Abbie Eaton heads towards the title. (All images courtesy of Jon Elsey)
Climax of the season……
Donington Park was the setting for the 2014 BRSCC MX5 SuperCup championship decider on the 18th/19th October. Going into the meeting Abbie Eaton had a slender lead in the championship from Tom Roche, two 4th place finishes would be enough for Eaton to seal the title no matter where Roche finished.
The fast flowing nature of the Donington Park National Circuit was sure to produce some close racing, especially with all drivers looking for a strong finish to their seasons. Without a practice session at this meeting, those who had the opportunity to test earlier in the week would have a head start for the Saturday morning qualifying session.
It was great to see a number of drivers returning for the final meeting including George Line and Clint Bardwell, both quick and looking for a good result. Driver’s representative Ray Worley was also back in action following his accident at Cadwell earlier in the year, driving the Barnett and Southgate College run car. Liam Murphy, who has been quick all season, was looking for his first podium, having narrowly missed out a number of times throughout the year despite showing he had the pace. However, getting in the top three in this championship is by no means easy, particularly with a 22 car strong grid for this meeting.
Qualifying:
Rain earlier in the morning had left the circuit damp but warm breezy conditions meant a dry line by the time the SuperCup driver took to the circuit at 11.10. Championship 3rd place Matt Davies lead the cars out of the pits and drivers began to circulate, pushing the limits on the slippery surface, one or two having times disallowed for exceeding track limits.
Times were tight right down the field and the circuit got quicker throughout the session, the majority of drivers setting their fastest times in the final few laps. First to break into the 1.24s was Liam Murphy but then a lap later Clint Bardwell bettered his time to go fastest. Abbie Eaton was next to top the time sheets and it looked like she had done enough to take yet another pole but on the final lap of the session Liam Murphy found a little extra and went quickest with a 1.24.4, a great lap and his first championship pole.
Tom Roche found himself lined up in fourth place behind title rival Eaton who was second with Bardwell having secured third on the gird. Adam Brindle put in a brilliant lap to take fifth spot ahead of Garry Townsend, Simon Goddard and then Matt Davies, who had managed an uncharacteristic number of off track excursions. The top 11 drivers were separated by under 1 second on best qualifying times showing just how high the standard of driving is throughout the SuperCup field. Jeremy Crook also looked to have found some speed, back in the car for the first time since Snetterton, starting alongside Rob Way on Row 8.
Back in the paddock, it was obvious from the nasty noises coming from the rear of Davies’s car that the wayward handling was due to a failed differential, leaving no choice but to change it in a rush before the race.
Race 1
Bright conditions prevailed for the penultimate race of the season as the drivers lined up for the 4PM start. The gap between qualifying and race had been filled with BTCC style photo-shoots on the Donington grid for the cars and drivers, all part of the glamour of motor racing!
As the race got underway it was a clean start from the front two with pack piling into the first corner behind them. Everyone came through safely and the impressive string of cars barrelled down the Craner Curves. Roche, always quick off the line had made the jump into 2nd by the time the cars started the second lap with Murphy just ahead. Bardwell was pressurising Eaton for 3rd and with the championship to worry about she did not want to get tangled up in any contact settling into 4th behind Bardwell. At the head of the field Roche needed the win, trading places with Murphy a number of times over the opening laps until on lap 6 Murphy hit the front and kept the place. On the same lap disaster struck for championship leader Eaton as she was forced to pit with what turned out to be a terminal engine issue. This was Roche’s chance to maximise points over Eaton but despite his best efforts and applying huge pressure to Murphy he was unable to do anything, Murphy eventually building a gap of over two seconds to Roche by the flag and setting fastest a lap en-route.
Liam Murphy heads Tom Roche through the chicane
Further back the racing was frantic with cars trading places throughout the field. An unfortunate excursion over Donington’s notorious ‘doughnut’ curbs for Garry Townsend ended his strong race in 5th as a damaged rim and punctured tyre resulted. In the melee James Aspinall also showing great pace was unfortunate to get a touch from Townsend returning to the circuit which dropped Aspinall down the order. Beneficiary of this drama was Matt Davies who was on recovery drive following a couple of off track excursions which dropped him to 19th on lap 4 and eventually coming home 7th but with quick lap times.
