Gino Valdes on the throttle out of turn two
On Saturday the 24th of August, Club Lotus Australia was honoured to host the fourth round of the 2024 CSCA supersprint series on Sydney Motorsport Park’s Gardner circuit. Scroll along and enjoy some photos and a wrap-up of the day.
We were thrilled with the response to the event, which saw close to 100 drivers enter and 88 set a time across the five sessions we ran. Many of our usual competitors hung up the gloves for the day to contribute behind the scenes, but the club was still well represented on track, with fifteen drivers out under our banner.
Our motor sport team set sights more broadly for the event, welcoming new drivers from clubs outside of the usual CSCA groups, and were pleased to see drivers from the Porsche Club of NSW, Mazda MX-5 Club, Southern Sporting Car Club, the NSW 86/BRZ Car Club, the Renault Car Club of Australia, ARDC, Bathurst Light Car Club and others, including a few special historic sports and racing cars out on track from the HSRCA.
We were also pleased to be joined by Lee and some of the Lotus Cars Australia team, who brought along both an Emira and Emeya for display, and were good company in between runs.
A big thanks to everyone who volunteered and committed their time and effort to the running of the event both in the lead-up and on the day. Thanks as well to all the drivers involved, whose respectful conduct and driving contributed immensely to the smooth running of the day.
Some overnight and early morning rain, and ominous clouds on the way into the circuit, had us worried for a second, but by the time the first group hit the track the sun was out and the circuit was dry. The day improved from here, offering perfect conditions for motor sport throughout. We made the most of it and proceedings ran smoothly enough that we could offer an additional fifth session at the end of the day.
Colin Rudd exiting turn three
It was two Porsche Club NSW drivers at the top of the time sheets at the end of the run five, Trent Kennedy in a Porsche GT4RS and Anthony Peronace in a 991.2 GT3RS both dropped under the 1:40s, our own Colin Rudd third overall with a 1:41.04 in his Exige.
The next generation of Lotus sprinters
We were pleased to welcome Andrew Tendli and Paul Tilse, who came up from Canberra for the day to have a run and support the club. Andrew had his family by his side, encouraging him to a fourth place finish overall and first in R5 with a 1:41.91 in the awesome red Elise Motorsport. Paul ran a Porsche 718 GT4 Cayman, finishing the day on a 1:48.53.
The second half of the top ten was occupied by Club Lotus Australia, the Exiges of Geoffrey Linders, Ralph Thompson, Peter Taylor and Brett Monk separated by barely a second at the end of competition, Brett running fastest in M3. Grahame Burton drove his Hawke DL11 Formula Ford to 11th overall and was quickest in R2.
Gino chasing Graham Burton in the Formula Ford
We’re also happy to see Gino Valdes back in the paddock consistently and getting back into the flow of things after some time away looking after wife and long time CSCA competitor and organiser Mel. Gino improved through the day to end on a 1:49.16, while Mark Meletopoulo was just two tenths behind in the Elise, Christopher Pearse following on a 1:49.69.
Gregory Baker and his wild Nissan Pulsar GTIR joined us again after a year away, the pair putting in a 1:54.92. Then it was Derrick Cho and Jake Hobbs, who snuck their Civic Type Rs in between the Exige S 260 of Duncan MacKay and John Culvenor’s S1 Elise.
Chris Scheffer, recipient of ‘The Hemmingway’
In a further effort to energise the series and create some fun and hype, some lighthearted awards were handed out to drivers. Simply Sports Cars / Lotus Cars Australia kindly provided the recipients some Lotus merch to take home as well.
Lindsay Day, recipient of ‘The Earliest Bird’
Chris Scheffer was awarded ‘The Hemmingway’ in recognition of how many times he had to enter, withdraw, fill out forms, request refunds and re-enter the event, completing more work than writing a novel. Mark Hurst and his Brabham BT14 were awarded ‘The Prettiest Thing’. Lindsay Day was awarded ‘The Earliest Bird’ as the first competitor to enter the event.
Michelle Johnston, recipient of the ‘Essence of Challenge’ perpetual trophy
Last, but most certainly not least, Michelle Johnston was awarded the ‘Essence of Challenge’ perpetual trophy. This is designed as an award that can be handed out at each subsequent CSCA supersprint event and celebrates a driver who exemplifies etiquette, class and skill, overcoming physical and mental obstacles with unwavering determination to achieve exceptional personal performance on track.
Our thanks to everyone involved in the day! Somehow, we’re already down to the final round, which should see us return to Goulburn for our first run on the newly revamped One Raceway on the 19th of October. This time we’ll be in the capable hands of the MG Car Club Sydney, and entries will open soon.
