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Varley takes double podiums to keep pressure on S1 Championship leader
Strawberry team features strongly in penultimate race of the season
4th September 2009
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As the fascinating 2009 Rotax season moves towards its conclusion, Luke Varley is quietly shaping up to be one of the principal contenders for the title.
This has been an invigorating championship with five different drivers vying for the spoils, although none has been able to take control and dominate it, as has often been the case in the past. Thanks to his run of seven podiums from ten races, Luke is beginning to turn the heat up on current points leader, Michael Simpson.
Luke Varley
His performances at last weekend’s (29/30 August) penultimate round of the Super 1 series were mature, professional and consequently garnered two worthy podium finishes.
Luke’s team-mate, Joseph Reilly also enjoyed a strong, if unspectacular weekend and played a key role in protecting Varley’s rear bumper from attack in Sunday’s second final.
Their fellow star in the senior class, James Greenway endured a difficult weekend and found himself unable to run consistently inside the top ten. A battling performance in the second final from 24th on the grid up to 14th compounded his frustrations. It was a solid drive, but he lacked the vital extra few tenths in pace that could have propelled him into the higher positions.
Team Manager Warwick Ringham said, “I don’t think we were quite fast enough to win, but Luke and Joseph just got their heads down and did a great job. Joseph especially; he could have challenged for second but he decided to do his team-mate bit and opted to protect Luke. We’re not sure what happened to James because he was quick throughout practice but from qualifying on, he couldn’t match that early pace. We can only guess that the cause was a tyre issue.”
Luke is currently lying 4th in the title chase, but is actually leading it when his two lowest scores are dropped from his existing tally, in accordance with the rules.
In the Junior category, Josh Webster was always there or thereabouts. From the close Timed Qualifying session to the heats and finals, he battled throughout and was rewarded with 3rd place in the first final and 4th in the second. Now 5th overall in the table, Josh has set his sights on snatching 3rd place but knows that he will need to pull out all the stops to achieve it.
Our other Junior, Barrie Pullinger continues to improve and after finishing in the teen positions in qualifying and the heats, he took very encouraging 6th and 7th-place finishes in the finals. Warwick commented, “I’m delighted with the way both lads performed. Barrie is coming on in leaps and bounds and took his first ever top ten finishes. Josh’s driving was really good all weekend and the final was one of those races where any one of about six drivers could have won”.
The Super 1 finale takes place at the PFi circuit in Lincolnshire on 19/20 September, we’d be delighted if you could join us there to cheer our drivers on. As Warwick points out, “Both the senior and junior titles are wide open, so we should get some great racing. It’s going to be one of those weekends where anything could happen, so yes, we’re all looking forward to it.”
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