RACE REPORT – AGI SPORT hit the NSW Excel Cup
Excel Cup First Round Weekend 14th April 2013
Nathan out in front
It’s always a little more fun racing against time & on a shoe-string and that’s exactly what happened this weekend in the Hyundai Excel Cup ‘one make’ series.
The NSW Excel Racing Championship made its debut at Wakefield Park on Sunday 14th April, 2013 with eight cars on the grid.
AGI SPORT ran two entries, one driven by team Formula 3 driver Nathan Gotch, the other, by AGI SPORT chief mechanic Jason Caires. Both team members bought their cars for under $500 and kitted them out in the Excel Cup kit.
AGI Roll Cages are an official sponsor of the series, providing a bolt-in cage for each of the competitors. Regulations for the series are tight, including the engines which cannot be modified, they use a Pedders Suspension package for $1250.00, extractors for another $250.00 and a full roll cage costs $1,250.00. Add some Bob Jane wheels for $450, Federal control tyres for $425, a race seat, harness and fire extinguisher and you’re ready to go.
“It’s such an enjoyable and cheap way to go motor racing”, says AGI SPORT Team Principal Adam Gotch. “It’s going to be fun for our hard working team members and a good tool for team sponsors at our AGI Sport Track Days. The cars drive well and there’s such a mix of competitors, it really keeps things interesting.”
The NSW Excel Racing Championship is a fantastically affordable way to introduce new drivers to motorsport and teach advanced drivers the craft of motor racing as driving skill is paramount on a level playing field. The series has proven hugely popular in the north with a QLD Championship series picking up over 40 competitors in its first season.
AGI SPORT have purchased 3 vehicles for team members to use and worked around the clock to get two cars grid ready in just under two and a half weeks.
“There were some big weekends and late nights, I actually took up coffee for the first time’, said team driver Jason Caires. “It was all such a relief to get the cars to the track and ready to go”.
Both drivers represented the AGI SPORT team exceptionally well with experienced F3 competitor Nathan Gotch setting the fastest time in qualifying and a new lap record with a time of 1.19.8759. Jason qualified fourth and the first race saw Nathan hold his pole position to win while Jason came through to finish third in his first-ever motor race.
“The cars perform really well with a well balanced package straight out of the box” Nathan said, “ It was easy on the tyres with good grip levels, you’d probably get a season out of a set of tyres’.
Race 2 was a reverse grid that proved both challenging and exciting. It was action packed with Nathan starting last on the reverse grid and fighting his way through the pack to claim the lead by lap 3. Nathan went on to win minus some wing mirrors while Jason also put in a gritty effort to finish a respectable third.
The final race caused some controversy, Nathan won the last race on the road but gained a 60 second penalty after stewards deemed some argy bargy a little too argy. Jason Caires came second while Nathan was demoted to 7th. No appeals are allowed under current Wakefield Park AASA rules.
The boys both thought the day was a heap of fun. The team left with 6 trophies, Nathan took Fastest Lap, Fastest Twin Cam, Pole Position and 2nd Outright while Jason won his first ever trophies, 2nd place in the trophy race and 3rd outright on the day.
Both drivers finished the day as huge fans of this new Excel Cup, Nathan said “I’d highly recommend the series, it’s great value for money and the reverse grid really added another aspect to it. The rules are so tight you’ve got to be really clever about your racing out there and there was just such a great vibe and camaraderie around the pits for the first round. Excellent work by Leo for a well organised and fun event.”
Jason agreed “It was great to be with the AGI Crew, we work as such a tight knit team. Best of all was getting some wheel time!’
The next Excel Cup Race weekend will be held at Wakefield Park on June 1st & 2nd while Nathan will once again take the wheel of the Formula 3 car at Sydney Motorsport Park on April 19-20 in the 1st round of the NSW State Formula 3 Championship.
