Thruxton trip proves hectic for motor racing Cullum (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Thruxton trip proves hectic for motor racing Cullum

THRUXTON, the closest circuit to Cirencester, proved a hectic one for Rob Cullum as a number of existing and potential partners from the area joined him for the occasion.

They were able to follow Rob and the team's progress and also take advantage of the hospitality.

However, the weekend brought mixed fortunes for Clio Cup competitor Cullum, from Coln St Aldwyns, at this British Touring Car Championship meeting.

Nonetheless, after a non-finish in race one, Cullum achieved a more satisfactory seventh place in race two.

Renowned for fast starts when racing other makes, Rob has struggled to repeat this in the Clio and was looking to improve on this at Thruxton.

But problems in qualifying meant Rob would start both races from tenth on the grid.

However, Rob's start for the first race was again disappointing when losing places off the line.

He more than made up for this in what has now become a customary impressive first lap and, at the end of which, he was up into eighth position.

This continued until on lap three when, negotiating the fast 110mph Church bend, the rear of the car broke away and Rob was unable to maintain control.

After a rapid spin, Cullum returned to the track but after discovering a problem with the brakes, had to call it a day.

On a warm and sunny Bank Holiday Monday, 20,000 fans thronged in to see the Touring Cars, and also Rob's second race.

After making a better start, he crossed the line at the end of the first lap in ninth place.

Part-way around lap three, a car in front lost control, delaying those behind but allowing Rob to gain two more places and so move into seventh.

Unfortunately, he was also slightly delayed, this allowing the front six cars to pull out a gap so that further progress was unlikely.

This turned out to be the case, and so Rob finished the race in seventh position.