The title race for the Radical UK crown continues to edge to its conclusion, with defending Champion Dominik Jackson still looking to retain his title for RAW Motorsports.
Jackson’s SR3 RSX was quickest in qualifying for the penultimate weekend of racing at Brands Hatch. “With no testing on the Grand Prix circuit, it was straight into qualifying. Jerome De Sadeleer had pipped me before the session was red flagged, but then I really went for it and retook pole,” he explained.
RAW also had eight other cars on the grid, from who Joe Stables, Marcelo Marateotto and Elliot Goodman also made the top 10 qualifiers with fifth, sixth and ninth best respectively.
Race 1:
As the lights went out to start race one Jackson led the field through paddock and began to build a lead over De Sadeleer and Jac Constable, with Marcus Clutton fourth, followed by RAW team mates Stables and Marateotto.
But his lead of 1.688s was wiped out after six laps when the safety car appeared, “it was out for about three laps, but as we came through Clearways for the green flag, De Sadeleer went into the back of me, causing a lot of damage as I dropped to 13th,” he explained.
Stables was also out after a front upright collapsed, so Marateotto suddenly found himself in second behind Constable.
After the compulsory stops Marateotto held second for a while, before losing out to Clutton on lap 23. He was still third at the flag, with Jackson storming back into fourth, after ousting John Macrae at Druids. “He braked very early and I got down the inside but had a slight touch,” Jackson added.
Both Macleod and Goodman ran inside the top 10 for the most part. Macleod settled in fifth after fending off De Sadeleer and Mark Richards in the final laps, with Goodman eighth.
Race 2:
Jackson was on pole again for the shorter sprint race, but lost out at the start to Mark Richards. “I was only third into Paddock, but got around Joe Stables on the exit. It was difficult catching Richards though,” he explained.Stables lost third to Constable on lap three, but was retaining a solid fourth until Marcus Clutton made contact and broke another front upright to end his race.
Jackson’s perseverance brought him closer and closer to Richards’ lead. “He was slower through Stirlings, so I had more pace into Clearways and took him around the outside,” he said. By the flag Jackson had pulled out an eight second winning advantage Goodman and Macleod were both in the top 10 again too.
Goodman spent much of his race in tenth, but incidents and retirements brought him seventh on the last lap, with Macleod ninth and fellow RAW racer Barry Liversidge tenth.
Race 3:
Although Jackson had the lead from the start of the third race again, he also had a longer pitstop to serve after his earlier success. “I didn’t get away enough and the safety car didn’t help. I rejoined in second behind De Sadeleer, but the penalty was too much and I hadn’t started on new tyres,” he said after finishing second.
Stables had established himself in third too after the stops, but massive rear oversteer started to make the car undriveable, so with suspected differential failure he was forced to pull out.
But the lower part of the top 10 was dominated by RAW drivers, with Goodman, Macleod and Liversidge in sixth, seventh and eighth, followed by Peter Brookes who completed the top 10, and Elliot Goodman claiming the Sunoco Driver of the day award.
It’s only a few weeks to the final rounds of the Championship at Donington Park on the 28th/29th weekend and still all to play for!!