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6th October 2009
Wrathall takes second in the Ginetta G50 Cup Championship as Morgan ends the season on a high
The title deciding final rounds for the Ginetta G50 Cup Championship moved to the undulating Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in Kent. Five new drivers joined the grid for this final showdown.
QUALIFYING (Saturday)
Ginetta's were the first cars of the day on the track for their 20 minute dry but blustery qualifying session. Both the Dynojet cars took to the circuit with a similar set up. The cold morning conditions showed up some small handling problems with the cars, and although only one second separated the top seven drivers, both Dynojet drivers were very consistent with Frank qualifying 3rd, 2nd and 2nd for the three races of the weekend , and Adam qualifying 8th, 7th and 6th on the grid.
RACE 1 (Saturday)
A clean getaway from Frank's second row start behind Nathan Freke and Fulvio Mussi, kept the formation with Tom Sharp adding to the blend. Frank made a positive pass in the Dynojet car, on the inside line at Surtees to take second spot on the track. Before the start of lap two the safety car was deployed for the next three laps due to a mid pack collision at Paddock Hill bend between Joachim Ritter and Colin White. Frank maintained his safe second place, and continued to press Nathan but was unable to force a mistake. He settled for second over the finishing line, and his 21st podium visit of the season.
Frank: "I made a good start and got onto the back of Nathan from the off. I pushed as hard as I could, but Nathan (Freke) was ultra quick and although I was closing towards the end of the race, I had to settle for second"
Adam's fourth row start was in amongst the mid pack foray, but he used his skills to avoid the Paddock Hill collision. He maintained his 8th place on the road. By lap nine he was closing in on one-time championship hopeful, Carl Breeze, but was unable to make the pass. Adam's impressive drive took him 8th over the line.
Adam "I didn't make the anticipated good start I was hoping for, but still managed to maintain 8th, avoiding the first lap incident. I caught Carl Breeze by the closing stages, but was unable to make the move on him".
RACE 2 (Sunday)
Frank and pole setter Nathan Freke got an even start from the front row of the grid, but Nathan had the inside line into Paddock Hill Bend and held onto his lead. The battle for second place intensified with Fulvio Mussi snapping at the heels of the Dynojet car, Fulvio made the move on Frank into Druids on the 10th tour. Frank pressed Fulvio all the way to the chequered flag, but he held on. Frank finished in 3rd spot, and added another podium appearance.
Frank: "We gambled to save our tyres for the final race and it meant that I lacked that extra grip from mid race distance and I slipped back to third. Still its great to get another podium"
Adam had a torrid time from the 4th row of the grid. He had to take avoiding action on the first lap culminating in sliding off the circuit exiting Druids and making contact with the barriers, causing damage to the rear of the car, but he managed to recover to eventually finished in 13th place.
Adam "To say I'm disappointed is a massive understatement. I was really optimistic of a top six finish. The Dynojet Team have worked so hard to give me such a good car to drive, so I'm disappointed for the team as well"
RACE 3
From the start of the last race of the season Frank was in determined mood to grab the lead from Nathan, but the pole setter held on. By mid race Frank was closing the Dynojet car on the leader and looking menacing. There was absolutely nothing separating the pair, but Nathan managed to defend well enough into Clearways to pip the post by less than 10th of a second. Frank had a total of 23 visits to the podium, more than any other competitor in the championship.
Frank: "Obviously, Nathan's such a good driver and there's no shame at all in finishing second in the championship to him. I was absolutely gutted not to win that race. We were side by side at the end, but I just couldn't quite get ahead. This has easily been my best year so far, and the team has been fantastic. I feel that I have really improved over the season and to have had more podiums than anybody else is a great achievement. I would like to give a big thank you to Jonny and Frank Snr for giving me the best car on the grid, roll on 2010!"
Ever improving Adam, put the disappointment of race two behind him. He made a clean start from the beginning of race three. On lap six he made a determined pass on Ben Jackson to move up the order and put pressure on Tom Dittman. Adam sealed 6th place with a good move into Paddock Hill bend on lap 12, and maintained this to the end of the race.
Adam "That definitely went my way. The team had given me the car to do the job, and it's great to finish the season with a top six finish"
Championship Table
1st |
Nathan Freke |
856 |
2nd |
Frank Wrathall |
731 |
3rd |
Carl Breeze |
629 |
The Dynojet Team would like to thank all their sponsors: Dynojet, Silkolene/710 Oils, Formula Kart Stars and Graphix. Particular thanks to Jonny Westbrook, Joe Ritson, and Carolynn Hoy, who have all helped to bring, and share in, the success of the Dynojet Team.
Next outing:
Frank's Dynojet car will be show cased at the Professional Motorsport World Expo Show, in Cologne on 3rd, 4th & 5th November. Frank will be demonstrating the G50 on the Ginetta Mobile Dyno at the show (Dyno supplied by Dynojet Research). If anyone would like tickets to this show, please contact: janice@dynojet.co.uk
--ends--
Dynojet UK
Lower House Barn
Strickens Lane
Barnacre
Preston
Lancashire
PR3 1QJ.
Tel: 01995 600500
Fax: 01995 604724
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