VTEC Challenge does Donington '14


Jonathan F

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Donington: March 22nd/23rd (Rounds 1 and 2 of Honda VTEC Challenge)


For the opening rounds of the 2014 season, the Honda VTEC Challenge headed to Donington Park in Leicestershire.

An exciting kick off to the season saw us racing as part of a “Motors TV - Live” event. For the opening rounds we had been grouped with the “Boss” championship, for fast Fords and with a near capacity grid, racing would be close fought.

With an earlier than normal start to the race season, we would be hoping for good weather in order to start off on a good footing and put the horrendous weather of Silverstone behind us.

VTC Entrants:

31 – Phil Wright – Super Tuner – Accord Type R
39 – Rob Burkinshaw – Tuner – Integra DC5
64 – Richard Chilton – Production – DC2 Integra
66 – Paula Webb - Production - EP3 Civic Type R
67 – Peter Dixon – Tuner – EF Civic
88 – Chris Boon – Tuner – EP3 Civic Type R
117 – Simon Gibson – Tuner – EK Civic
139 – Andy Smith – Super Tuner – Accord Type R
142 – Dawn Boyd – Production - EP3 Civic Type R


For 2014 we are welcoming several new drivers to the series, as well as seeing the return of many a familiar face.

First time behind the wheel of a Honda, Dawn Boyd has made the move from Fiesta’s and was eager to see how her EP3 Civic performed against her previous experience on track.




With the last of the drivers arriving on site throughout Saturday morning, everyone busied themselves in preparation for a late qualifying session.

Having tried out the series in 2012, Chris Boon was returning in his “Tuner” spec EP3. Having a few last minute issues to sort in the hours running up to the event, some final preparation was handed over to series sponsor “Performance Autoworks” and the hands of Rich Voaden.


Qualifying:

Following a full day of track use in the run up to our session, the circuit was nicely coated in rubber to improve grip, although rain showers kept everyone on their toes and dashing for cover.

Thankfully when our time came to head to the track, the skies remained dry.

Leading the grid out for qualifying was new racer Dawn Boyd, obviously keen to get some seat time in her new steed.

The rest of the VTEC racers followed suit, along with the “Blue Oval” brigade.

An early casualty was Richard Chilton’s DC2 Integra, which lost a cylinder after a couple of laps. By the time it was returned to the paddock for investigation, and thankfully a quick fix (plug lead) the session was over, leaving Rich a huge mountain to climb come race 1 as he would be starting from the 2nd to last row of the grid.

The rest of the drivers settled down to finding their best lines around Donington and subsequent fastest times, with the majority of them being posted at around 8 to 10 laps in.




With the times released it was Burkinshaw who had taken the VTEC pole position, narrowly missing out on an overall top 3 place by 0.043seconds! A great result when the cars ahead are all running a minimum of 400bhp! Second in his 1.6 EF Civic and showing a lot more powerful machinery a clean pair of heels was Peter Dixon. Rounding out the VTEC top 3 was Chris Boon in his EP3, with all 3 places locked out by “Tuner” class cars.




Pole: Rob Burkinshaw
2nd: Peter Dixon
3rd: Chris Boon


Race 1:

It would be a static grid for the start of race 1, and following a green flag lap, all drivers took up position.

Following a very quick “lights out”, all 31 cars headed to “Redgate” for the first time in anger.

Burkinshaw took the lead Honda on a charge and was straight away challenging for 3rd place.




Watching through half closed eyes, it was a relief to see all cars negotiate the treacherous first corner unscathed and head of down towards the “Craner Curves”.

As the race unfolded and grid began to spread out, The VTEC drivers found themselves in the thick of the action and battling for class positions as well as overall standings.

Fighting through from the rear, Rich Chilton found himself faced with a spinning Fiesta on the run down through “Craner Curves” and was gifted a cracked windscreen as a result. A great effort from Rich saw him climb up to 20th by the end of the race.

Dawn Boyd was also getting to grips with her new race car and picked her way through the field to make up places throughout the 15 minute session and taking a class win on her maiden outing in the VTEC Challenge.

