Desborough Racing Driver, Roger Owens was back in action at the weekend for the 6th round of the Hyundai Coupe Cup on the Silverstone National circuit. The series broke new ground, hosting a longer 45-minute race, boasting one of the largest grids in recent years and welcoming back a number of past winners.
A fifteen minute practice in damp conditions was Owens’ introduction to the circuit, however by the time qualifying began the track was dry and times began to tumble. Out of a grid of 25, Owens managed to qualify 20th but as seen in previous rounds, lap times were so close that less than a second separated him from 12th .
Typically, rounds consist of two 15 minute races, so the additional length and the added
requirement of a simulated pit stop that required the drivers to exit and then re-enter the car added to the challenge.
At the start Owens slipped back to 22nd before catching a group of cars as they each jostled for position. Places changed regularly in the laps that followed before the mandatory pit stop, which was taken early and saw Owens come out in to clean air. As other competitors took their stops, and with open track to post quick lap times, Owens was able to make up additional positions before a pass on the former series driver of the year, Ian Goodchild, moved him up to 16th , which he held until the penultimate lap when Alan Evans was able to slip past as Owens tried to let the race leader and eventual winner Mark Jones past.
An enjoyable but tiring experiment, it’s likely that the endurance format will return in future years, but for Owens it was an opportunity to test the car in a longer race before he joins several rivals to form a team for the Birkett Six Hour Relay at Silverstone in October.
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