The fifth round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series took place under the warm, sunny skies of Snetterton, a welcome change after several weekends of unpredictable weather. Alpha 7 fielded an impressive seven cars, with three in the 150 class and four in the 135 class, fully embracing the sunny conditions. The team set up on Wednesday afternoon and made the most of the MSV track day, evening session, and Friday testing to fine-tune their setups. The heat proved to be a significant challenge, both for the drivers and the track. High temperatures quickly led to overheating tyres, making grip a precious commodity. 150 Class – Thrills and Triumphs Qualifying for the 150 class was nothing short of exhilarating. Jamie Ellwood clinched pole position with a blistering final lap, while fellow Alpha 7 drivers also performed admirably, securing P1, P3, P12, and P24 out of a field of 25 cars. Notably, racing newcomer Ed Benton made a strong debut, competing for the very first time. The first race of the weekend was action-packed. Jamie Ellwood and Matthew Willoughby engaged in thrilling battles at the front. Despite a gearbox issue that saw Jamie drop to P7 on lap 4, he fought his way back to finish P3 by the end of the race. Matthew Willoughby finished a solid P5, and Ed Benton successfully completed his first-ever motor race, marking a significant milestone in his racing journey. In the second race, Jamie Ellwood continued to battle at the front, this time alongside his rival Will Stilwell. Unfortunately, Jamie’s championship competitor Harry Senior had to retire due to a fuel pump failure. Ed Benton shone again, achieving his fastest-ever lap around Snetterton and winning the People First ‘Millisecond Award’ for the closest finish, edging out Rob Appleton by just 0.054 seconds! 135 Class – New Faces and Great Performances In the 135 class, Alpha 7 drivers also showcased their skills. Darren Butler, making his debut with Alpha 7 as a guest driver and transitioning from the official Caterham series, achieved his first-ever podium finish. This was particularly special as Darren is a local driver. Amanda Anderson had a challenging start to the weekend; despite a spin in Race 1 that dropped her to P22, she made a strong recovery in Race 2. Starting from P11, Amanda surged up to P5 by the third corner and finished P7. Darren also performed well in Race 2, securing a P5 finish. Overall, Round 5 at Snetterton was a weekend of impressive performances and personal milestones for Alpha 7. From Jamie Ellwood’s epic pole position and podium finishes to Ed Benton’s novice debut, and Darren Butler’s podium achievement, it was a weekend filled with excitement and success. For those inspired by these performances and eager to dive into the world of motorsport, Alpha 7 offers a range of personalised driver development programmes to help you get on track. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your racing ambitions and help you achieve your goals.
