Ken Savage heads to Donington next weekend (13/14 August) keen to build on his lead at the top of the Lotus Cup UK Championship table. The Production class driver, who is also competing with great success in the Elise Trophy this year, has scored several class victories and leads Steve Quick by 11 points at the halfway stage of the season. With last year’s Elise Trophy round at the East Midlands circuit cancelled whilst it awaited refurbishment, only Savage has race experience here in a Lotus and will be aiming to use this to his advantage.
Behind the Production pair, three drivers are within striking distance of the leaders, each of them leading their respective classes. Pete Storey’s consistency has paid off, a run which started with second place in round one and sees him just ten points adrift of Quick. The Open class is led by Vitthal Chauhan, another to take advantage of regular finishes, but David Harvey is only a few points behind, with the quick pairing of David and Rob Fenn splitting their points at Brands Hatch by competing in a race each. Meanwhile Glenn Sherwood heads up the Exige Cup runners by some way, his regular co-driver Jamie Stanley losing out after not entering the last rounds in Kent.
However not far off the leaders is Mark Fullalove, despite not entering the first round. His incredible speed means that he can still challenge for overall honours, especially if any of his rivals suffers from a retirement and is surely a favourite for victory. Watch out too for Steve Williams, who has lost points through retirement and kept Fullalove honest at Brands Hatch.
A one-off entry at Donington will be in car number 2, competing in the Open class. Major James Cameron raced in the Elise Trophy at Brands Hatch last year, before returning to more serious combat in Afghanistan. He is back to race with colleague Trooper Martyn Copeston at a venue that, like many of the UK’s circuits, played a vital role in previous conflicts.
Donington will also see two races from the Elise Trophy where Savage and Quick will continue a rivalry with Luigi Mazza and Craig Denman. The quartet have been the class of the field, together with Stuart Rowland and Andy Dolan, who won his first race last time out. But with several drivers including Chris Dunster, Ben Hyland and Adam Bewsey knocking on the door of victory, it will be a closely fought contest.
If that’s not enough for Lotus enthusiasts, Club Lotus will be holding their annual show at the circuit’s exhibition centre and a shuttle bus will be running from the paddock to this event.
