Donington Park hosts the second round of Gaz Shocks 116Trophy 2021
Donington Park welcomed the 116Trophy for round two of the series (May 23). Many new faces joined the grid for with 32 cars competing. Qualifying was completed in overcast but dry conditions and pole position went to Anthony Seddon and Alan Corfield in the number 5 machine. A first time front row start for the number 77 machine of Ormerod and Creighton saw them line up in P2. Sam Yates lined up P3 in the 777, next to Louis Woodward in the immaculately prepared number 87. Next up was Lewis Tindall with Ian Carvell keeping him company on row three.
With spots of rain falling and the grid perfectly formed, Race 2 was underway. Yates immediately pounced from P3 and grabbed the lead followed closely by Creighton who stole the lead by the end of the first lap. Tindall slotted into third until the start of lap two when Corfield overtook and set about his mission to reel in the top two.
The battle ensued behind with Louis Woodward, Ian Carvell, Rob Carvell, Round One winner Mark Burton and Andrew Woodbine constantly swapping positions. Then a car stuck in the gravel a sudden safety car caused a flurry of pit lane activity.
As the rain started to take hold the circuit became very slippery and another safety car triggered another round of pit stops. Corfield’s perfectly timed stop and hand over to Anthony Seddon meant he emerged from the pits with a substantial lead. With the remaining positions jumbled, Yates was in attack mode carving through the field in the treacherous conditions. Creighton was also on a charge to make up for lost time in the pit stop.
Anthony Seddon crossed the line in first place, with a fiery Yates in second. Ian Carvell took the final podium place with Ormerod and Creighton in fourth and Lewis Tindall rounding out the top five. Driver of the day went to Theo and Chris Millward who battled from 22nd on the grid to a credible 9th place.
The next round in a shuffled calendar will see the 116Trophy at Snetterton on the 26th June. The 200 circuit at Snetterton will be the ideal proving ground for the more powerful 2021 machines and will surely be the closest round to date.
(Images courtesy of Jon Elesey Photography)
