SuperPro VAG Trophy – Round One
Brands Hatch – 23rd May 2010

An impressive performance by Mark Jenkins in the opening round of the 2010 SuperPro VAG Trophy on Sunday at Brands Hatch, netted him a well deserved victory in the first race of the season. Driving his Mk5 Golf GTi, he crossed the line 1.225 seconds ahead of Dave Leigh in second, who was in turn just 0.280 seconds ahead of Daniel Rose who had stormed through the field from the back of the grid.

Sponsored this season by SuperPro, manufacturer of high performance polyurethane suspension bushes, the six-round series for pre-2006 Volkswagen Audi Group cars is increasing both in profile and competitor numbers, 31 cars starting the 18-minute race held on the infamous 2.3-mile long Grand Prix circuit.

After an excellent start, first into Paddock Hill bend was Grant Woodhatch from second place on the grid, getting his Vento VR6 in front of the Seat Cupra of Dave Leigh who started in pole position. Eventual race-winner Jenkins was slow off the line and dropped to seventh as the pack bundled into the first corner.

However, Jenkins found his car more stable than he had expected on cold tyres and threaded his way up to third by the time cars were heading back down the hill on the exit of Druids. He then made his move on Leigh and moved up to second before the end of the first lap.

Meanwhile, Rose was charging through the field and had elbowed his Seat Leon Cupra halfway through the field and up to 14th place by the end of the first lap. Woodhatch still led at the start of lap two, but his race didn’t go on for much longer as a wheel came adrift when a rear hub collapsed as he turned into Druids.

Jenkins then inherited the lead, but it was close, with Leigh and Chris Adams in another Mk5 Golf GTi never more than a second apart throughout the race. However, there was a moment when Jenkins thought his day was over, when an oil spill at Clearways with two laps to go caused him – and a few other competitors – to have a big sideways moment, his company name on the side of the car “SlideSports’ never being more appropriate.

Behind the leading trio, Rose was still overtaking cars and on lap nine passed Adams and moved up to third. With one lap to go, Rose was still intent on making up places and at Clearways edged alongside Leigh and momentarily into second, but couldn’t hold on to the position for the final drag to the finish line.

Having never driven the Brands Grand Prix circuit and having only returned to the UK just in time for qualifying, Jenkins was understandably pleased with the outcome his weekend:

“I am delighted with the way things went today. The car ran really well and, although I had a slow start, I felt confident that I could push early in the race. Even on cold tyres the car has never felt so stable and, as this is the first time I’ve used SuperPro bushes, I’m sure they made a big difference. This result really gets my season off to a great start.”

The Brands Hatch meeting also hosted the third round of the Golf GTi Championship, a budget-conscious race series for near-standard VW Golfs which is coordinated by the same organising team and supported by SuperPro. This race was won by Simon Hill, who finished 1.611 seconds ahead of Nick Porter, who was a further 0.541 seconds ahead of Ricky Gaston in third, all three drivers in Mk2 Golf GTis.

The next round of the SuperPro VAG Trophy and Golf GTi Championship takes place on 19th June at Castle Combe.