It was a fairly successful weekend for RAW Motorsports in the Radical SR1 Cup at Brands Hatch.
After a disappointing start to the season at Snetterton, qualifying went well for Nick Zapolski, second quickest in the first session, before securing pole position for the second race.
As the lights went out it was fairly close between the lead trio through Paddock Hill Bend on the opening lap of a wet race one, but it was double Snetterton winner and Championship leader Will Hunt who was ahead into Druids.
“I had got Dean Warriner at the start and was taking the lead around the outside into Paddock, when he touched my rear corner and sent me into the gravel,” said Zapolski.
His race was over and with his car being recovered, out came the safety car for a couple of laps.
Team mate James Lay was in fourth, but from the green flag, he started to close on Brian Caudwell. But he also had to keep a close eye on his mirrors as Mark Williams was closing on him.
They shared a couple of swaps and changes, before Lay pulled away and almost caught Caudwell for third on the line.
Gavin McAlpine also finished strongly securing ninth over the last four laps.
The track was drying as they lined up for the second race, “starting from pole and without any racing laps under my belt, it was a bit daunting at the start,” said poleman Zapolski.
“I held the lead just, but had to quickly learn my braking points,” he added.
Hunt got by into Surtees on the second lap, they swapped again before Hunt took charge and went clear.
Lay had seen off Warriner just before a brief safety car intervention, but after the green flag, he started to close in on Zapolski too.
On lap seven Lay was into second, “he got me at Surtees too, I lost all my places there,” Zapolski admitted.
Hunt was out of reach as he headed for his fourth win from four races, but Lay continued to ease clear of team mate Zapolski, securing second place, with 3.8 secs to spare.
It was also another top 10 finish for McAlpine. He was ninth by the end of lap three and enjoyed a great duel with Ben Stone. After numerous exchanges, McAlpine finally made it stick with a
determined move on the final lap for eighth.
There is now a break in the Championship until July 3rd, when they visit Snetterton for the second time this season.
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