ParcFerme.Com

World Motorsport News.
Site Partners
www.race-connect.com
Friendly but competitve online Sim Racing comunity, racing everything from Touring Cars to GT's Formula Ford to F1.
[Formula Woman] Nations Cup PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 29 August 2005
FIRST BLOOD TO ENGLAND
FORMULA WOMAN NATIONS CUP (AUGUST 27/28)


The Formula Woman Nations Cup Series Challenge lived up to its promise with
two thrilling races around the 2.443 mile Rockingham Motor Speedway today
(Sunday). The showcase races, the precursor to next April and May's
official eight-round Nations Cup Series, saw Natalie Butler upholding
honours for England to take double victory ahead of Jennifer Murray (South
Africa) and Lauren Gray (Australia) in race one and Margo Gardner and Murray
again in race two.

"This is unbelievable!" said a delighted Natalie at the end. "It has been
fantastic racing with the girls, it was so much fun. I was just so happy
after winning my first race I could not really take it all in. Then in the
second race, I made an absolutely brilliant start but I really had to work
hard for the win as they were all over me."

Former Swedish touring car driver Nettan Lingren took the lead in race one
from pole but after a close-fought first lap with Butler, pulled off the
track with a gearbox problem at Gretton Hairpin, her race over on the spot.
This left 31 year-old Natalie to enjoy a huge scrap for honours with Gray,
who briefly led on lap two, and Murray, which continued until Murray ran
wide dropping her to fifth and moving Polish Anna Walewska into third.

As Butler and Gray then pulled away at the front, Murray recovered to move
into third, leading a train of five cars, before chasing down the lead pair.
Behind Murray, a five-way battle between Margo Gardner, who slipped down at
the start after a missed gear off the line, Walewska, Jennifer Daniel, Emma
Hayles and Rachel Owen (Wales), finally went the way of Gardner, the Scot
leading home Daniel (Ireland) and Hayles (England) as Walewska dropped back
to seventh ahead of Owen.

At half-distance, Gray's valiant attempt to retake the lead ended when she
spun at Gretton Hairpin, dropping her to third and allowing Butler to take
an untroubled run to the flag, with a 4.577second advantage over Murray, who
moved back into second at Deene on lap nine. Completing the finishers,
Amanda Hennessy from the United States led home a battling Theresia Balk
(Netherlands) and Annie Templeton (England) and a great performance from
Lisa Avis, making her first ever appearance in a racing car.

Race two had Murray start from pole with Hennessy alongside but at the
lights Butler from the second row, made an amazing getaway to slot in
between them and take the lead as they entered the first corner. Behind
Butler, the battle for second between Hennessy and Murray, was joined by
Gardner, the trio exchanging places several times over the opening laps,
enabling Butler to stretch her lead.

From the back of the grid, Lingren in a replacement car, also made a great
start, moving up five places at the start and up into seventh at the
completion of the opening lap. By lap two she was up into second, after
disposing of the battling trio and set about chasing down the leader.
Hennessy though had other ideas, retaking second at the Hairpin, although
she lost the place again, this time to Gardner as they crossed the
start/finish straight.

As Butler maintained a 1.5sec lead, the battle for second intensified, the
trio running three abreast along School straight and into Brook Corner,
Murray taking the place ahead of Gardner and Lingren as they entered the
corner. Thereafter Murray closed down the gap, determined to make amends
for failing to capitalise on her pole position, and by lap nine the gap was
down to just 0.295secs. With just three laps remaining, the top three ran
nose-to-tail, and with a superb move, Murray moved ahead of Butler to take
the lead at Turn 4, with Gardner still on the tail of the former leader.

But Butler was determined to take the double and after a major battle on the
penultimate lap, which saw Gardner also briefly lead, she retook the
position at Tarzan and just held on to take the win ahead of Gardner and
Murray, the three virtually side by side and covered by just .122 of a
second at the flag. Lingren took a superb fifth behind Gray and ahead of
Owen while Walewska, Daniel and Hennessy led home another tremendous battle
between Templeton and Balk, with Avis again taking another solid finish.
Emma Hayles was unfortunately sidelined with an electrical problem on the
penultimate lap.

Formula Woman founder Graeme Glew was understandably delighted with the day'
s racing; "It's been a superb day. These women clearly have a lot of
ability, in identical cars they have provided some fantastic racing."

