Qualifying for Round 2 of the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB took place at Silverstone this morning with Ben Winrow taking pole position in a time of 2:10.574. This is the second pole in a row for the Pyro Motorsport driver who set the fastest time late in the session to beat Stefan Hodgetts to the top spot.

Hodgetts, who has competed in BTCC and Clio Cup is a new addition to the growing Trofeo Abarth 500 grid. He set a time of 2:10.667 around the Silverstone track, to start today’s race in 2nd place. A second behind was early Championship leader, Gareth Howell who won both races at the opening round at Oulton Park, but only managed 3rd place is this morning’s qualifying.

Ben Winrow said about his second pole position of the year:

“It was a really good session. It’s a lovely day – nice and warm, but it still took a little bit longer than I thought to get the tyre temperature up. It’s great to have Stefan Hodgetts here this weekend to push me.”

The season’s 3rd race will start at 16:10 today. Race 4 will also be held this weekend on Sunday at 13:45 following a breathtaking air display by 9 time UK champion pilot, Mark Jeffries, presented by Abarth.

Qualifying results – 17 April, 2010

Highlights of Round 1 at Oulton Park can be seen on MotorsTV tonight at 20:45

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The second Trofeo Abarth 500 GB race was run today at Oulton Park, following the historic first competitive race for the new series on Saturday. Benny Simonsen, in only his second ever car race started on pole position after setting the fastest lap time in the race on Saturday.

Once again, the racing was close and exciting. Gareth Howell and Benny Simonsen raced hard for the whole race with Howell eventually coming out on top. It was the 2nd win in two races for Howell. Ben Winrow started down the field after being unclassified on Saturday, but worked his way up to 4th place at the end of lap one and later passed Charlie Butler Henderson to achieve 3rd place.

Jason Greatrex and Josh Wakefield also had a close battle for 5th.

RESULTS

Highlights from the historic, first ever race for the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB at Oulton Park. Features footage from the podium and post-race interview with race winner Gareth Howell.

Outlon Park. (3rd April, 2010). History was made today at Oulton Park with the first ever Zing Trofeo Abarth 500 GB race. The highly anticipated Trofeo series kicked off with a close, clean race with added excitment – Gareth Howell took the inaugural win having taken advantage of an unforced mistake by pole sitter Ben Winrow on lap one.

Charlie Butler-Henderson fought a close battle with James Blythe for much of the race to take second, followed by a hard charging Benny Simonsen in his first ever car race, spinning on the first corner and then coming from the back of the field to take and amazing 3rd – his first career podium. Not only a podium finish but Simonsen recorded the fastest lap of the race at a 1.57.113.

It was a 1-2 finish for Advent Racing, who also ran 4th place James Blythe and rookie 5th placed Josh Wakefield. Andrew Crighton of Advent said after the race:

“Absolutely fantastic result, we couldn’t have hoped for better really. To get first and second in the first ever Trofeo race was a remarkable result. It’s all credit to the drivers.”

Paolo Callea, who has put together this new championship was delighted with the size of the grid of 14 Abarth Asstto Corse 500 race cars for the first race and the way in which it played out. He said:

“The first race of the season was a very good. All drivers were competive, the cars looked good and the racing was clean. There were no major incidents so itt was a great success and I need to thank the Trofeo team, Abarth and and of course all the UK Abarth dealers, sponsors and partners for all their support. We knew we were on the right track with this project from the start and we look forward to growing the championship.”

This weekend’s racing will be screened on Motors TV on the 17th of April at 8:45pm.

RESULTS