Images thanks to Brett Stevens // brettstevensphotography.com
The third round of 2024’s CSCA super sprint series was held at Pheasant Wood Circuit on a windy and cold Sunday the 27th of July, kindly hosted by the MG Car Club of Newcastle. Let’s recap the day with photos thanks to Brett Stevens.
49 drivers made the road trip down to Marulan to challenge the tight and windy countryside circuit, with MG Car Club of Newcastle members doing an excellent job of supporting their club, 18 running on the day.
Being about two hours southwest out of Sydney, the circuit is less protected from the elements than the city and gets and stays quite a bit colder, making it a little harder to get tyres warm in the middle of winter. We started the day at a balmy 2 degrees, with a light drizzle falling as the Green group, which featured most of the Lotuses, was gridding up – an unnerving start to proceedings on a tight circuit with a lot of walls.
Seven drivers ran under Club Lotus Australia, led on the timesheets by Colin Rodd in the Exige, who finished with a comfortable personal best of 56.57 and fastest P3. MG Car Club Newcastle’s Adam Single was once again the quickest driver on the circuit in the Williams sport racer, running a 55.618.
Brett Monk managed to get his shirt off despite the icy temperatures, documented by Brett Stevens but perhaps not fit for public consumption, and completed the top three in another Exige, just a second slower than Colin. Chris Pearse and Peter Taylor picked up their spirited battle in the Exiges from the Jaguar round, Chris putting in a 58.61 in the Exige 420 and Peter following just a tenth slower on 58.75.
Graham Allen did some fine work adjusting the suspension on his Elise to tune for the tight and twisty track, pedalling his way to a top ten finish and personal best. Mark Meletopoulo finished just outside of the top ten in his Elise, running a 1:00.89, with Derrick Cho consistent in his Civic Type R, and enjoying a good run on Sunday, lapping a 1:05.56.
Our thanks to the MG Car Club of Newcastle for organising a smoothly run and enjoyable sprint day!
We look forward to being back on track for our own Club Lotus Australia-hosted round 4 of the 2024 CSCA super sprint Series on Sydney Motorsport Park’s Gardner GP Circuit on Saturday the 24th August 2024. Entries are open now on the Motorsport Australia Event Portal and will close on the 19th of August. We are also seeking volunteers, please reach out via motorsport@clublotus.com.au if you are able to help on the day.
