| • Legends racer Nathan Anthony delivers pace and points at Snetterton • Team F4V driver wins Masters Cup class in Rd6 and climbs overall table • Horley sportsman’s ‘home’ track Brands Hatch to host finale next month |
| Team F4V racer Nathan Anthony enjoyed a successful conclusion to the penultimate event of the Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd season at Snetterton 300 Circuit on Sunday, 8th October, after winning the Masters Cup division for round six. Horley-based Nathan, fresh from securing the Masters Cup ‘Gerard McCosh Napoleon Award’ title in the recently concluded Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM, produced some standout performances over the course of the entire Championship weekend in Norfolk. Racing to a best overall result of fifth in Heat One of round five on Saturday, 7th October, the Se-Van driver also claimed a top 10 finish in round six Heat One on Sunday and then placed seventh overall in Heat Two later in the afternoon. As well as heading the Masters Cup standings with just one race meeting to go in the 2023 season, Nathan’s points tally from Snetterton has moved him up the overall Championship standings into 14th position. Saturday’s action began well, drawing sixth on the grid in the qualifying ballot and then climbing into the top five on the opening lap of Heat One before taking fourth the next time around. Pressuring for third, he moved into the podium placings on the third tour and although edged back to fifth soon after he stayed in the fight and finished the contest in the top five. Frustratingly, Heat Two was over almost as soon as it started when a multi-car tangle metres from the grid caught-up the No.29 Se-Van and although largely undamaged, the starter motor failed and Nathan was unable to get going again – so retirement duly followed. The round five Final was rescheduled to Sunday morning, due to a localised power cut at Snetterton late on Saturday afternoon, and Nathan aimed to mount another bid for the podium with a starting position of seventh in his First 4 Vans, Towergate Insurance, Blue Lizard, Blue Chip Warranty, Moove and Creative Funding Solutions liveried Se-Van. Quickly moving into the top four on the first lap, he challenged for third into Riches at the beginning of lap two and sealed the pass. Becoming embroiled in a tight battle with Nick Bridgeman, the Team F4V driver was edged back to fourth and then seventh as the racing intensified. In ninth spot into the eighth and final tour, a tangle at the Bomb Hole dropped the Se-Van to 13th at the finish. Heat One of round six, less than a couple of hours later, would provide a mountain to climb for Nathan from 20th on the grid but he progressed superbly to finish inside the top 10. Gaining six places alone on lap one, he was into the top 12 just after mid-distance and bagged two more positions on the sixth and final tour to cap a very strong drive. Drawing pole position for Heat Two, Nathan held first place off the start from championship leader Will Gibson before the latter went through at Wilson Hairpin. Although edged back to fourth by mid-lap, the Team F4V racer stayed in touch with the podium battle initially but slipped to sixth around the halfway point of the contest. He eventually finished seventh, just 1.3 seconds shy of the winner. For the last race of the weekend, the round six Final, Nathan started 13th on the grid and he put together an excellent first lap to climb into the top eight. With his sights set on more, his hopes were dashed on only the second tour when a multi-car tangle on Bentley Straight meant he dropped down to 14th position. Over the remainder of the race, he recovered to post a top 12 result. Nathan Anthony: “I’m really pleased we won the Masters for Sunday’s round, and took away some decent points, we had some good pace again this weekend. I do enjoy racing at Snetterton, especially the infield section which is quite technical, and I think overall we’ve done a pretty good job. Everything didn’t run completely to plan, Heat Two on Saturday was frustrating with the starter motor, but I think we can be pretty happy with the weekend on the whole and now we’re looking forward to the finale.” Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent, Team F4V’s ‘home’ track, will host the season finale of the Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd over the weekend 4th/5th November. Legends Cars Championship with allgrowth Ltd Driver Standings: 14th Nathan Anthony, 1305pts |
