Dutch Supercar Challenge; Rockingham 03.05.09

Well, it wasn't Donington; I was looking forward to seeing the Dutch Supercar Challenge at my home circuit, but the (slowly) ongoing works there led to a venue swap. Off to the Rock, then, for the championship's only UK round.

Qualifying proved to be nip and tuck as Martin Short traded fastest laps with Cor Euser in the Marcos. Short prevailed, leaving the 'Flying Dutchman' in second. Sat just behind them both on the grid was the only other Mosler in this round, Berry van Elk, in fourth.



With literally a grandstand view for race one, I felt the Rockingham roar as the field sped past on their rolling start. Martin Short took the field over the stripe and maanged not to get mugged in the banked run up to the Deane hairpin. Keeping Cor Euser at bay, the Mosler Europe car began to strech out a lead until the safety car was called out - Berry van Elk left his bonnet on the approach to Chapman after a disagreement with the back end of a Lamborghini. Berry made it back to the pits (as this video shows) but it was race over for the V-Max Mosler.



On the restart, Euser managed to put a flyer on Short and the Marcos took the lead. With success penalities slowing the Mosler Europe team's pitstop, that lead began to grow. Even a late stop-go penalty for Euser, who undercooked his own pitstop, wasn't enough of a hindrance to let Short claw back the top spot. He had to settle for second place as the only Mosler finisher.



Race two on Sunday saw Euser claim pole with Short alongside in second. This time it was the Mosler driver who was first to pounce, taking the Marcos into the first corner for an early lead. Catching the backmarkers by lap ten, Cor saw his chance and regained the lead as the lead pair negotiated the traffic.



Short, though, was content to play a waiting game. Diving into the pits as soon as the window opened, the Mosler was clad in new rubber and set off in pursuit. He was soon lapping at up to three seconds faster than before; Euser seemed satisfied to stay out for longer. When the Marcos finally pitted at the end of the window (with no tyre change made) the Mosler was only six seconds behind and lapping two seconds quicker than the leader.



Lap 23 saw the lead change for the last time. Euser missed the hairpin and span whilst trying to recover; Short put the hammer down for the pass and emerged nine seconds clear at the end of the lap. The Mosler cautiously extended its lead to take the chequer almost 17 seconds ahead.



A keen strategy had pressured Euser when it mattered and gave Short another deserved DSC win. Meanwhile, Berry van Elk had a storming drive from the back of the grid, finishing fourth overall with just not enough laps in the race for him to close the gap on the Passat V8 that took third place.



Here's more footage of race one from the roof of the pitblock:



The official DSC video from the event can be seen here

All photos (c) Roel Louwers at the Dutch Supercar Challenge website apart from in in-car shot; thanks to Martin Short for that one