Results of Race One - 12 laps
1. Natalie Butler (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
23:52.790
2. Jennifer Murray (RSA) Caterham Roadsport B
23:57.367
3. Lauren Gray (AUS) Caterham Roadsport B
23:57.597
4. Margo Gardner (SCO) Caterham Roadsport B
24:05.176
5. Jennifer Daniel (IRL) Caterham Roadsport B
24:08.111
6. Emma Hayles (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
24:09.997
7. Anna Walewska (POL) Caterham Roadsport B
24:10.951
8. Rachel Owen (WAL) Caterham Roadsport B
24:17.868
9. Amanda Hennessey (USA) Caterham Roadsport B
24:36.675
10.Theresia Balk (NED) Caterham Roadsport B
24:54.287
11.Annie Templeton (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
24:54.452
12.Lisa Avis (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
25:16.377

Fastest lap: Jennifer Murray 1:57.727sec 68.68mph (110.53kph)

Results of Race Two - 12 laps
1. Natalie Butler (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
23:53.967
2. Margo Gardner (SCO) Caterham Roadsport B
23:54.082
3. Jennifer Murray (RSA) Caterham Roadsport B
23:54.089
4. Lauren Gray (AUS) Caterham Roadsport B
24:03.889
5. Nettan Lingren (SWE) Caterham Roadsport B
24:04.074
6. Rachel Owen (WAL) Caterham Roadsport B
24:08.672
7. Anna Walewska (POL) Caterham Roadsport B
24:14.452
8. Jennifer Daniel (IRL) Caterham Roadsport B
24:14.989
9. Amanda Hennessy (USA) Caterham Roadsport B
24:39.736
10.Annie Templeton (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
25:02.528
11.Theresia Balk (NED) Caterham Roadsport B
25:02.722
12. Lisa Avis (ENG) Caterham Roadsport B
25:05.201

Fastest lap: Jennifer Murray 1:57.214sec 68.98mph
(111.01kph)
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]
A1GP
  1. A1GP Meets the Elephants of Malaysia
  2. A1GP Sepang, Malaysia – A1 Teams Nominated Drivers
  3. A1GP Prepares for Sepang
  4. Ireland aiming for Malaysian points haul
  5. A1 Team Monaco sets sights on top five finish at Sepang International Circuit
  6. WATTS RECALLED BY A1 TEAM GBR FOR MALAYSIA
  7. Lippo Village Unveils Street Circuit for A1GP Indonesia
  8. A1GP Chengdu Paddock Round Up
  9. FAUZY AND LIM PROUD TO RACE FOR THEIR COUNTRY ON HOME SOIL
Bikes
BTCC
Carrera Cup
Champ Car / Atlantic
Clio Cup UK
Drag Racing
Drifting
DTM
Formula BMW
F3000
Formula 1
Formula Ford
  1. SCHOOL'S OUT AND RACING IS IN FOR FOSTER THIS WEEKEND
Formula 3
  1. Blistering Bird Gets Shot Down in Full Flight
  2. Macau Disappointment As Bird's Wings Are Clipped
  3. TOP TEN FINISH FOR HITECH IN MACAU
Formula Master
Formula Renault
  1. No Rest For Idafar With Formula Renault UK Test Return
General News
GP2
IndyCar / Indy Pro
Irish Motorsport
Karting
NASCAR
  1. SECOND STRAIGHT TOP TEN NATIONWIDE SERIES FINISH FOR AMBROSE
  2. UNIQUE QUALIFYING DAY FOR AMBROSE IN HOMESTEAD
  3. HISTORY ON THE LINE FOR AMBROSE IN HOMESTEAD
OZ / NZ Motorsport
  1. GET THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE AT THE WPS BATHURST 12 HOUR
OZ / NZ Touring Cars etc.
Palmer Audi
Rallycross
Rallying
  1. All the news, all the time
  2. FINAL STAGE CLAIMS HEROIC PEREZ
  3. PEREZ STORMS BACK INTO CONTENTION
  4. MECHANICAL WOES HAMPER PEREZ'S RAC RALLY HOPES
SEAT Cupra
Shows & Events
  1. Unique Celebration For Motorsport Institution
  2. From Two Wheels To Four: KTM Unveils New Series
  3. Showcasing The UK's Enterprise Potential In Birmingham
Sport Maxx
Sports Cars
T-Cars
UK Motorsport
  1. Economic uncertainty puts POWERnights on hold
US Motorsport
World Series by Renault
WTCC
  1. Yvan Muller wins WTCC title
  2. Menu sets pole position in Macau