Touch of Mojo Mk2 Golf GTI Championship Rounds 5 & 6
Snetterton 300
15th & 16th June 2013

Race reports

There was no shortage of action in this weekend’s rounds five and six of the Touch of Mojo Mk2 Golf GTI Championship at Snetterton, when first James Bark and then Jamie Martin both survived intense battles at the front of the field to claim victories in race one on Saturday and race two on Sunday respectively. Once again, the competitiveness of the series shone through, with both drivers having to fight hard to claim the top step of the podium.

In Class 1, the category for eight rather than 16-valve engined cars, Andrew Aldridge continued his winning ways and scored an impressive double victory, bringing his total of wins for the year to five out of the six races.

Using the longest version of Norfolk’s well established circuit, the championship joined – for the first time – an MSVR meeting that hosted a range of high-profile championships: British GT, BRDC F4 and VW Cup. This programme – which was added when the first two rounds at Oulton Park were cancelled due to bad weather - brought with it a number of professional teams and drivers, as well as a large number of spectators.

Although the clouds looked threatening for a time, Saturday morning’s qualifying session was held in the dry. Taking pole position for the very first time was a delighted Harry Vaulkhard, who managed to go 0.5-seconds faster than Henry Wright, who was also pleased with his performance.

Lining up on the second row were the increasingly quick Simon Gusterson and the always quick James Bark, whilst just behind them in P5 was Jamie Martin, the 2012 champion’s pace compromised due to the ?? kgs of success ballast installed in lieu of his double victory last time out at Cadwell Park. Less surprisingly, quickest of the qualifiers in Class 1 was Andrew Aldridge.

Race 1 (round 5)

Unfortunately the weather had changed before the start of the race and consequently Vaulkhard wasn’t able to make the most of his pole position. Not getting the traction he needed, before he knew it, he was passed by Wright - and then Bark - on the run up to Riches, the right-hander at the end of the start-finish straight.

Wright was delighted however, as it saw him lead a race for the first time and, at the end of the lap one he crossed the line fractionally ahead of Bark, then Vaulkhard and then Martin, who was clearly struggling with his overweight car.

Further back, the action in Class 1 was getting a little too close and, as Tim Cox, Simon Tomlinson, Mark Hodder and Alex Nuttall turned into the tight left-hander at Murrays, an almighty tangle ensued, causing all but Nuttall to retire on the spot and seeing Cox left with a heavily damaged car.

Back at the front, Wright led until lap three, until Bark eventually found his way past. Then, on the following lap Vaulkhard followed suit and closed right up on the leader. Try as he might over the next three laps, Vaulkhard could not find a way past and consequently crossed the finish line 0.8-seconds behind, with Wright third and Martin out on his own in fourth.

Aldridge was once again the class of the Class 1 field and finished comfortably ahead of Matthew Petts and Adrian Ward, who had been having a race-long battle for second place.

Click here for round five results

Race 2 (round 6)

With the finishing positions of the first race dictating the starting positions for the second, it meant that Bark was on pole, with Vaulkhard alongside him in P2. But it was Gusterson who impressed on the first lap, threading his way from sixth on the grid and into second behind Bark as the cars started lap two. Right on his tail was Vaulkhard, with Wright fourth and Martin – now running with only 45 KG of success ballast having lost 20 KG due to finishing outside the top 3 in Race 1 – in fifth and getting ready to pounce.

Lap two saw Wright pass Vaulkhard for second place, whilst Martin moved up two positions to take third. Playing a waiting game, the 2012 champion then seized the opportunity to pass Wright at the end of lap five and positioned himself on Bark’s back bumper. A good run through the Bomb Hole saw the two leading Golfs neck and neck into Coram and then the slow left-hander of Murrays, with Martin getting the better traction and then edging past as they crossed the start-finish line for the final lap.

At the finish there was just 0.3-seconds between them, the pace of the leading pair creating a small gap between them and a chasing Vaulkhard and Gusterson, who had both got past Wright on the last lap. All of this frantic activity at the front of the field confirmed yet again, that the Touch of Mojo Mk2 Golf GTI Championship is one of the most competitive of its kind.

Click here for round six results

It was a perfect double-win for Andrew Aldridge in Class 1, with Alex Nuttall and Simon Tomlinson second and third, having repaired their cars following the first lap incident in Saturday’s race.

Competitors now prepare for a trip to Belgium, when the series makes its first ever visit to an overseas circuit for rounds seven and eight at the legendary Spa Grand Prix circuit on 13th 14th July. Whatever the outcome, there’s no doubt that a memorable weekend is in store for all concerned.

The 2013 Touch of Mojo Mk2 Golf GTI Championship is sponsored by: the Touch of Mojo creative brand agency, SuperPro suspension parts, Dunlop tyres, Milltek Sport, Tarox brakes, Forge Motorsport, Petronas oils, Bilstein suspension, Louth Volksworld, JCM Direct, Retro GTI and The Lubricant Consultancy.

Highlights of the races at Cadwell Park will be shown on Motors TV. Please check TV listings for details.

Source: www.golfgtiracing.com