NEWS RELEASE: 5 SEPTEMBER 2011

WALKER & CHAPLIN SHARE THE SPOILS AT ROCKINGHAM

Tricky conditions at Rockingham were a challenge for the competitors of the Volkswagen Racing Cup with FUCHS Lubricants, but through the rain and spray of race one came James Walker and his father Richard to score a family 1-2 in their Golf GTIs. The weather improved for the event finale, and that suited reigning champion and current championship leader Steve Chaplin as he swept to his fourth race win of the year.

Round 9
Steve Chaplin, starting from pole position for only the second time this season in his Complete Utilities Beetle RSI, made a good start in difficult conditions. But the Maisemore based driver soon came under pressure from his front row opposition Aaron Mason and his Golf GTI, Mason quick to take the edge as the pair went into Deene for the first time.

After making his successful move on Chaplin, Mason proved how tricky conditions were by sliding wide and very nearly off; by the end of the first lap the Yorkshireman was back to fifth and with a mountain to climb to get back into contention.

In among the first-lap action the hard-charging James Walker, who started from sixth in his KPM racing Golf, proved a force to be reckoned with, making a string of successful moves to slot into the lead and pull clear of second-placed Chaplin to the tune of 2.8s by the end of the tour.

It was by no means plain sailing for championship leader Chaplin, who slipped to fourth on the second lap as Joe Fulbrook’s Bora and Richard Walker’s Golf splashed past.

With son James in control of the race to the tune of 6.4s by the third lap, Richard Walker was soon out to make it a family affair. The former truck racing champion emerged as the leader of the chasing pack, and tried hard to keep his son within reach.

There was no shortage of action further back as round five race winner Kieran Griffin showed his determination in the Scirocco R to make his way through from last to seventh by the end. Griffin’s car had failed post-qualifying scrutineering, along with that of Tim Snaylam, and both were sent to the back of the grid.

Walker senior’s hopes of reeling in his son came to nothing and, after an impressive drive, it was James who crossed the line ahead, by 6.5s. Aaron Mason recovered from his problems in the opening laps to gain third place and his fifth podium placing of the season.

Chaplin held on to bring home his ‘Herbie’ Beetle fourth. Fulbrook and Nick Beaumont, in the new Mk VI Golf GTI, rounded out the top six.

Other notable performances came from Paul Wyhinny, who survived a first-lap tangle with the New Caddy Racer of Simon Elliott to finish eighth, behind Griffin, and Philip Morris, who brought his Golf GTI home ninth, just ahead of Steve Wood’s Golf.

“After assessing the amount of grip that there was on the track during the green flag laps, I was quite surprised how slow people were in the early stages of the race,” said James Walker, for whom this was a second win of the season. “I knew that it was important for me to build a gap after I had taken the lead as I was able to find the grip that others weren’t able to and that’s exactly what I did. I just had to ensure that I kept a reasonable gap.”

“I had a very poor start which put me into the pack,” said Richard Walker, who claimed his first podium of the season. “The set up of the car felt good so I was able to gain a few places. James made a good start and had already built up a lead on me, which was a shame, as it would have been good to be able to hassle each other a bit – who knows what could have happened.”

“I got a really good start from second,” added Mason. “I pulled a few car lengths into turn one but going into turn two I didn’t quite realise how slippy the track was and I put myself in the gravel trap for a short period. I was determined to get back on the track and I’m pleased to have picked up a good amount of points by finishing in third.”

Round 10
Chaplin continued his march towards further championship glory with victory in round 10, the reigning champion putting aside the disappointment of missing out on a podium position in the earlier race.

Fulbrook made a good start in the Warranty Direct Racing-prepared Bora on a by-now dry Rockingham circuit to lead pole man Beaumont off the line as the pack approached Deene for the first time. Beaumont’s second soon came under pressure from a charging Chaplin, who gained the position towards the end of the opening lap.

Chaplin next set his sights on 2008 and ’09 champion Fulbrook, placing more and more pressure on Joe during the second lap before finding a way past the Bora on lap three.

The tussle for third was close as Golf men Mason and Beaumont went head to head, Mason winning the battle with a pass down the School Straight. Round nine winner James Walker followed Mason’s example and demoted Beaumont further on lap three. The pair continued their battle as Beaumont attempted to regain the position he had lost, but to no avail.

As the race drew to a close, James began to drop back into the clutches of Beaumont once again, and this time Nick had the better run out of Brook and on to the pit straight. Taking an inside line into turn one, Beaumont finished the move on the approach to the hairpin and was able to fend off Walker for the duration.

Chaplin duly took the spoils by a 2.3s margin, with Fulbrook chasing the Beetle all the way to the line, followed by Mason, who claimed his second podium of the weekend by bringing his Golf GTI home third.

Other notable performances in the race came from 17-year-old Zoe Wenham who, after starting 12th, came through to finish an impressive seventh in her SlideSports Golf GTI. The result boosts Zoe to sixth in the championship standings.

Philip Morris enjoyed another strong showing in the KPM Racing Golf GTI, ended his race ninth, just behind the Golf of Richard Morgan. Simon Andrews completed the top 10, just ahead of Elliott’s Caddy.

“It was a very good race from the start,” explained Chaplin. “I got a very clean start but Joe also made a blinding start as well so it was a question of following Joe to see where he was going to go. It all proved a bit green out there and a bit slippery but I knew that I had to keep putting the pressure on Joe; in the end there was a bit of a gap and I took the advantage. From then on it was just a question of keeping an eye on Joe and ensuring that I had a gap on him that I was able to maintain.”

“I got a good start,” said Fulbrook. “We tried a completely different set-up on the car because we hadn’t had the best of weekends and managed to find some grip; it felt really good. Steve’s on fire at the moment but we still have to do some work on the car I think and hopefully we will be able to get back on his pace come Donington.”

“It was a bit of a troubled race for me,” explained Mason. “I got a good start but as we started picking the pace up the driveshaft started rumbling, so I had to start nursing the car. After that issue the clutch started to play up, so I was just begging for the race to end. It’s great to have gained two podium finishes this weekend; the team have put a really good car together.”