After two rounds at Donington Park, it’s time for the British Talent Cup to face another challenge – that of Snetterton.
We’re two rounds and three races into the inaugural season of the British Talent Cup and we’ve had three different winners, three thrilling races and enough start line and final corner drama to fill a season! Next up it’s time for some different turf, however, which is sure to shake up the racing once again – from two rounds at Donington, we’re now headed for Snetterton for Round 3.
Racing alongside the British Superbike Championship, the BTC grid head across from the midlands to 10 miles north-east of Thetford in Norfolk. The 300 circuit at Snetterton is the stage; 3 miles long and a very different challenge to Donington, with much more time spent on the straights on the throttle. As a former airfield, it’s also flat.
The most recent winner who’ll want to continue his roll is Max Cook, who took Race 2 of Round 2. But now for Cook, Race 1 winner Rory Skinner and Thomas Strudwick – who won the first outing of the year – the race is on to become the first two-time winner, as well as take the lead in the standings.
It’s Strudwick on top after Donington, with a double podium alongside WorldSBK and his Round 1 win giving him 57 points. Skinner isn’t far behind on 51, and Cook has 45. One big name missing? Fenton Seabright, who’s had some serious pace and went from pitlane to podium in the first race of the season. But some bad luck at Donington – including a crash out of rostrum contention at the final corner on the final lap of Race 2 – left with him no points to add to his tally. At Snetterton, he’ll be looking to put that right.
Joshua Whatley is in fourth in the standings and will want to get back on the rostrum after missing out in Round 2, Storm Stacey will want to reverse him losing out in their close battle to make up some ground – and Brian Hart and Charlie Atkins aren’t far off. Jack Nixon and Cameron Horsman are also locked in a fight for P8, and it’s a dead heat on 19 points each.
The complete schedule (local time)
Friday, 15 June
Free Practice 1 11:15 – 11:45
Free Practice 2 16:15 – 16:45
Saturday, 16 June
Qualifying practice 1 11:00 – 11:30
Race 1 (14 laps) 16:00
Sunday, 17 June
Race 2 (14 laps) 11:15