2024 Hagerty Radical Cup UK R5 : Silverstone
Chris Lulham made significant strides towards clinching the 2024 Hagerty Radical Cup UK SR3 title, securing two wins out of three races at the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. It was a close battle between championship rivals DW Racing’s Sam Shaw and privateer Marcus Littlewood as just four points separate them going into the season finale at Brands Hatch in September.
PRO SR3
Race 1:
Debutant Ian Aguilera claimed pole position for the first race, edging out Lulham by just 0.019 seconds. As the race began, chaos ensued at Copse. Chris Preen from Valour Racing had a strong start but collided with Lulham. “He caught my front splitter, and I spun, so my race was over,” said Preen.
Aguilera also had contact while trying to stay close to Lulham. “I was hit in the side but continued, only seeing the carnage on the next lap,” said the RAW Motorsports driver. John Macleod of RSR was another casualty. “Aguilera came across into me, I spun, and Jason Rishover had nowhere to go,” he explained.
The safety car was deployed due to the incidents involving Macleod, Rishover, Amir Feyzulin, and Kristian Brookes, along with Preen. The race resumed on lap five, but DW Racing’s Peter Brookes soon pitted after being hit from behind.
Alim Geshev of 360 Competition made a strong restart, overtaking Usmaan Mughal and Peter Tyler for fourth. “I watched for Lulham’s move as the safety car pulled off, then suddenly took places and caught Jack Yang,” said Geshev.
Lulham maintained his lead, followed by Aguilera and Yang. Tyler completed the top six, with Paul Denning of RSR and Valour Racing’s Luke Hilton closing in. “I was committed at Copse on the outside, but I hit a cone at Vale, damaged the splitter, and lost some downforce,” Lulham noted.
Hilton passed Tyler for sixth on lap seven and set his sights on Mughal. Aguilera pressured Lulham for a few laps, but Lulham secured his 12th win by 0.932 seconds. Yang held third, achieving his first UK Radical podium. Geshev, initially fourth, received a 10-second penalty for his restart, dropping him to sixth behind Mughal and Hilton. “I survived the first corner but couldn’t fend off Hilton,” said Mughal.
Tyler won the Fangio Trophy in seventh, with Denning close behind. “I gained confidence towards the end and had a go at him,” said Denning. Oscar Joyce and Rob Greenwood rounded out the top 10, with Greenwood completing the Fangio Trophy podium.
Race 2:
Aguilera and Lulham were neck-and-neck at the start. “Chris was alongside until Becketts, then he got a run on me to Stowe, but I held him off,” Aguilera said. Lulham added, “I tried the outside at Copse and the inside at Becketts, but had to back off on the Hanger Straight as he defended tightly.”
Preen, Macleod, and Rishover led the pursuit, with Preen managing to stay close to Lulham initially. Both Preen and Macleod consolidated their positions as Rishover faced pressure from Kristian Brookes and Oscar Joyce. Brookes spun off at Chapel, bringing out the safety car, which initially picked up Joyce in fifth before correctly leading the field.
The race finished with a one-lap sprint, giving Aguilera his maiden victory, followed by Lulham and Preen. Macleod retained fourth, Rishover fifth, and Joyce, Mughal, Geshev, and Yang close behind. “I had a good start, touched with John, then settled into position,” Preen said. “I was boxed in at the start and lost third when defending from Brookes,” Macleod added.
Race 3:
Adrian Hallmark took pole in the reverse grid but led only briefly. Denning took the lead out of Copse from fifth. “I kept it tight and drove past them, but Chris soon challenged and passed me at Brooklands,” Denning explained.
Aguilera overtook Denning for second at Luffield after a few laps. Behind them, Hilton led Yang and Mughal in a tight battle for fourth. Joyce joined the fray, with Hilton towing the group towards Denning.
Yang attempted to pass Hilton but lost fifth to Joyce on lap nine. The battle for sixth resulted in red flags when Yang and Brookes collided at Village. Lulham claimed his 13th win, with Aguilera second. “The car didn’t handle well after contact with Luke at the start,” Aguilera said. Denning secured third, followed by Hilton and Joyce. “I was determined to hold the place, despite my lack of straight-line speed,” Hilton said.
Rishover finished sixth, second in the Fangio Trophy, with Mughal, Macleod, Preen, and Tyler rounding out the top 10.
PRO SR1
Race 1:
Marcus Littlewood seized the lead from DW Racing’s Sam Shaw on the first lap. “Sam led off the start, but I got a better run on the Hanger Straight and took the lead around the outside at Stowe,” he said. Littlewood built a six-second lead over Shaw despite an early safety car but was penalized for track limits, handing Shaw the win. Bradley Gaunt held off Lexie Belk for third after a late-race battle. “Ashley put me on the grass at Brooklands, and we had contact,” said Bradley. “I challenged him, but we tangled, and I spun,” Ashley replied. James Hadley and Ashley Gaunt completed the finishers.
Race 2:
Littlewood dominated from lights to flag, while Shaw played catch-up after being pushed off at Copse by Bradley Gaunt. Shaw recovered to second before the safety car, then lost drive at Club, allowing Bradley and Ashley Gaunt to complete the podium. Hadley and Belk followed. “I had a good start ahead of Shaw, but he spun. I was clear until the safety car, then Ashley caught me,” said Bradley. “I spun at Village but didn’t lose a place,” he admitted.
Race 3:
Shaw led the final race but faced constant pressure from Littlewood. “I passed mid-race at Stowe, but Sam drove into me and spun me,” said Littlewood. Bradley Gaunt secured another podium, with Hadley beating Belk for fourth. Ashley Gaunt played catch-up after an early spin. “I spun on my own at Village but didn’t lose a place,” Bradley admitted.
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