The level of SR3 competition ramped up yet another notch last time out at Spa-Francorchamps, the new two 40-minute (with pit stop) and 20-minute sprint race format producing nail-biting battles right up to the chequered flag.
Dominik Jackson heads the Challenge charge for the first time having taken his maiden Radical wins at Spa. After months of threatening, he overhauled chief rival and teammate Steve Burgess with a hat-trick of pole-to-flag victories. Now firmly a member of the winners’ circle, the RAW Motorsports man will be looking for more of the same in Cheshire.
“It was great to take the title lead amid some fierce racing at Spa, but with 80 points on offer for each endurance race win, everything can change in one weekend,” says Dominik. “It’s been 13 years since I raced at Oulton Park, so I’ll need to find my way back round it! Obviously I’m carrying the maximum success penalty from Spa but I’m still aiming to build on that lead. It’ll be another close fight at the top.”
Despite struggling with what was discovered to be a damaged front splitter, Burgess was still at the fore. If not for a last lap spin whilst embroiled in a three-way lead fight, the former champ would have counted two podiums to his Spa tally. He’s gunning to re-claim the top step of the rostrum this weekend.
“Spa was a disappointment. We found a front diffuser issue before the last race so, with that replaced, we’ll be back on form,” says Steve. “Oulton Park is a challenging, narrow track, so qualifying will be key to get up front and capitalise on being success penalty free. We saw how close the competition is in Belgium and Oulton can be a tricky track to master. I’m hoping experience will give me the upper hand.”
Although Jackson and Burgess hold the advantage, Jérôme de Sadeleer and Kristian Jeffrey are still in contention. A brace of second places at Spa saw SR1 Cup Champion de Sadeleer jump to third in the standings, while Jeffrey’s ever improving form bagged two more podiums to sit just 36 points behind in fourth.
At the forefront of the battles in Belgium, not least for the race three lead, Marcello Marateotto moves up from ninth to sit sixth behind the ever consistent Elliot Goodman. The midfield fight is just as close with nothing to choose between Mark Crader, Brian Caudwell, John MacLeod and Spencer Bourne.
LMP3 racer Jason Rishover threatens to disrupt the status quo as he returns to the Challenge fold. He says: “I’m excited to be back among the Radical Challenge family again. I don’t know another series like it, where a gentleman driver can race at such an incredibly competitive level. That’s what brings me back to Radical. I was really chuffed to get P5 on my first time back in the car for a while, now I want to be right up there with the front runners, and I’m not far off.”
Current European Masters Champion, Jim Booth could also upset the order as the American ace considers joining the Challenge grid for the remainder of the season. Booth comments: “I’m just an avid fan of Radical! I’ve run them in the USA since 2014 and raced the SR8 across Europe since 2016, as I wanted to drive the F1 tracks. I haven’t done many of the top British circuits or been out in an SR3 for a while, so I couldn’t resist coming over to join the great racing the UK Challenge has to offer. I may well do the rest of the season!”
In Team Challenge, Peter Tyler and Tom Gladdis hold a comfortable class lead following double victory in Belgium. Although John Caudwell and Stuart Moseley took the other win, a race three DNF means the duo will be back on the attack.
Radical Challenge Provisional Championship Standings (after 3 of 7 rounds)
1 Dominik Jackson 497pts
2 Steve Burgess 484
3 Jérôme de Sadeleer 384
4 Kristian Jeffrey 348
5 Elliot Goodman 249
6 Marcello Marateotto 238
Team Challenge
1 Peter Tyler / Tom Gladdis 221pts
2 John Caudwell / Stuart Moseley 160
3 Joe / Adrian Watt 90
4 Ted Murray / Dan Crossley 62