until the Esses, with Miles taking the advantage. Lonsdale finished lap one in third with Miller fourth and Brunning in fifth. Miller overtook Lonsdale on lap three to take the final podium position away, Miles lead by 1.3 at the front. The race changed dramatically on lap four as Miles spun at Bobbies, putting him down to last and Blake into the lead. Blake had a ten second lead over Miller in second, with Lonsdale third, Brunning fourth and Miles fifth. Blake managed the race, knowing he had a big gap to the rest of the field and backed off from his early race pace. Miles then went on a charge which would see him halve the 15 second gap to Blake,setting a new lap record in the process.
The luckless Miller saw his race end in the barriers at Quarry after spinning and being hit by a Peugeot, whilst in third. This incident brought the red flag out and confirmed Dan Blake’s first Coupe Cup win from Simon Miles. Ian Brunning took his third podium finish in four races with third place, with Tony Lonsdale fourth.
The end of the day’s racing also saw the end of the series association with the Track Attack Race Club, it’s home since 2012. Dan Blake and Jon Winter revealed live on Downforce Radio, that the series had moved to BARC. The first meeting under the new club is on the 3rd/4th of October as the Coupe Cup return to a favourite track of the drivers, Thruxton. The fastest circuit in the UK , plays host to the finale of the 2015 season. Following the great racing the Coupe Cup provided in June, there are high hopes that the season finale could match those levels of excitement.
For more information on the Coupe Cup visit www.coupecup.com or find our page on Facebook: Hyundai Coupe Cup (UK)
Qualifying saw Blake on his home circuit set the early pace before Simon Miles and Gary Miller both eclipsed his time. Blake took pole position back with his final lap of the session before Miles once again took pole with his final lap. The top three were separated by just 0.349 with Ian Brunning and Tony Lonsdale rounding out the five car grid. It was due to be a six car grid but Paul Manyweathers withdrew from the event due to illness on the morning. Blake’s car was being run by Amigo Motorsport, who currently lead the GTA Class of the GT Cup. The team also have experience in the Ginetta GT Supercup and Renault Clio Cup.
Race one saw drama on the first lap as the cars went up Avon Rise towards Quarry. Dan Blake got a little loose over the brow but managed to control the car. Ian Brunning behind also had a moment at the same time but put two wheels on the grass, causing him to lose control and unfortunately t-bone Gary Miller. The incident put both Miller and Brunning back to the pits without completing a lap. Getting the cars back to the paddock meant Jon Winter and his team were able to immediately start the repairs to try and get both out for race two.
On the track, Simon Miles lead from Dan Blake with Tony Lonsdale in third. Blake lost three seconds on the first lap having to avoid a spinning Clio on the back straight. By the end of lap three, Miles had a 3.2 second lead. Lap four saw Blake take 1.2 out of the lead before the safety car appeared, with Blake taking another two tenths off of Miles’ lead. As the safety car came out the lead was 1.9 seconds. This lead to a one lap dash at the end of the race, Miles was able to hold on by half a second to take victory, with Blake getting fastest lap on the last lap. Tony Lonsdale finished third, to take a well deserved first Coupe Cup podium.
The cars of Miller and Brunning were able to make race two after Exit 13, Amigo Motorsport and the Coupe Cup community worked together, to fix both cars to be able to race. The start saw Blake and Miles go side by side until the Esses, with Miles taking the advantage. Lonsdale finished lap one in third with Miller fourth and Brunning in fifth. Miller overtook Lonsdale on lap three to take the final podium position away, Miles lead by 1.3 at the front. The race changed dramatically on lap four as Miles spun at Bobbies, putting him down to last and Blake into the lead. Blake had a ten second lead over Miller in second, with Lonsdale third, Brunning fourth and Miles fifth. Blake managed the race, knowing he had a big gap to the rest of the field and backed off from his early race pace. Miles then went on a charge which would see him halve the 15 second gap to Blake,setting a new lap record in the process.
The luckless Miller saw his race end in the barriers at Quarry after spinning and being hit by a Peugeot, whilst in third. This incident brought the red flag out and confirmed Dan Blake’s first Coupe Cup win from Simon Miles. Ian Brunning took his third podium finish in four races with third place, with Tony Lonsdale fourth.
The end of the day’s racing also saw the end of the series association with the Track Attack Race Club, it’s home since 2012. Dan Blake and Jon Winter revealed live on Downforce Radio, that the series had moved to BARC. The first meeting under the new club is on the 3rd/4th of October as the Coupe Cup return to a favourite track of the drivers, Thruxton. The fastest circuit in the UK , plays host to the finale of the 2015 season. Following the great racing the Coupe Cup provided in June, there are high hopes that the season finale could match those levels of excitement.
For more information on the Coupe Cup visit www.coupecup.com or find our page on Facebook: Hyundai Coupe Cup (UK)