If Carlsberg made weekends, then last weekend was just perfect for Team Hard at the latest round of the Volkswagen Racing Cup from Spa-Francorchamps.
From the moment that the team landed at the iconic Belgium circuit they were quick with their VW Golfs and the series only VW Passat.
In qualifying the team locked out the front row of the grid with Michael Epps on pole position and Howard Fuller second on the grid. It got better for the team with Bobby Thompson qualifying in fourth place and Andy Wilmot in seventh, with Simon Rudd just a place further back. Just four places back was the ever improving Damani Marcano, the youngest competitor in the series.
If everyone thought that was impressive, what happened in race one meant it really was a perfect weekend for Tony Gilham’s Kent based team and his young charges.
Epps, was to take off from pole position and despite a challenge from David Sutton, crossing the line for his first victory 3.8 seconds ahead of Howard Fuller in second. Bobby Thompson rounded out the top three for Team Hard in a very impressive weekend.
Andy Wilmot finished ninth in the Passat with Simon Rudd a place further back, meaning five cars finished in the top ten for the Kent team. Marcano would come home in 13th place in his first race at Spa, and his best finish of the season to date.
Speaking after the race, winner Epps said: “I dropped the clutch a bit quick at the start and was worried that I might get too much wheelspin and lose out at the hairpin. That didn’t happen but Sutton was on me through Eau Rouge; I didn’t let him past the first lap but the second lap he managed it.
“I was able to keep relatively good pace with him and I managed to get him back when it mattered. Howard and Bobby have done a great job in locking out the podium for Team HARD.”
Race two of the weekend was almost as perfect for Tony and his team as race one was the day before, making it their best weekend in the series for many a year.
Epps took his second victory of the weekend and this one was the most impressive of them, as he came through from sixth on the grid to take the lead with three laps to go, after that he would not relinquish it.
Fuller was once again looking racey and he came through the cars in front of him on the grid to finish second behind Epps, but just 1.7 seconds behind him in this race. Thompson was the unluckiest of the Team Hard drivers, he couldn’t quite make the podium finishing fourth, however his car was found to be underweight at the end of the race and he was subsequently disqualified.
This did benefit three of his teammates, it meant that Simon Rudd crept up a place from eighth to seventh, Wilmot moved up to ninth place. It also meant that Damani Marcano finished in tenth place, making it his first top ten finish of the season and his best result to date. That will give the young race a massive confidence boost heading to the next round at Brands Hatch.
Giving his thoughts after race two, Epps said: “I thought I would try some old karting techniques around the outside at La Source and it worked out all right on the first lap and I gained a place. After that it was like Team HARD versus the next three and we had to pick them off one by one.
“It was fairly simple after I figured out where they were weak. Out of Sutton, Fuller and Orrock it was Lucas that was the hardest to pass; I got up alongside him on the straight and he held his line so well, so we went side by side into Les Combes, which was interesting.
“Then I managed to make a really good move at La Source and that is what made the race. After that I was flat out; I had Fuller right behind me and I reckon one more lap and it could have got messy. It’s a good win and it has been a perfect weekend for Team HARD.”
The next round of the VW Cup takes place at the beginning of August, at the teams home circuit of Brands Hatch.
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