HOLLAMBY UNSTOPPABLE AT BRANDS HATCH!

Shaun Hollamby took his Volkswagen Racing Cup victory tally to seven yesterday at Brands Hatch, the 39-year-old triumphing in style in both of the day's races on his home circuit.

Chelsfield-based Hollamby and his Golf R32 led the first from pole position to chequered flag, and the second for all but the first few yards to narrow the gap between himself and championship leader Philip House to 22 points with only two rounds remaining.

Car magazine competition winner Graham Needham was the hero of the day, the novice driver claiming third at the wheel of the new Golf GTI in his first-ever race.

Hollamby's progress to victory in the first of the Brands sprint races was as serene and unflustered as the five wins which had preceded it this season. His Big Boys Toys and Revo-backed Golf R32 blasted into the lead from pole position (its third qualifying top-spot of the season) and, though closely pursued by House's Beetle for the duration, there was never any doubt who would be standing atop the podium come the race end.

North Yorkshireman House gave it everything he had: 'I made a great start,' said Philip, 'and was hanging on to Shaun for several laps, but then I made a slight mistake at Clearways and lost a couple of lengths. I tried everything but there was no way to close the gap.'

Hollamby was just under two seconds clear at the chequered flag. 'I was hoping to pull out more of a gap over Philip at the start but it all worked out OK in the end,' said Shaun. 'I covered many, many miles around Brands when I worked at the racing school, so I reckon I know my way around.' He set a new lap record on his way to victory.

The real interest of the race lay in the astoundingly professional performance put in by total novice Needham, who won his place on the grid in the new Golf GTI thanks to a competition in Car magazine.

Although a lifelong car and motorsport enthusiast, Graham, 40 and from Lincoln, had never competed before. He was put through a training programme at Silverstone race school before being plunged into the deep end with Volkswagen Racing UK at Brands Hatch.

Undaunted, Needham - a fine arts student at Lincoln University - qualified the Car Golf GTI a superb sixth, less than eight-tenths of a second off the practice pace set by Hollamby. When told his grid position, Graham wept: 'Qualifying was my greatest concern; I was so worried about getting through it unscathed that the relief to have done so was immense. Then when I was told I was sixth quickest, the emotion came flooding out.'

But there were even better things to come: Needham made a blinding start to slot into fourth behind Hollamby, House and Mark Smith's Bora Turbo as the field flooded through Paddock Hill Bend. There was drama behind as Berkshire driver Joe Fulbrook's Bora spun through the gravel trap, but Needham stayed clear of any danger and overhauled Smith for third by the end of the opening lap.

With Fulbrook out of the reckoning and Smith dropping back behind the Corrado of Peters Green-based racer Ken Lark, Needham found himself a safe third. He didn't put a wheel wrong at any stage during the race and collected a richly deserved podium placing.

Volkswagen Racing UK director Sam Roach paid him tribute: 'It's an incredible performance for a novice driver to take third in his first race. We knew he had the technique but did not dare hope that he could hold his own against such experienced opposition.'

Added Needham: 'Volkswagen Racing UK have been great. They gave me the best possible preparation I could have had in what was a short space of time, and I was talked through what I should do at the start and during the race. I think I was fortunate that Joe Fulbrook spun, because he's very quick and would have been coming after me.'

Needham was just seven seconds behind House at the flag, and nine seconds ahead of the battle for fourth, which was won by Hednesford-based Smith very narrowly from Little Chalfont driver Martin Rutherford's turbocharged Citygate Beetle. Lark just managed to keep a nose ahead of Basingstoke-based Martyn Culley's Vento VR6 to claim sixth.

There were no doubts that Hollamby had the pace to win the second race also, but few expected him to put the matter beyond doubt within 100 yards of the startline. Yet that is what Shaun achieved, streaking away from the third row of the grid, past the cars of pole man Lark, Rutherford, Smith, Needham and House, to take the lead well before the first corner.

It was an audacious and breathtaking move, but Hollamby did not get the chance to romp away, thanks to a multi-car pile-up on the opening lap at the notoriously tight Druids hairpin.

It was triggered when Inskip clouted the rear of Wyhinny's Caddy, which in turn struck Tippet's Golf. McInerney and Barrie Culley were involved also, and Culley's car and that of Tippet came to rest in the gravel trap, necessitating a five-lap safety car period while they were removed to safety. McInerney's race ended in the pits, as did Wyhinny's a few laps later.

Hollamby handled the restart with aplomb, and proceeded to edge away from Rutherford to claim win number seven by a 2.7-second margin. The race was ended two laps early when Inskip and Palmer clashed, again at Druids, and both became wedged in the gravel trap.

After a Schumacher-style leap on the podium, Hollamby said: 'The Golf always makes a great start, but that was amazing, it just took off from the third row of the grid… I just had to hope that as many people as possible finished between me and Phil House.'

Rutherford was thrilled with his second place, equalling the result he scored at Oulton Park in April, and Lark was similarly delighted with third, his second podium visit of the season.

House took fourth after a prolonged and occasionally all too close battle with Smith in the early laps, and Allard was an excellent fifth. Lloyd had started 20th on the grid after a spin and a puncture in the first race.

There is now a 2 month gap before the last races of the season at Snetterton in which Hollambys' appeal against an earlier disqualification will be heard at an RAC Tribunal. If his appeal is successful then Hollamby will have enough points advantage to clinch this years championship before the last championship rounds. "Its not the way I would like the championship to be decided but I am sure that we will be vindicated once the RAC Tribunal decides on this matter", said Hollamby.

More pictures from the race can be seen here in our Gallery