ROB SPRINGATE MAKES MN’s TOP 10

Rob Springate was one of three Caterham racers to make the top ten Sportscar drivers nominated by Motorsport News. However, it was some achievement for the 21 year old novice to make the list given that he only passed his ARDS test at the end of 2008 and last year was his first season of racing!

Rob, who is a dpr motorsport technician, may only have raced in seven rounds of the Caterham Roadsport A championship, but the Bromley ace still achieved several podiums, including two first place finishes. In the final race of the year at Snetterton, Springate stepped-up to the Superlight R300 challenge, gaining fifth spot overall in his debut race.

David Rowe, dpr motorsport team manager, said: “Robert has had some great results in highly competitive Caterham Roadsport A racing, despite having only just passed his ARDS test. I took notice when Robert achieved sixth in his first-ever race at Brands Hatch. Last season he gained a first at Oulton Park and put in a superb performance at Brands Hatch with a third and first, including getting pole and the two fastest laps. This truly demonstrated he had the pace to win in both races.”

Rowe added: “There is a significant step up between the Caterham Roadsport A and Superlight R300, which is a real race car rather than a fast road car. For Robert to gain fifth overall in his debut Superlight R300 race demonstrates an ability to advance to the top of the motorsport ladder. Given Robert has only just started his career in motorsport, it is a truly outstanding achievement to be nominated by Motorsport News as being one of the top 10 sports car drivers of 2009.”

The other Caterham drivers to make the list were Superlight R400 Champion Dan Denis & Roadsport A Champion, Raphael Fiorentino.