Dezille Butler and Fennymore Taste Thruxton Success in the Caterham Challenge

30 May 2005

Despite being only half-way through his first full season of motor racing, Ben Dezille Butler proved this weekend (28/29 May) that he's learning fast. The 28-year-old from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk surprised his more experienced rivals with a pair of stylish race victories at Thruxton in the Powertrain Caterham Challenge.

Dezille Butler planted his Carrefour Health Clubs-backed Caterham R400 on pole position - his first - and went on to score the narrowest of wins in Saturday's sprint race ahead of championship leader and fellow Bury St Edmunds resident Will Mitcham. Ben did it again in Sunday's feature race, and this time in even greater style by leading for more than half the race.

Second on Sunday to record not only her best finish at the wheel of an R400, but also the best-ever performance from any woman, was Hertfordshire's Rachel Green. Graham Fennymore (Bicester) took the Roadsport class honours in both races.

Saturday's 15-minute Thruxton sprint - a furious and exciting affair on the UK's quickest circuit - went the way of Dezille Butler despite his relatively slow getaway from pole position. The 28-year-old health club proprietor found himself fourth at the end of the opening lap, behind Mitcham, Paul Allen (Stockport) and Jack Newland (Bicester).

Mitcham, the double winner at Oulton Park last month, did his best to make a break and was by the fourth lap some 1.8 seconds ahead of Allen. "I made a good start," said Will, "and probably pushed too hard to make a break. I was giving the car, and the tyres, a hard time and it wasn't long before they caught me up."

By the eighth of the 11 laps Dezille Butler had moved past Allan and Newland to take up station in second, and then he popped past Mitcham next time around.

"I gave it too many revs away from the line," said Ben, "and not only Will got past me but three others as well. It was hard work reeling them in."

Mitcham held back waiting for a last-lap board which never came and was as surprised as anyone to see Dezille Butler take the chequered flag, just nine-tenths of a second in front of him. "My plan was to attack on the last lap," said Will, "but that chance was denied me."

Nick Payne, who had been shown a last-lap board, found his way past Newland for third on the final lap. It was the Londoner's third consecutive podium finish for the Hyperion Motorsport team and more than made up for the set-up problems in qualifying which denied him a good grid slot.

Newland held on for fourth ahead of Minister Driver of the Race Ewan McIntyre (London), who scored his best-yet result, London-based Soh Fukushima, Allen (who lost fourth place with a spin at the Complex on the penultimate lap after making a move on Newland), Mancunian Ted Murray and Matt Blyth (Wokingham).

Wiltshire driver Nathan Bell was sidelined on the second lap after a collision with Green's car. Rachel continued to the end but was excluded from the results by stewards for her role in the incident.
Fennymore's progress to his customary Roadsport A class win was made easier when his closest challenger, Malcolm Barnett, was tagged by the car of Tony Hawkins (Reigate) and spun out of the Complex on the third lap. "I went from second to sixth in an instant," said Malcolm, "but it made for an entertaining fight back."

And fight back the Norfolk driver did, to second in class some 12 seconds behind Fennymore. James Gardiner (Derby) took third - and the Minister award - just ahead of Riki Nash (Borehamwood).
Douglas Clark (Melbourne) survived a scary high-speed last-lap trip across the grass to take fifth ahead of Dave O'Carroll (Romford). Hawkins' race came to a close after nine laps with an electrical problem.

If anything, Sunday's 30-minute marathon was even more breathtaking. Nine or 10 cars battled for victory for almost all the way and there were at least five different leaders. Once again pole man Dezille Butler was denied the lead at the start, Mitcham snapping decisively in front of him away from the line to hold the early advantage.

Mitcham soon came under pressure from Blyth and then from Murray, both of whom took turns to lead. Matt's hopes of retaking top spot all went horribly wrong on the eighth lap when he lost control in the middle of the pack in the middle of the Club chicane; he spun and a couple of his pursuers tagged his car, but miraculously there were no serious repercussions.

Blyth's spin split the pack slightly, and when Murray slowed on the following lap with a mechanical problem Dezille Butler was not slow to seize the lead and a golden opportunity to make a break. Within a further lap Ben had pulled out a five-second advantage, and that was the last any of his rivals saw of him. "I was a little lucky to be able to take advantage of the spinner and then it was just a matter of trying to keep my distance from the others," said Dezille Butler. "It was a little lonely out there at the front."

The others might have seen their hopes of victory disappear but they were still at it hammer and tongs for second spot - Newland, Mitcham, Allen, Payne and Bell among those to stake a claim on it. But it was Rachel Green who timed her bid to perfection, the 34-year-old former Caterham Graduates Champion pouncing at the final corner to beat Payne back to third and to take the Minister Driver of the Race award. A delighted Rachel warned: "This more than makes up for Saturday… I'm on a roll now and I won't be satisfied till I get that first win."

Mitcham was fourth to maintain his R400 championship lead, with Bell fifth ahead of Newland, McIntyre and Fukushima. Another spin for Allen, this time at the chicane, dropped him down the order, to ninth in class. Murray and Blyth both finished, albeit a lap in arrears after pit visits.

Fennymore's extraordinary unbeaten run continued, his Taylor Made Joinery-backed Roadsport A crossing the line seven seconds in front this time of Barnett, although Malcolm had given Graham a good run for his money in the early laps.

Gardiner was once again third and Hawkins made it to the end this time for fourth and the Minister prize. Clark, Nash and O'Carroll completed the top seven.
The next rounds of the Powertrain Caterham Challenge are in mid-July at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk. Backing for the championship comes from Arch Motors, Autosport, Bilstein, Comma, Cooper-Avon Tyres, HSBC Insurance Brokers, Mitchell Cotts, PTP and Stack.

See series calendars for all 2005 Caterham Championships

Related Story 09.05.2005 - Fennymore Lands Last-Minute Caterham Masters Drive