Castle Combe 2018
24 August 2018
The Caterham Motorsport 270 & 310 championships reconvened at the Wiltshire circuit of Castle Combe amidst traditional British summer weather for round 5 of the 2018 season.
Race 1 of the 270 Championship saw strong qualifying for all UPEM drivers with John Shiveral, Tim Child, John Styring and James Elvery all within the top 20 of the ultra-competitive grid.
The expected rain arrived mid-race and shook up the running order as conditions turned treacherous. Shiveral had a fabulous drive to pick his way through the field to finish 8th whilst Tim Child and James Elvery improved on qualifying to bring the cars home safely. Unfortunately John Styring had a couple of rotations and came home in 21st.
Sunday's Race 2 weather was equally unpleasant Shiveral climbed another place to P7 while Styring, Child and Elvery all had strong races to move forwards through the field.
In the packed 310 championship Rob Watts was the sole UPEM representative with James Beardwell sitting out the weekend. Qualifying just outside the top 10, Watts climbed up during the race only to be hit with a time penalty for track limits to finish in a competitive P12. Race 2 saw Watts once again climb up in to the top 10 in a big pack of cars until he was confronted with a spinning rival. The ensuing evasive action saw Rob off the circuit and glancing off the barrier and losing contact with the group in front. Rob nursed a now ill-handling car home in P14 as the rain continued.
It's a short turn around as the cars are prepared for the penultimate round of the year at Thruxton on 1st & 2nd September
