Tough times at the top for Lawson and Adam

The SEAT Cupra Championship’s return to Silverstone proved to be an eventful occasion. With Robert Lawson (Bardon/JHR) looking to extend his lead at the top of the table and Jonathan Adam (Total Control Racing) aiming to keep his recent great vein of form pumping to help close the gap at the top even further, it was set to be a classic. And when Adam posted the quickest times in both qualifying sessions it looked like the crown could be decided with the very last rev of the season at Brands Hatch.

But disaster struck for Adam in Round 17, a coming together with Lawson moments after the beginning damaging the valve in his front right tyre and causing a puncture. Lawson had made a brilliant start from the front row anyway and as Adam dropped back Lawson got his foot down to stretch a decent lead.

With a pit stop needed, Adam rejoined the race at the back, and any chances of a good points finish were dashed. The best he could hope for was the extra Championship point for fastest lap, but a flying Lawson bagged that too on his second time round the National Circuit with a 1:02.337secs time. He went on to take the chequered flag, just over two seconds ahead of the promising Andrew Herron (Brian Herron Plant/JHR). Herron had been on his own behind Lawson for much of the race as Carl Breeze (Blue Chip/Welch Motorsport) and Martin Byford (AB Glass/Z Speed Racing) did battle. Byford had made great strides to get into that 4th spot from 10th on the grid and gave his nearest rival in the Championship a tough race, but Breeze managed to hold on for a well-deserved 3rd place.

With a nights break between the two races, the weather had time to change dramatically for Round 18. as did Lawson’s fortunes. He now found that rather than starting the race from the front row as his qualifying suggested, a technical infringement in that session had meant he would have to battle from the very back. With Adam on pole position it looked like his great win in Round 17 may now only serve to cancel out whatever Adam could manage this time round. As the pack roared onto the soaking Silverstone circuit from the start line though it was Herron who appeared to have the run of things from the front row. He couldn’t quite get the jump on Adam though, but it looked like Lawson’s luck might have been in as Adam ran off the wet track and rejoined the race in 5th place behind Daniel Welch (Marriott/Welch Motorsport).

Lawson meanwhile was making ground and had pulled himself up into 9th before too long and by the last lap he was into a respectable 6th position. But Adam was the man on the move. Winning a tussle with Welch, he then did battle with Byford for 3rd, going door handle to door handle with him before pulling a brave late braking manoeuvre to get ahead. Breeze was next in the firing line and by lap 12 Adam was in front, Breeze maybe realising that Adams pace could prove a dangerous handful in the wet conditions and making the passage a little easier. Herron, so eager for a win, soon had the reigning Champion bearing down on him, the young Irishman’s limited experience of leading a race proving to be his downfall as he started to concentrate on defending. Adam’s car looked strong though and Herron’s caution cost him dearly, being out paced by Adam with one lap to go and having to settle for another 2nd place. It was an incredible drive by Adam in what was probably the most exciting end to a race this year.

Both races then saw Herron, Breeze and Byford finish in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places respectively, but the two race wins were shared between Adam and Lawson, the two drivers from whom the Championship winner will come. Breeze and Byford are the main rivals for the third spot with Herron 5th in the Championship but closing in.

As for the title, a provisional 25 point penalty for Lawson due to that technical infringement may mean Adam is the more likely to regain his crown at Brands Hatch, but as Silverstone proved, anything can happen in motorsport and this series is destined to go right down to the wire whatever the outcome.

Jonathan Adam: “It was a mixed weekend really. The thirteenth place in the first race was hard to take, so I knew I had to come out here and win in the second. Coming back from fifth I knew I had to make the moves stick, but that was probably one of the best races I’ve had, the car just felt stronger and stronger.”

Robert Lawson: “It’s been a frustrating weekend and we’ll have to see what happens with our appeal. All I can do is sit in the driver’s seat and do my best, so from my point of view it’s extremely disappointing.”

Carl Breeze: “Somehow I keep managing to keep pulling it back. I keep pulling these Houdini acts. It was probably my worst qualifying this year, but we changed the turbo overnight and the car feels better on the straights. That second race was the best wet race of my life.”

Martin Byford: “It’s very difficult to go from the first race where you.re attacking and looking to gain places to the second where it’s all very defensive. We only dropped three points to Carl this weekend though so it’s not too bad.”

Andrew Herron: “I was disappointed with myself after qualifying, I felt I should have been on the front row. I was happy with my pace in the first race and I had a cheeky smile across my face when I knew we were racing in the wet on the second. That’s the first time I’ve led a race in a SEAT though and I started looking in my mirror too much. But I’m still learning and I’m only getting better.”