It was a second visit of the season to Oulton Park for the Tachosys with RAW Motorsports Fun Cup duo of Alex Macleod and Paul Rivett and hopes were high after a good pre-race test at the Cheshire Circuit.
After setting the eighth quickest time in qualifying, it was BTCC racer Rivett taking the opening stint in the one hour sprint race.
“I’m always happy racing with the team, we had a great set up and ready for a good solid start,” said Macleod. “Yes all good and Alex was close to the target we set him, but as we drew third on the grid for the first race, I am going first,” Rivett added.
It started well with Rivett tucked in behind race and championship leaders UVio Hofmans Lotus.
Even after a two lap safety car intervention the duo escaped again and held formation inches apart until the first stop after 10 laps.
They had dropped out of the top 10 after the stops, but it wasn’t long before the safety car was out again. Macleod opted to stay out until the end of the pitstop window, which saw him hand back to Rivett on lap 19 from second place again.
“We had to come in again for a jump start penalty so lost some ground, but the car had felt really good, it was just circumstances, but that’s racing,” said Macleod.
As Rivett tried to climb the order again he was caught out at Knickerbrook. “The car in front braked a bit earlier than I expected, I hit him and we spun,” he admitted.
After 22 laps Rivett headed pitwards, but this time it was terminal. Macleod took the start for race two, the four hour enduro. Starting from third again, he continued to run in the top 10 for the first four laps, before finding his niche. 20 laps in and the first stop was made to hand to Rivett, but there was little chance to progress as most of his stint was behind the safety car.
From 14th Rivett handed back to Macleod after 38 laps, holding steady in 15th place to the completion of the second hour and the halfway stage of the race.
“It was a bit lonely out there at times when there was no one to race with, but then brilliant when there was,” said Macleod.
The Fun came to a premature end however after 73 laps, when Rivett was forced to pit again and this time he stayed there. “I was heading into Island and the rear hub failed. I just managed to hold it and avoided going off, but just had to limp back to the pits crab like,” he explained as he retired from 14th place.
The final round out of the Championship is at Donington Park on November 6th, when Alex will be sharing with brother John, as Rivett is unavailable.