FINE CUT RADICAL CUP UK - ROUND 2 BRANDS HATCH RACE REPORT

Qualifying

Qualifying was a sign of things to come. Littlewood secured pole, but Stoney was just 0.148 seconds behind—an impressive effort considering his recent seat time.

“I hadn’t driven an SR3 XXR until Friday’s test and hadn’t been on the Grand Prix circuit for five years, but a few tweaks to make to me or the car,” said Stoney.

Littlewood wasn’t entirely satisfied with pole either. “I was near to my limit, but disappointed in my time, so I think there is more to come.”

Jack Yang (Valour Racing) narrowly outqualified Hamish Forrest (Radical Racing Rebels) by just 0.285 seconds. “I did all I could,” said Yang. “I need a couple of setup changes before the race, but it was my first real time on the GP circuit too,” added Forrest.

Andy Lowe (360 Competition) set a solid time despite some drama. “I had new brake pads, so spent time bedding them in. I kept pushing, but after putting a wheel on the grass at Stirlings, I tried to slingshot Paddock and it pulled me off into the gravel,” he explained after bringing out the red flags.

John Macleod (RSR), Rachel Robertson (Radical Racing Rebels), and Alex Fisher (DW Racing) followed. “A personal best, so I’m happy,” said Macleod. Robertson was frustrated: “The red flag hindered my best lap.” Fisher added, “Felt good, but I’m still learning.”

Wesley Fongenie (360 Competition) and John Davis (DW Racing) completed the grid. “We had changed the gearing, so I spent the whole session getting used to it,” said Fongenie. Davis added, “I’m looking forward to it. It’s not me I’m worried about, it’s the others.”

SPRINT RACE ONE

Saturday’s opening sprint race began with mayhem. Littlewood just edged ahead of Stoney into Paddock Hill, but behind them, Yang was tapped into a spin, collecting Fongenie and Davis and triggering red flags.

“I got away OK, was in third place, but came back across the track after I was tapped and just hoped no one would hit me,” said Yang.

“John couldn’t avoid Jack and as he hit him, he pushed him into my path too. I thought I had gone wide enough to miss them,” added Fongenie.

On the restart, Littlewood, Stoney, and Forrest pulled clear. Further back, Macleod and Lowe clashed at Druids.

“At the first start I got Andy and it was looking good. Then I had another good run and could have gone around the outside through Paddock, but it wasn’t worth the risk. Into Druids I was squeezed and had to brake on the grass. It sent me left, we both went off, and Andy took my rear wing off as he rejoined,” Macleod explained.

Lowe responded: “I thought I’d left enough room, but I couldn’t turn in when he locked up. We were alongside again and I caught his wing.”

Up front, Littlewood and Stoney traded quick laps while Forrest started to lose touch. “I lightly tapped Jack at the first start, but had no damage. I managed to hang onto the leaders for a while,” Forrest noted.

On lap eight, Stoney had a close call at Surtees. “I made a mistake and then got back to Marcus when he made one. But then I went very wide at Surtees, kept my foot down through the gravel, lifted when I touched the grass, and just missed the tyre wall.”

Despite the pressure, Littlewood held on for a hard-earned win by 6.801 seconds. “Two good starts were key—it was important to get my nose ahead before Druids. We dropped Hamish, then Shane dropped back too. But I made a mistake mid-corner at Paddock and it snapped on me. Shane was right back on me,” he said.

Stoney’s moment allowed Forrest to snatch second. “A big step forward for me,” said the Rebels driver.

Robertson kept Fisher at bay for fourth. “I saw him in my mirrors, so I upped my pace,” she said.

“I was catching her, but pushed too hard—too much speed into corners. I need to change my technique,” Fisher admitted. Lowe completed the top six.

SPRINT RACE TWO

Race two saw another close start, with Littlewood narrowly holding off Stoney through Paddock Hill. But Stoney’s charge was halted by a big snap of oversteer at the hairpin, dropping him to sixth.

Forrest, Yang, Macleod, and Lowe moved up, while Fisher and Fongenie followed behind the recovering Stoney. The safety car came out soon after when Robertson spun at Paddock. “I just lost the rear after touching the kerb. I was in the gravel and couldn’t restart because the starter motor failed,” she explained.

After two laps under caution, the green flag waved and the battle resumed. Stoney made quick work of Lowe and Macleod, then passed Yang for second.

“I lacked a bit of pace and Shane got me into Westfield,” said Yang, as Macleod and Lowe closed in behind.

Littlewood stayed cool at the front and claimed his second win of the weekend by 5.742 seconds. “At the start I couldn’t quite get the tyres up to temperature, but then I got away and did enough,” he said.

Forrest held off Stoney at the flag. “I lost power with an engine or fuel issue and didn’t realise Shane was catching again,” he said.

A late error from Yang at Westfield handed fourth to Macleod, with Lowe in fifth and Fisher sixth.

“I just got my head down and the car was consistent,” Macleod said.

“I had one chance at Dingle Dell, but went for self-preservation,” Lowe added.

“I started off too slowly but was catching a bit at the end,” said Fisher.

“At least I got a race this time,” smiled Fongenie.

ENDURANCE RACE

With a pit stop success penalty looming, Littlewood knew the final race would be his toughest. Stoney started from pole and launched into a commanding lead, followed by Littlewood and Forrest.

Behind them, Lowe spun at Druids on the opening lap, while Yang went off at Stirlings on lap 12, bringing out the safety car. “I just went in too fast and spun into the gravel,” Yang said.

When racing resumed, the pit window opened. Littlewood stayed out longer before serving his penalty, rejoining third behind Stoney and Lowe—more than 20 seconds adrift.

He quickly reeled in Lowe, passing him at Graham Hill Bend, then took second from Forrest at Druids. Robertson also slipped past Lowe to grab third on lap 25.

Out front, Stoney was untouchable and took a dominant win by 26.236 seconds. “A good start, head down, good grip, and didn’t go completely banzai,” he said.

Littlewood settled for second: “It was impossible to catch him with my penalty and the safety car made it worse. If I had led at the start, it could have been better. Second was the best I could’ve expected.”

Robertson was thrilled with third. “After the stops I guessed I was third. Lots of improvement, but I had pressure at the end from Hamish.”

Forrest, despite a success penalty, finished just 0.459 seconds behind. “My tyres were better in the second half and I was more consistent. But when I passed John at Surtees I had two wheels on the grass,” he said.

Macleod took fifth, winning the Fangio Trophy again, with Fisher in sixth after a turbulent run. “I had to avoid Andy’s spin at Druids and went on the grass. I had a small spin later, made too many changes, and had a scary moment pushing too hard,” he said.

Fongenie followed, with Yang classified ninth. Lowe retired after a spin at Sheene. “I got tapped into a spin too at Stirlings, but managed to keep going,” added Fongenie.

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