NEWS
05.10.09
Drivers Club pupil takes class win in debut race
New Drivers Club pupil Chris Cappuccini put his recent training to good use with a class win on his VdeV debut at Ledenon in France last Sunday.
Despite limited testing beforehand, Chris, co-driving with coach Ollie Hancock, had been quick in practice but found the going slightly tougher in qualifying when a gear selection issue plagued the session. Ollie, swapping his usual Formula 2 single seater for Chris's Juno prototype, prepared by Drivers Club parent team Jota Sport, was still able to qualify on pole in Class B - nine places behind older brother & club founder, Sam, in the team’s Class A entry up in fourth.
The picturesque venue set in southern France offers a real test of man and machine, its massive elevation changes making up the most technically challenging, but ultimately enjoyable test of the season. Second year Drivers Club pupil Simon Dolan certainly found it to his liking, sweeping into the lead around the outside of the demanding triple-apex left hander from the second row at the start.
There he would stay for the opening laps before the swathe of professional and knowledgeable local drivers made their experience count. Cappuccini meanwhile had also enjoyed a solid start, running inside the top ten for much of the first hour despite only having a season’s Caterham racing behind him. Unfortunately, a badly flat-spotted front tyre led to an earlier than expected pit stop 65 minutes into the 3-hour enduro, catching out his surprised pit crew and slightly delaying the car.
With his 90 minute stint almost up, Dolan too was ready to hand over his Ligier. A slight error on his penultimate lap though saw him suffer what at first appeared an innocuous spin. But unbeknown to the marshals, the car had beached itself on the curbs. Although eventually pushed free, the head soak resulting from the time spent stationary caused havoc with the car, sadly leading to an early retirement thirty minutes later with Hancock then at the wheel.
The #27 Juno's difficult pit stop meantime had seriously dented the team’s chances of a podium finish. Ollie had other ideas, spending his stint carving back up through the field from 16th to 11th to take the chequered flag and Class B spoils after three hours of hard fought racing.
“Everyone’s had to work really hard this weekend,” said Drivers Club founder and head coach Sam Hancock. “It’s a difficult circuit to learn and although I’m not sure anyone can really master it in one weekend, Simon and Chris both did a fantastic job. It’s a shame we had the problem with the Ligier but that’s all part of the learning experience and fortunately Chris and Ollie were able to keep us smiling with a fantastic debut victory. Here’s hoping it’s the first of many.”
The Drivers Club returns to SPEED Series action in the UK this weekend at Silverstone.