2013 SEASON REVIEW: AVON TYRES CATERHAM SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP


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Back to back Caterham titles for David Robinson. Photo: www.ajbphotographic.co.uk

New to the Caterham family for the 2011 season, Supersport is the ultimate evolution of the Academy car and like Tracksport beneath it, many drivers also benefit from the convenience of professional team support. The majority of Supersport drivers are now in their fourth year of Caterham racing making them amongst the most experienced and competitive there is.

The huge field of as many as forty-three Supersports, made the newest championship the most competitive and exciting in the 2013 season. Ten drivers would appear on the podium during the year. Reigning Tracksport champion David Robinson would be the ultimate winner, taking half of the wins on offer, though he had to fight for everyone.

Mike Hart opened the year with a pair of wins at Snetterton. The 29 year-old driver from Leicester has been a star in Caterham racing for several years, but has yet to be a champion. Controversy over an over-take at Brands demoted him out of first place in his Academy year, then work commitments have kept him away from occasional weekends in subsequent years.

At the completion of the Anglesey races in May, Robinson had only taken just one win, Craig Currie (also competing in R300) being the other victor that weekend, though Podium finishes in every race and a poor result for Hart had put Robinson at the top of the table.

When the championship visited Holland, Hart and Robinson seemed streets ahead of the competition. A monumental battle between the pair in the first race of the weekend saw Hart gain the upper hand over his younger rival, only to be robbed in the final moments of the race when his throttle cable gave way, resulting in his first DNF in forty races (testament to the robustness of the Caterham race cars). Robinson went on to win, landing himself in pole for race two, whilst Hart was some thirty cars behind at the back of the grid. However, Zandvoort was in the mood to deliver drama, as would be proved later in the day with the Roadsport result. Hart produced the drive of the day, the year and his life. From thirtieth on the grid, he would pass every drive to catch Robinson by three-quarter distance; eventually over-taking him to take the best win of the year.

Hart’s moment of glory was to be short lived. Robinson would be back on form at Donington, taking both wins, whilst at Brands Hatch it was Lee Wiggins’ turn to win the races. Like Hart, Wiggins’ is recognised as one of Caterham top racers; a champion that never was, and once again it looked like the Essex man would be beaten. Robinson’s title bid received a blow when an electrical gremlin knocked him out of one of the Brands races, but he was back on top at Oulton, taking another two wins. Robinson had the upper hand at Silverstone and although he and Hart shared wins, second places and fastest laps, he had done enough to take his second title.

You can see the final points table at 2013 SUPERSPORT POINTS

Simon Lambert


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