2019 SEASON REVIEW – BRSCC CLUBSPORT TROPHY
A brand new series launched during 2019 that added an exciting new element to the BRSCC portfolio. The Clubsport Trophy was conceived with an ethos to provide exciting mini-endurance racing for clubman level race cars, with 45-minute races, a five-class structure based on power to weight ratio, a mandatory pit-stop and two driver entries permitted. With Cobra Seats on board as a sponsor, the series tested the waters with two races at Brands Hatch and Donington Park – and they didn’t disappoint!
A full grid of 34 cars turned up to the Indy circuit in Kent, with mixed weather conditions adding to the excitement as the first encounter got underway. MX-5 SuperCup racer Aidan Hills led from pole in his Mazda MX-5 Mk3 sharing with Paul Sheard in the early laps, but a safety car allowed most drivers to make their mandatory stops leaving the Ford Focus of Shaun & Scott Bugner briefly in the lead. Once the stops had shaken out, Civic Cup racer Luke Handley held the lead in his Honda Civic Type R before he was passed by compatriot Bruce Winfield, but despite leading for most of the second half, the last lap would prove crucial. Heading into Clearways for the final time, a half spin gifted Sheard and Hills the inaugural win, with Winfield recovering to 2nd and Jason Ballantyne completing the podium.
Onwards to Donington, where another sold-out grid of 40 cars lined up and the early stages of the race were dominated by several Civic Cup cars along with Ben Buckley’s Caterham. With Winfield starting from the front row, he took the lead on the opening lap from pole man Max Lewis and despite a brief pass from Paul Taylor for a couple of laps he was able to put right his mishap from Brands Hatch and effectively lead all the way to the chequered flag, including throughout the pit stop window. It turned out to be a Honda Civic 1-2-3, as Ben Sharpe and the aforementioned Taylor completed the overall podium in a field that included brilliantly unique cars including David Fender’s Caterham 21 and the Ford Capri of Mark Thomas.
Scott Woodwiss
