The final round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series brought Alpha 7 Motorsport to Donington Park National, with the team running seven cars across the 135 and 150 classes. Following Jamie Ellwood’s dominant performance at Anglesey, where he secured the CGRC 150 Class Championship, he switched to the 135 Class for the weekend, borrowing teammate Amanda Anderson’s car.
Friday began with frustration as fog delayed the start of testing, adding a tricky element for drivers to deal with. Once it lifted, the track dried out, allowing for some good dry running, although many red flags throughout the sessions led to a stop-start rhythm. Despite these interruptions, the team prepared well for the races ahead.
Saturday’s 150 Class qualifying session was wet, setting the tone for what would be a challenging day for the drivers. However, Race 1 was dry, offering some respite from the earlier conditions. Amanda Anderson encountered gear selection issues right at the start of Race 1, dropping her to the back of the pack. Despite this setback, she staged a strong recovery, engaging in a fierce battle with Andy Johnson for 11th place. In one of the weekend’s closest finishes, Johnson narrowly beat Anderson by just 0.03 seconds, earning the People First Millisecond Award.
Matthew Willoughby had a mixed weekend, retiring from Race 1, but his efforts throughout the season were rewarded as he secured second place in the overall 150 Championship, a fantastic achievement for the Alpha 7 driver. Meanwhile, Ian Anderson enjoyed some exciting on-track battles, particularly with Charles Elliott, who pushed him hard in both races. Ed Benton, in his debut season, successfully completed his required six racing signatures, allowing him to remove his novice cross. His progress continues to impress, and he now sets his sights on the CGRC Novice Cup as he looks to build on this promising start.
The second 150 Class race took place under heavy rain, with visibility drastically reduced. The spray made the opening laps particularly dangerous, but all drivers navigated the conditions well, showing impressive car control in such treacherous weather.
In the 135 Class, Jamie Ellwood, driving Amanda Anderson’s car, faced similarly tough conditions. The damp track made Race 1 a challenge, but Ellwood was determined. He battled fiercely with up-and-coming female driver Megan Bruce, leaving his move for the lead until the final lap at the last chicane, where he snatched victory in a thrilling finish. Race 2 saw a continuation of this battle, but after losing the tow, Jamie had to settle for fifth position.
Darren Butler’s weekend got off to a rough start when his gear knob snapped during qualifying, forcing him to miss most of the session and start both races from the back of the grid. Despite this setback, Butler delivered two impressive drives, fighting his way through the pack and showing remarkable determination. Sean Cronin also had a promising start to the weekend, putting in solid performances in the 135 Class. Unfortunately, Race 2 saw him involved in an accident at the start, forcing him to retire early with a DNF. However, the team remains optimistic, and Cronin’s car will be repaired over the winter, ready for a strong comeback next season.
As the season draws to a close, Alpha 7 is already looking ahead to 2025 with exciting driver announcements and new plans on the horizon. The team will celebrate their season’s achievements at the upcoming CGRC awards dinner in November, where Alpha 7 drivers will be vying for various seasonal honours.
It’s been a fantastic season for Alpha 7 Motorsport, and all involved are eager to carry this momentum into the next year.