The Ferrari Challenge UK raced at Snetterton for the finale of the 2020 season, over a weekend that decided the champions of both the Trofeo Pirelli and the Coppa Shell.
Saturday
Trofeo Pirelli. Lucky Khera (Graypaul Birmingham) made an excellent start to establish an early lead, reacting quickly at the start to pull away from the rest of the field. The remainder of the race was a familiar situation for Lucky, as he drove clear of the field to cement a large gap and come home to take his seventh victory of the season. Behind him, Paul Hogarth (Stratstone Manchester) stayed in second position, whilst H. Sikkens (H.R. Owen London) passed Martin Smith (Graypaul Birmingham) to take third, though Smith soon managed to reclaim the position. Despite constant pressure throughout the race, Hogarth held on to finish second, with Smith coming home in third.
Coppa Shell. Jamie Thwaites (JCT600 Brooklands Leeds) produced a thrilling drive to come from the back of the grid to take victory in the Coppa Shell class, and secure the championship with one race to spare. After a disappointing qualifying session, Thwaites quickly made his way past the pole sitter, Paul Rogers (JCT600 Brooklands Leeds), who dropped down the order at the start. Thwaites then passed Paul Simmerson (Graypaul Birmingham) and closed in on Alex Moss (Graypaul Birmingham), who drove an excellent defensive race to keep Thwaites behind for as long as possible. Moss, however, could do nothing as Thwaites pulled off a great move down the inside at Agostini to take the lead, eventually pulling clear to extend his championship lead in the Coppa Shell. Alex Moss held on to second, whilst Simmerson resisted the pressure of Rogers to take the third step on the podium.
Pirelli Ferrari formula classic
In the Pirelli Ferrari formula classic, run by the Ferrari Owners’ Club GB, Wayne Marrs won a thrilling race ahead of Tristan Simpson in second, and Tim Mogridge in third, with all three drivers piloting Ferrari F355 Challenge cars.
Sunday
Trofeo Pirelli. With heavy rainfall throughout the day, the first third of the race had to be completed behind the safety car due to the amount of water on the circuit. However, after ten minutes, the safety car came in and the race returned to green flag conditions. The drivers remained close together for the first few laps, before contact between Martin Smith (Graypaul Birmingham) and Paul Hogarth (Stratstone Manchester) allowed Lucky Khera (Graypaul Birmingham) and H. Sikkens (H.R. Owen London) to pass, with Khera taking the lead. Unfortunately Martin Smith had to retire due to radiator damage, allowing Paul Hogarth to take the final step of the podium for the second time this year. Lucky Khera extended his lead in familiar fashion, coming home to win ahead of Sikkens, becoming the first driver to win every race of a Ferrari Challenge season.
Coppa Shell. Class champion Jamie Thwaites (JCT600 Brooklands Leeds) produced another fantastic drive to come from the back of the grid to take victory in the Coppa Shell class. Thwaites mastered the wet conditions to make his way past Paul Rogers (JCT600 Brooklands Leeds), and then closed in on Alex Moss (Graypaul Birmingham) before eventually passing him and extending his lead. Moss did well to fend off the challenge of Paul Rogers, who was on the tail of Moss for the last few laps, to finish second, ahead of Rogers in third. Following an early spin, Paul Simmerson (Graypaul Birmingham) was unable to convert his qualifying position into a podium.
Pirelli Ferrari formula classic
In Race 2, Tristan Simpson finished in first ahead of Tim Mogridge, with James Cartwright coming home in third position in his Ferrari 328 GTB.
In the third and final race of the weekend, it was Tim Mogridge to claimed victory ahead of Tristan Simpson in second, and Wayne Marrs in third.
The provisional calendar for the Ferrari Challenge UK 2021 series will be announced at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali at Misano in November.
Image: Thwaites taking victory - Race 2