Abbie’s title hopes seemed to be fading…..
Yellow flags for the stricken car of Nicola Gillatt in the gravel at Redgate meant overtaking late in the race was harder to come by and the unfortunate Rob Way was caught out, later receiving a penalty for overtaking under yellows. Returnees Crook and Worley enjoyed a close fight, Crook just finishing ahead in 15th by 0.5s.
In the end a superb drive by Liam Murphy gave him a well-deserved first SuperCup win completing the hat-trick with pole and fastest lap as well. In 3rd place was Bardwell, just holding off Goddard in 4th. With Roche’s second place and a DNF for Eaton the championship was wide open once again for the final race of the season, with Eaton having to start at the back if she could get her engine changed overnight.
Race 2
Helped by an afternoon start for race 2, Eaton’s family team plus willing helpers put in a titanic effort overnight to source and fit a replacement engine from a road car in time to be on the grid for the final race of the year. Some number crunching had also gone on and it seemed that in order to win the title Roche still required a race win or second and fastest lap to stand a chance of beating Eaton.
The field head through Redgate
As the Red lights went out a dreadful start from Roche saw him swallowed up in the pack while Murphy lead the field into the first turn. Roche had recovered to hang onto second but was already under pressure from Paul Sheard Autos drivers Goddard and Brindle, Murphy meanwhile had put the hammer down and was away.
A great opening lap by Davies jumped him from 7th to 5th with space to chase down the battle for 3rd and by the end of lap 3 he was up to 4th passing Goddard into Redgate for 3rd position. Roche was slow and was backing up the pack, but a mistake by Davies as he closed rapidly on the second place man sent him across the gravel at McLean’s. Goddard, Brindle and the flying George Line passed him once again.
Roche was lacking pace and taking progressively more desperate steps to keep his championship chances alive. Defending robustly from anyone challenging his second place, first Brindle, then Line were squeezed through the final chicane before Davies was forced onto the grass along the start/finish straight. Davies said afterwards that four wheels on the grass was a terrifying moment. Lifting would have resulted in a spin or something more serious. Keeping his foot in he made the pass on the grass, only to be pushed wide by contact from Roche half a lap later at Mcleans. The contact was so hard that it sent Davies into the back of Goddard’s car resulting in both cars losing speed as they ran wide and allowing Roche past both and back into second place.
Roche forces Matt Davies out onto the grass….
All of this had given Eaton, coming from the back of the grid, the chance to brilliantly get onto the back of the leading bunch in 6th setting fastest lap of the race on the way. With Roche slowing the pace, the pack behind closed up and a slight touch into Redgate sent Eaton spinning, where she was then collected heavily by Bardwell. Justin Newnam was also unfortunate to get involved. This forced all three into retirement and left the championship in the balance once again. With Murphy long gone at the front and Roche slow, the championship was heading Eaton’s way still.
Clint Bardwell spinning
Redgate mayhem….
As the laps ticked down the battle for 2nd settled, Roche was helped to hold his position by yellow flags into the final chicane where Rob Way had become another victim of the ‘doughnut’ curbs. The chequered flag was shown early as Way’s car was stranded dangerously at the chicane, Murphy taking a second dominant win of the weekend, Roche finished in 2nd, Goddard 3rd , followed closely by Davies, Line and then Brindle.
Despite a second DNF Eaton had done enough by setting fastest lap of the race to prevent Roche from taking the extra point he needed, which made Abbie Eaton the well-deserved 2014 MX5 SuperCup champion by a single point!
Abbie Eaton post race
Not sure who has won…..
Abbie Eaton’s victory
Now we’re sure!!
The racing was intense, with so many drivers upping their game for the final race of the season. Driver of the weekend must go to Liam Murphy for his totally dominant performance in both races, definitely one to watch for the 2015 season.
Eaton’s brilliant performances, particularly in the second half of the season against a range of quick drivers mean she is the deserving and popular champion.
