2018 champion Golding (CTS Motorsport) begun his quest for a second G40 Cup title with the first two wins of the weekend, but Dawson (Assetto Motorsport) hit back in the live-streamed finale, having also started the weekend by topping the first qualifying session of the season.
Dawson led away from pole position at the start of race one, however a great move into the chicane on lap one netted Golding the lead. He went on to secure a five second victory from Dawson, while early progress from fifth to third for Chris White (Raceway Motorsport) helped him to a podium finish.
Owen Hizzey (SVG Motorsport) was on course for fourth position until suffering a late issue, which meant that Mike West (Assetto Motorsport) took the place and with it a dominant lights-to-flag success in the Chairmans Cup category from Mark Lee (SVG Motorsport).
Robin Grimwood (Assetto Motorsport) completed the Chairmans Cup podium in sixth overall, while a fun three way battle behind ended with Mark Sansom (Assetto Motorsport) sandwiched between the Raceway Motorsport drivers Paulo Scripo and Ignazio Zanon.
Race two followed later on Saturday afternoon, with the best second fastest time in qualifying putting Golding on pole. It was roles reversed on the opening lap this time around though, with it being Dawson’s turn to overtake the poleman and secure the race lead.
Golding got his revenge two laps later though with a great run out of Lodge ensuring he could slip through into Old Hall. That unfortunately proved to be some of the final action of the race, with an accident down the order bringing the safety car out for the remainder of the allotted race time.
Behind the top two on the grid had been Hizzey, Sansom and White, however an action-packed opening few laps included the unfortunate retirement of all three drivers. This opened the door for West to take his second Chairmans Cup success in a great third overall.
Grimwood came home second in class, while after narrowly missing out with fourth in the opener, Neil Wallace (SVG Motorsport) picked up the final podium spot ahead of Lee and experienced SF Racing duo Shawn Fleming and Gary Wager.
A dramatic start to the final race on Sunday saw a pre-race issue for poleman Golding lead to him lining up at the back of the field. A tremendous fightback from there saw him storm his way through the field to second place within four laps.
By that point, Dawson had grown a near six second advantage at the front of the field and despite Golding’s best efforts, that gap was still at two seconds as they crossed the finish line. The superb lights-to-flag victory was Dawson’s first in the championship.
West completed a hat-trick of Chairmans Cup victories in third overall, though he had to work hard for this win as Grimwood pushed him hard and briefly got ahead at mid-distance. Completing the top six behind them was Raceway Motorsport’s Zanon and White.
Fleming picked up his first Chairmans Cup podium finish of the season in seventh overall, thanks in part to an early spin for Lee. Sansom bounced back from his race two disappointment to finish ninth ahead of Wager and Wallace.
The second round of the 2020 Ginetta G40 Cup season comes in two weeks’ time at Donington Park in Leicestershire (15/16 August).
The full results from the weekend can be found here: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/203105
