Donington round six report

Zwart secures title as Goddard smashes all-time lap record.

Donington Park, UK, Sunday 1st September 2002: Earl Goddard smashed the all-time Donington lap record on his way to an impressive win in the final British round of NDS EuroBOSS at Leicestershire's Donington Park circuit in his Benetton Ford HB V8. It was the 22 year old South African's fourth successive win and yet despite a dominant performance in the race he could not prevent Klaas Zwart securing the NDS EuroBOSS RAC MSA Championship title.

The battle for second place, and vital Championship points, was closely fought between leading contenders Phil Andrews and Dutchman Zwart. Andrews seemed to have the upper hand in the early stages and kept Zwart at bay until the fifth lap when the Dutchman's determination paid off and he passed the local man. Zwart has been consistent in all five Championship rounds, gaining podium places in each race proving a worthy Championship winner.

Mortlock, Stirling and Wakefield demonstrated that overtaking is alive and well in NDS EuroBOSS as they wrestled for positions from start to finish, with Mortlock in a Footwork Judd V10, the eventual victor of the three way tussle finishing in fourth. The Stirling Indy Car, in it's original Miller Lite livery, proved once again that on the right circuit it is formidable competition.

If Klaas Zwart was the star of the Championship, the star of the day was definitely Earl Goddard who set a sensational lap record, in his Robin Hooker prepared Benetton, of 56.900 seconds on the 1.957 mile National Circuit.

The winner of the NDS EuroBOSS 3000 class was Belgian driver Kamiel de Brue who finished in 9th place overall. De Brue battled throughout with 16 year old Scott Mansell from Tamworth, in a Reynard Mugen, the youngster was looking for a strong performance on his local circuit. Scott finally managed to pass de Brue on the fifth lap only to suffer an engine blow-up.

Zwart sealed the closely fought Championship by five points from Andrews. Although NDS EuroBOSS consists of eight rounds throughout Europe, the RAC MSA Championship is based on five races at Donington Park (2), Brands Hatch, Mondello Park and Zandvoort. With two of the eight races remaining the hotly contested Series can still be decided by four drivers; Zwart, Andrews, Goddard and Toivonen, all with a chance to secure honours.

Earl Goddard, Driver, Kockney Koi Yamitsu:
"This is the best car I've ever driven and I really appreciate the support I receive from Robin Hooker and his team. I had a moment at Cramer but other than that it was a good race and knowing that I have blasted the lap record is awesome. I am looking forward to the next round and will be going for five in a row."

Klaas Zwart, Driver, Team Ascari:
"It is great to win the Championship, it is lovely to have this title under my belt although it is not yet the end of the season and I will have to push hard in the final two races. I am very pleased for the team who have put in so much hard work throughout the year."

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