HERBERT TAKES A SUPERCUP BRACE AT SILVERSTONE TO SET UP TITLE SHOWDOWN
Three more races have come and gone in the 2019 edition of the BRSCC Mazds MX-5 SuperCup, and the title race now has a clear picture after the recent rounds at Silverstone on the National circuit. More great racing in a circuit that lends itself to just that took place, as the main championship rivals took the podium places all for themselves.
Honours were split in the qualifying to set the grid for the first two races of the weekend, as Luke Herbert set the fastest time in the session, yet on second-fastest times it was Jack Harding who came out on top, meaning both had earn pole position for Races 1 and 2 respectively. Aidan Hills would line up 3rd for both races with Jack Sycamore earning a pair of 4th places, with Patrick Fletcher and Nick Rutter also making up the third row respectively.
In what became more than a regular occurrence all weekend, the title-contending trio of Herbert, Harding and Hills raced off at the front of the field to enjoy their own private battle with Harding beating Herbert away from the line and claiming the lead on the opening lap. Initially, the three cars swapped places numerous times in the opening laps, before Harding was able to settle down in the lead for a good portion of the race. It was only with a few laps to go that Hills made the all-important move for 1st place that saw him hit the front and remain there for the rest of the encounter. So it was that Hills drove on to take his third win in four races, beating Harding to the flag by a mere 0.090 seconds, with Herbert right on their tail all the way to the end just a further two tenths back! Sycamore took a strong 4th place with David Henderson scoring a solid top 5 finish, while Nick Rutter and Christopher Richardson also scored some of their best results to date with 6th and 7th respectively. Garry Townsend, an off-the-pace Patrick Fletcher and Will Stephenson completed the finishers.
The second race saw reverse fortunes for the front row men, as Herbert would be the one to beat pole man Harding away from the start and take the lead, which in turn he would never end up losing. Despite the best efforts of Harding and Hills, Herbert was at one stage able to pull out a small cushion in the opening laps, before he was quickly reeled back in and the lead gap was never more than around 0.4 seconds at the end of any lap. Heading the field at the chequered flag, Herbert collected his 6th win of the season with Harding in 2nd place but still capturing the fastest lap to ensure he scored the same amount of points as the winner. Hills scored 3rd place but was disappointed with his result as he had hoped for a repeat of Race 1, with Fletcher and Sycamore completing the top 5.
For the reverse grid for Race 3, the top 6 were chosen to be inverted with Garry Townsend collecting pole position in the process, however, a poor start saw him drop to 6th place by the end of the opening lap. Sycamore took up the lead straight away before Hills made a move on Lap 2 and held on for just about half of the race as Sycamore, Herbert, Sycamore and Fletcher all scrapping amongst themselves behind while keeping the leader in touch. Eventually, Harding managed to latch onto the back of Hills and make the pass for the lead on Lap 10, but his advantage wouldn't last long as only three laps later Herbert managed to muscle his way through and drive on to take the second win of the weekend and win #7 of the season. Harding and Hills once again rounded off the podium with Fletcher and Sycamore once again coming home behind them in 4th and 5th.
So, heading to the SuperCup's second visit to Donington Park in October, this time on the National Layout, Herbert now carries a 10 point lead over Harding with three races left to go with Hills a further 30 points back and while he does have an outside chance of the title, he would need a disastrous weekend for both of the top two to see that happen. It's been another intense year of competition and once again the fate of the title will be decided on the final day of the season. Someone with a surname beginning with H will be champion, but that's the only thing guaranteed from the Donington finale - the rest is to be decided!
Scott Woodwiss