HOLLAMBY UNSTOPPABLE AT BRANDS HATCH!

Shaun Hollamby took his Volkswagen Racing Cup victory tally to seven yesterday at Brands Hatch, the 39-year-old triumphing in style in both of the day's races on his home circuit.

Chelsfield-based Hollamby and his Golf R32 led the first from pole position to chequered flag, and the second for all but the first few yards to narrow the gap between himself and championship leader Philip House to 22 points with only two rounds remaining. Hollamby's progress to victory in the first of the Brands sprint races was as serene and unflustered as the five wins which had preceded it this season. His Mega4 and Revo-backed Golf R32 blasted into the lead from pole position (its third qualifying top-spot of the season) and, though closely pursued by House's Beetle for the duration, there was never any doubt who would be standing atop the podium come the race end.

North Yorkshireman House gave it everything he had: 'I made a great start,' said Philip, 'and was hanging on to Shaun for several laps, but then I made a slight mistake at Clearways and lost a couple of lengths. I tried everything but there was no way to close the gap.'

Hollamby was just under two seconds clear at the chequered flag. 'I was hoping to pull out more of a gap over Philip at the start but it all worked out OK in the end,' said Shaun. 'I covered many, many miles around Brands when I worked at the racing school, so I reckon I know my way around.' He set a new lap record on his way to victory. There were no doubts that Hollamby had the pace to win the second race also, but few expected him to put the matter beyond doubt within 100 yards of the startline. Yet that is what Shaun achieved, streaking away from the third row of the grid, past the cars of pole man Lark, Rutherford, Smith, Needham and House, to take the lead well before the first corner.

It was an audacious and breathtaking move, but Hollamby did not get the chance to romp away, thanks to a multi-car pile-up on the opening lap at the notoriously tight Druids hairpin.

Hollamby handled the restart with aplomb, and proceeded to edge away from Rutherford to claim win number seven by a 2.7-second margin. The race was ended two laps early when Inskip and Palmer clashed, again at Druids, and both became wedged in the gravel trap. After a Schumacher-style leap on the podium, Hollamby said: 'The Golf always makes a great start, but that was amazing, it just took off from the third row of the grid… I just had to hope that as many people as possible finished between me and Phil House.' Rutherford was thrilled with his second place, equalling the result he scored at Oulton Park in April, and Lark was similarly delighted with third, his second podium visit of the season.

There is now a 2 month gap before the last races of the season at Snetterton in which Hollambys' appeal against an earlier disqualification will be heard at an RAC Tribunal. If his appeal is successful then Hollamby will have enough points advantage to clinch this years championship before the last championship rounds. "Its not the way I would like the championship to be decided but I am sure that we will be vindicated once the RAC Tribunal decides on this matter", said Hollamby.

VW Racing Rounds 7 & 8 - Castle Combe

BBT Strikes Back!

Shaun Hollamby romped to twin wins in the Volkswagen Racing Cup at Castle Combe, the Golf R32 racer leading almost every inch of both races to underline the superiority of his four-wheel-drive machine.

They were sweet victories for the Kent driver, coming shortly after the news of his surprise exclusion from the results of last month's sixth round of the championship at Knockhill following post-race scrutiny. The R32 was found to be over power despite being checked before every race this year, including Knockhill, and being well within the power limits. Hollamby is appealing the decision and is confident of reversing the outcome.

After his first win of the day at Combe Shaun said: 'Those were the most important 25 minutes of the 25-years that I have been racing. I needed that win to prove a point. Once all the facts are put in front of the RAC tribunal I am sure the right decision will be made.'

Reigning champion Philip House collected third-place finishes in both Combe races; with Hollamby handed a draconian points penalty in addition to his Knockhill exclusion, it is now Beetle racer House who leads the championship overall.

Hollamby's Revo Technik and Big Boys Toys-backed Golf was in superb form right from the first moments of qualifying, and the 39-year-old looked set to claim his third pole position of the season until the closing moments of the session when North Yorkshireman House found an extra tenth to deprive him of top spot.

But it made little difference when the starting lights signalled the off for the first of the day's races, Hollamby's R32 leaping into an instant and impressive
lead. His closest pursuer was 16-year-old Dan Thackeray (Buntingford), up from fourth on the grid and going great guns in his re-engined Corrado, with the Bora of Mark Smith (Hednesford) third and House fourth.

A two-lap safety car period - brought about by the need to remove Giles Lock's smashed Caddy TDI from the main straight after it smote the barriers – gave Thackeray a chance to narrow the gap between himself and Hollamby but Shaun responded to stay ahead of the youngster. Much to Hollamby's relief, Dan's race came
to a close four laps from home with more engine problems.

Knockhill victor Joe Fulbrook (Maidenhead) quickly made up ground from seventh on the grid in his Bora to move past Smith and then House into second spot with four laps remaining. By the fall of the chequered flag he had narrowed the gap between himself and Hollamby to 1.5 seconds, but had to settle for second.

House was happy with third given that overheating problems had blunted his Beetle's pace, with Smith staying ahead of the Golf TDI of Lloyd Allard (Cheltenham) to take fourth. Martyn Culley (Basingstoke) snatched sixth from the grasp of Exeter's Rob Palmer and his Golf TDI at the final corner. Seventh was nonetheless novice Rob's best placing of the season so far.

Championship newcomer and youngest driver, 16-year-old Darelle Wilson, brought his Vento VR6 home an encouraging 18th on his debut.

There was going to be no stopping Hollamby in race two, either. He made another blinding getaway, this time from row three, to slot in behind pole position man Martyn Culley. By the time they reached the first right-hander, Quarry Corner, Shaun was through and into a lead he would never lose.

That was not for the want of trying on the part of Fulbrook, however, who dislodged Culley from second on the third lap and set about bringing down the gap
between himself and Hollamby to half a second within a further three laps. 'At that point,' said Joe, 'I decided that maybe I was driving a bit beyond my ability and maybe I should back off. My concentration was lapsing a bit and Shaun's a hard man to pass.' Hollamby was certainly relieved: 'I think he was the quicker man out there.'

Hollamby crossed the line 2.3 seconds ahead of Fulbrook, with House and Smith once again taking third and fourth respectively. Smith had relieved Culley of third spot on the 12th lap after a long battle, diving through on the inside of Camp Corner; the two made contact and Culley's Vento spun sideways, glancing the barriers, but he was able to continue to sixth behind Allard's Golf.

Craig Inskip (Northiam), whose Golf had suffered handling problems throughout qualifying and the first race, found a better balance in race two to take seventh, ahead of the cars of Wood, Marino, Lark, Dave Turner (Stonehouse) and Paul Lloyd-Roach (Laxey).

The race was brought to a premature close following a heavy accident which befell Michael McInerney, whose Beetle went off at Tower Corner and hit a tyre wall. McInerney was later taken to hospital for precautionary checks.

With four rounds remaining, the Volkswagen Racing Cup championship points table is now headed by House. Philip has a 34-point advantage over erstwhile leader Hollamby, but on the evidence of Castle Combe, Shaun's title bid is far from over…