Spa-Francorchamps Sports Prototype Cup report
The Sports Prototype Cup thrilled the Spa-Francorchamps Euroraces crowd. The Cup’s Radical and Revolution Trophy classes headed a 26-car prototype field, mixed with the local Supercar Challenge to form a huge 65 car entry.
Qualifying
Michael Clark put in a storming lap in the mighty 600bhp Radical RXC, run by Valour Performance Technology. Marco Cenetti put the Revolution A-One 427 he shares with Race Performance teammate Marcello Marateotto second on the grid, ahead of the star of qualifying, Roy Tang Tien Foo. The Singaporean, also in a Revolution A-One 427, quickly mastered the Ardennes circuit, heading URO Motorsport’s three car debut entry in the European Cup.
The fastest Revolution A-One 500SC was expected to be Zandvoort winner, Richard Morris, but he had to withdraw from the race after his car was damaged by another driver in testing. Fellow 500SC driver Alain Costa was fourth on the grid, ahead of GB3 frontrunner Cian Shields, sampling Spa in a 360 Racing Radical SR3 ahead of racing here next week. He just pipped the Valour Radical SR10 of Jim Booth, who lined up alongside fellow American Ron Fletcher (Revolution A-One 427). Zandvoort podium finisher Greg Gorski put his supercharged Revolution eighth, with Andy Cummings and Bradley Ellis ninth in the Breakell Radical SR3. Chris Hoy was tenth in the A-One driven by Matthias Lauda at Donington last year, sporting the Niki Lauda tribute livery.
Race 1
Clark and Cenetti formed the front row for the Cup contenders, mixing it with the fastest LMP3 and CN cars from the local championship. At the end of lap one, Clark led Cenetti, with Costa and Booth battling hard. Gorski also got ahead of Tang. Booth slipped ahead of Costa on lap two.
There was a fantastic Radical SR3 battle developing with Andy Cummings, Matthew Rees (who started in the Valour Racing SR3, before handing over to David Morales) and the local entries in a tight scrap. Cian Shields, making up for lost ground at the start, passed his Radical counterparts by the end of lap three, before Rees fought back. This epic battle continued until the pitstops. Shields fought his way into the top three overall, but an hour lhis day was about to get even better….
The first retirement was Kim Hyunjiun with Yu Changwook spinning off a lap later.
This caused a full course yellow, but as soon as the lights turned green, Gorski also spun. A second FCY coincided with the pitstop window opening. Clark won on the road, but received a penalty for passing under yellows, meaning Shields topped the podium. This marked the first overall win for an SR3 in the Sports Prototype Cup since 2019. Clark was classified second ahead of Marateotto, who took the final podium place after Ron Fletcher spun in the closing stages.
Radical class
1) Cian Shields SR3 2) Michael Clark RXC. 3) Bradley Ellis/Andy Cummings SR3
Revolution class. 1) Marco Cenetti/Marcello Marateotto. 2) Ron Fletcher. 3) Chris Hoy
Rights-free images available in our gallery: (credit Daniel Buergin and Ollie Read) https://www.sportsprototypecup.com/2022-spa
Race 2
Clark and Cencetti formed the front row again, but both received ten second penalties for start infringements . This put JIm Booth within striking distance for the overall race lead. Shields was on the move again, heading the SR3 contingent’s typically close battle, with Fletcher and Costa adding some Revolution spice to this scrap. This pack moved closer to Booth.
The pace of Clark and Cencetti, who were rarely more than four seconds apart, cancelled out their penalties. Booth’s SR10 was just three seconds clear of Shields’ SR3, with Ellis, Costa and Roy Tang chasing, until the latter had an off-track moment.
The pit stops (obligatory between 30 and 40mins) didn’t change the order significantly, so with five laps remaining, Clark and Marateotto (taking over from Cencetti) led their respective classes to the flag. Booth took third place.
Radical class
1 Michael Clark RXC 2 Jim Booth SR10. 3 Cian Shields SR3
Revolution Class
1 Marco Cenetti/Marcello Marateotto 2 Tang Tien Foo, Roy. 3 Alain Costa
2023 Planning begins
The Sports Prototype Cup has already begun its planning for Season Five. We expect to have a similar mix of UK and European circuits, but we are in discussions with other manufacturers regarding creating a ‘race within a race’ class. Our Revolution Trophy and Radical Trophy categories will continue, but we have the capacity to add other specific manufacturer-supported classes to our grid.
Our aim is to announce the new format and structure in October.