Netherton driver Josh Caygill managed to retain a top six placing in the VW Cup championship standings after a battling effort at Bramnds Hatch.
the penultimate event of the Second-year Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup season at Brands’ Grand Prix circuit produced two very challenging races.
Posting a best result of ninth place in round 12 on Sunday, Caygill was frustrated with the eventual outcome – despite lying in sixth place on 274 points after the meeting.
The 24-year-old felt he was capable of top five pace, but his points scoring was tempered after contact in race one.
Looking to bounce back after suffering electrical issues with his Scirocco during the previous VW Racing Cup event at Spa-Francorchamps in July, the Caygill qualified within 0.8 seconds of the front row of the grid for round 11 with the ninth quickest lap time.
Getting away from the line cleanly in the first encounter, Caygill’s race soon took a turn for the worse when contact at Surtees when an out-of-control Volkswagen pitched him off the track and dropped him to the tail of the 30-car field.
Ending lap one in 26th position, the Safety Car then made an appearance after a separate tangle on the start-finish straight, and that was precisely what Caygill didn’t need as he wanted every racing lap possible to try and make his way back through the order.
When the action resumed after four laps, Caygill set about trying to undo as much damage as possible and over the course of the second half of the contest Caygill displayed strong pace as he sliced his way through into 19th position.
Frustratingly, he posted the fifth fastest lap to underline a performance which would have been good enough for a significant points haul.
Beginning race two from 19th place, Caygill made swift progress on lap one to climb into the top 15 but the Safety Car was again required.
The re-start came after a single lap and the second year VW racer started to thread his way through the order, climbing into 11th position by lap seven. Moving into the top 10 on the penultimate tour, Caygill capped a strong drive with ninth on the final lap.
“Race one decided the weekend for us”, said Caygill.
“There was some contact on the first lap with a couple of cars at Surtees, one of them lost control and side-swiped me and put me across the grass back over to the Indy track.
“After that, I was dead last and at the end of lap one the smash on the start-finish meant the Safety Car came out.
“That ran for about six laps which obviously meant there wasn’t much time left for me to try and recover,
“I was pleased with my pace though which was easily good enough for the top five. Taking 19th put us down there for the start of race two and when you’re smack in the middle of the pack it’s always going to be tough with cars all around you. Ninth wasn’t a bad result, considering.”
Donington Park will host the final two rounds of the VW Cup over the weekend September 13-14.
