Zandvoort, 9/10 April 2022 Race Report
Race One: Costa del Zandvoort
A sudden hailstorm five minutes before the start caused a dilemma for teams. Polesitter Richard Morris (Revolution A-One 500SC) stayed on slicks and the top four followed suit. In fifth on the grid, Alain Costa, also racing the new supercharged Revolution, used his experience to switch to the Goodyear wets. Although the rain didn’t return, the track never fully dried, and that set the scene for an epic win.
Morris and James Abbott (Revolution A-One 427) went wheel to wheel through the first corners, but into turn two Abbott skated through the gravel resuming at the back of the combined supercar and prototype pack. A lap later Morris pirouetted at the banked Hugenholtz turn, also dropping to the back.
W Series regular Abbie Eaton was the first to pit for wets on lap three, this proving to be smart move as there was a 20second difference between wet and slick tyres at this early stage of the race. Gregg Gorski and Morris tried to hold out until the compulsory mid-race pitstop to make their tyre change but both were losing time in the wet parts of the track. Morris was delayed by having to double stack behind Gorski for the tyre change, but luckily a Full Course Yellow eased the pain. However, it transpired that both had pitted one minute before the pit window opened so both had to stop again.
Jorge Calado took over from Eaton at the stops and was quickly at ease on the drying track, but at the front all eyes were on the dominant Costa. The Monegasque was nursing his wets on the damp parts of the track and could afford to be cautious with such a huge lead over the charging Abbott (who set fastest lap) and Morris. It was his first win in the Cup and a debut win for the Revolution A-One 500SC. The new supercharged car demonstrated perfect reliability and a 100% finishing rate in the most difficult of conditions.
Top Three overall
1) Alain Costa Revolution A-One 500SC
2) James Abbott Revolution A-One 427
3) Richard Morris Revolution A-One 500SC
Race Two: Morris takes first international win.
Sunny weather provided a welcome contrast to the first race. The Sports Prototype Cup Revolution class cars took the top five positions on the combined 31-car grid that featured an eclectic mix of prototypes such as Radicals and mighty GT3 cars.
At the start Abbott took pole sitter Morris around the outside at Tarzan and behind, Eaton went wheel to wheel with Gorski. A frantic battle over the first three laps ended up with a Full Course Yellow after Costa and Gorski spun. A collision between two GT cars then brought out the red flag.
The restart saw a thrilling slipstream battle for a couple of laps with Abbott leading Morris and Eaton. Costa’s spin had dropped him to eighth overall, but damage meant he soon had to retire. The big loser in all the dramas was Gorski, dropping to 25th. This was the start of a mighty comeback charge for the American.
Two laps after the green light, Morris slipstreamed past Abbott with Eaton looking menacing in third. The two leading GT3 cars (Bentley Continental and BMW M6) had a grandstand view of the lead trio. A few minutes later, Abbott retook the lead as Morris had to avoid an errant backmarker.
Eaton was the first to pit, going for the undercut. Morris’ victory was secured when Abbott took a drive-through penalty for a pit infringement.
Morris is no stranger to the top step of the podium, winning in Britcar at Silverstone last year and taking multiple Sports 1000 wins, but this was his first international win.
Jorge Calado looked on course for the final podium place but a spin damaged his front diffuser. The final podium place went to Gorski, after an incredible charge from 25th in his supercharged Revolution.
The next round of the Sports Prototype Cup, featuring the Revolution and Radical Trophy classes, will take place at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit on June 19th.
Top Three overall
1) Richard Morris Revolution A-One 500SC
2) James Abbott Revolution A-One 427
3) Gregg Gorski Revolution A-One 500SC
