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Double Podium for D'Agostino
at Snetterton
Charlie Donnelly clinched the 2005 UK Formula Ford Championship title today last weekend (24th/25th September), the 22-year-old Irishman claiming a brace of top-five finishes in the Snetterton rounds to seal victory in the Ford-backed championship with two races in hand.
Saturday's 17th round of the UKFF season provided a thrilling victory for Donnelly's Jamun team-mate Duncan Tappy, his sixth on the trot and a rare win at Snetterton - traditionally Van Diemen territory - for a Mygale chassis.
Twenty-one-year-old Surrey lad Tappy led all the way from pole position to chequered flag, but was kept honest every inch of the way by Joe D'Agostino, the American less than three-tenths behind at the line in his Team JLR Van Diemen, having set fastest lap in his pursuit. "I was quicker on some parts of the track," said Joe, "but Duncan was quicker where it mattered most."
Donnelly held third initially but, mindful of his need to finish at all costs, he was happy to let battling Steve Roberts and visiting North European Formula Ford Champion Daniel Roos sweep by. Sixteen-year-old Swede Roos made it past Roberts four laps from the end but made a costly error two laps later to hand Steve the final place on the podium.
Roos held on for fourth ahead of Donnelly, with Jonny Baker sixth and Linton Stuteley seventh and the leading Avon Tyres Clubmans Championship finisher. Thor-Christian Ebbesvik, Neil Tofts and Sean Gaffney rounded out the top 10.
Sunday brought Tappy's seventh straight victory, lifting him one clear of D'Agostino's victory tally and taking Duncan nine points clear of the American as they duel over the championship runner-up spot.
Once again Tappy led all the way from pole position, with D'Agostino close behind for a lap and a half until an optimistic overtaking manoeuvre into the Russell chicane ended in a spin for Joe. "I saw an opportunity to put pressure on Duncan," said D'Agostino, "but unfortunately a little rain had fallen and made the track more slippery than I was expecting…"
Joe fell back to 15th; though down, he was by no means out - a magnificent fight back through the field saw him claw his way up to fifth spot within 10 laps, six seconds behind Donnelly. D'Agostino nibbled away at the gap for a further seven laps and then managed to nip past both Donnelly and Roberts for third four laps from home. "I enjoyed the drive," said Joe, "which I think went to prove that I could have won the race. All credit to Duncan, though, he drove well and kept it on the road."
Roos had earlier got the better of a long tussle with Roberts for second, and closed on Tappy towards the end to finish 2.7 seconds behind at the flag. D'Agostino was a further six seconds down in third, with Donnelly claiming his crucial fourth ahead of Roberts, Swede Christopher Frohm in the Spirit, Ebbesvik and Clubmans winner Stuteley. Baker was ninth and Tofts 10th.
The final rounds of the UK Formula Ford Championship are in a fortnight at Silverstone.
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