The ever popular Andy Smith, (with his dad’s old race number for this event) even though running a near stock engine in his Accord (due to components from America being delayed) enjoyed his race long battle which saw him climb through the grid.

Mechanical gremlins began to creep in for Simon Gibson and his “Tuner” spec EK Civic as the race progressed. With smoke coming from the exhaust on the overrun, his pace was hampered and he was unable to deliver to the car’s full potential.

Phil Wright in the second Accord Type R fought hard from the off, keeping Chris Boon in the Civic honest, although the more nimble Civic eventually put some distance between the pair, leaving Phil to battle with Jeff Windsor’s Escort Cosworth.




Peter Dixon remained comfortably in 2nd place in the VTC races, whilst battling for 7th place overall.

Out in front however was Rob Burkinshaw who was battling for top honours with several high powered Cosworth’s, and despite their additional horse power, couldn’t shake the DC5 from their mirrors.

Finishing in 3rd place overall was a great testament to both Rob and his Integra.


1st Rob Burkinshaw
2nd Peter Dixon
3rd Chris Boon

Class wins were awarded to:

(P) – Dawn Boyd
(T) – Rob Burkinshaw
(ST) – Phil Wright

Fastest lap: Rob Burkinshaw 1.21.123 on lap 9 of 12

Back in the paddock, Simon began to try and get to the bottom of the problem in order to get out for race 2.

After checking the plugs, number 3 cylinder seemed to be the culprit, but with limited equipment a change of plugs was all that could be offered in a hope that it was just a faulty plug causing the problem.


Race 2:

This round was televised live and as a result the start would be a rolling one based on the finishing positions from race 1.

Following the safety car around for 1 lap, as the pack came down to the grandstand area, everyone began to bunch up behind the lead pairing of Craig Rainer and Ashley Bird in anticipation for the start.

Onto the start/finish straight the lights showed red and then with the lights out for the rolling start, everyone thundered down to “Redgate”.

Unable to break away from the Escort Cosworth of Stephan Matthias, Rob found himself demoted to 4th place, however the relatively diminutive Honda would still take the fight to the fire breathing turbo’d Fords all the way to the chequered flag.

In an almost repeat performance of race 1, Peter Dixon and his Civic fought hard against some rapid Fords, but was able to hold his own and prove the Honda’s worth.




Following an improved race 1, Rich Chilton found himself lining up behind fellow VTEC’rs Andy Smith, Simon Gibson and Dawn Boyd. With Dawn firmly in his sights, Rich closed up on the newer Civic to make the pass, however a short while later and Dawn had retaken the place.

Unfortunately the fix to Simon’s Civic had not worked, and loosing power meant the “Tuner” class car dropped down the field to finish the race on 3 cylinders.

Both the Accords of Smith and Wright where in the thick of it, with Wright subjected to a damaged wing mirror during a minor tussle for position with another racer, although emerging the quicker of the two.




The top 3 VTEC positions where a repeat of race 1, but does not reflect the efforts given by all drivers in achieving them.

1st Rob Burkinshaw
2nd Peter Dixon
3rd Chris Boon

Class wins were awarded to:

(P) – Dawn Boyd
(T) – Rob Burkinshaw
(ST) – Phil Wright

Fastest lap: Rob Burkinshaw 1.19.996 on lap 8 of 12


Summary:

The 2014 season has gotten of to a great start, with two quality races and a sign of things to come.

Thanks to the series sponsors: Toyo Tires, Ultra Racing, Performance Autoworks, Finsport, Honda Tuner, R-Motion and MOTORV8 Media for their support.

A huge thanks goes out to everyone who braved the weather and made the effort to come out on the day.

The next race is at Croft in North Yorkshire on the 26th/27th April.



Words: Jonathan Fletcher
Pictures: Lindsey Fletcher & Jonathan Fletcher
 
Very good write up, was dissapointed at the coverage on motors tv all the focus was on the fords. Very good race and the dc5 was up there with the main pack.
 
1:19 is quick!

What spec is that DC5?

Huge build thread on Hondas on track if you wanna look. Really is a cracking bit of work. Rob's YouTube channel is worth a look too. Quite a few really good races on there. Search for rbmotorsport
 
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