Maloney wins SR3 Cup at home as T&T youngsters shine

  Stuart Maloney extended his lead in the Radical Caribbean SR3 Cup (RCC) on Saturday evening (July 7), with two wins on home turf, as the second round played out under the all-arena lighting on the new 1.28-kilometre/0.79-mile National Circuit at Bushy Park Barbados. Trinidad & Tobago's (T&T) Kristian Boodoosingh won on his debut in the series, echoing the achievement of his teenage compatriot Isa Deen at the Frankie Boodram Wallerfield International Raceway two weeks prior.

 

  With four wins from six races, Maloney now has 127 points, 22 more than his brother Mark, who established the Race Record for the SR3 Cup on Saturday - also the National Circuit's first Outright Lap Record - and had three second places. Deen completed the podium each time, slipping to third in the standings with 96 points, while Boodoosingh's impressive debut amassed 49 points to place him fourth, as he brought the number of SR3 Cup winners to 12.

 

  Following last week's port delays caused by a computer malfunction, the containers returning from T&T were only unstuffed at Bushy Park on Friday afternoon, leaving Radical Caribbean's support team facing a long night to re-prepare the Suzuki-powered SR3s, in one case including installation of an engine. With the work done, newcomers Boodoosingh, his T&T team-mate Luke Bhola and local driver Justin Maloney, who was standing in for his absent uncle Sean, were able to test ahead of the race meeting.

 

  Stuart and Mark Maloney, Deen and Boodoosingh all dipped below the 40-second mark in Practice, with Stuart fastest (39.591s) and a spread of just four-tenths across the quartet and early indication of how close the competition would be. In Qualifying, the order remained the same, the Maloneys and Deen shaving tenths off their times, opening a gap back to Boodoosingh; the pole-sitter established the Qualifying Record at 39.304s. Although a second or so adrift, Bhola and Justin Maloney were evenly-matched, which promised some good sport later.

 

  The first of the three 15-lap races passed without major incident, Stuart Maloney leading from the start, press hard by his brother Mark - there was just four-tenths between them at the chequered flag - with Deen, who had initially been in touch, slowly dropping back. Boodoosingh was rarely more than a few lengths adrift of Dean, while Bhola's spin at the Bullet on the opening lap dropped him behind Justin Maloney, only for the local driver to return the favour on the final lap, reversing the positions.

 

  With the grid for race two based on the reverse of Qualifying, Justin Maloney and Bhola started on the front row, with Boodoosingh and Deen on row two, Mark and Stuart Maloney on row three. As ever, the reversed grid shook things up: Mark Maloney made an excellent start, making slight contact with brother Stuart, which cost them both time, Stuart dropping to the back, while Boodoosingh snatched the lead on the opening lap. Bhola spun on lap two, dropping behind Stuart Maloney, while Justin Maloney also dropped back. Mark Maloney, however, was flying; up to third by lap four, he tucked in behind Deen, eventually finding a way past on lap 11, then closed in on race leader Boodoosingh. All attempts to force an error were futile, however, the T&T driver crossing the line just three-tenths ahead. Maloney, who had established the Race Record in race one, knocked another half-second off in race two, leaving the mark at 39.059s.

 

  For the day's final race, points scored earlier decide the grid: with 37 points each, Stuart Maloney and Boodoosingh started on the front row, Maloney on pole thanks to his better Qualifying result. Mark Maloney and Deen sat on row two, Bhola and Justin Maloney on row three. Three distinct races developed, as the front row pair fought tooth and nail to the flag, pole-sitter Stuart claiming his 17th SR3 Cup race win by just four-tenths; after snatching third place on lap one, Deen held off a strong challenge from Boodoosingh, although the latter faded towards the end, Deen claiming the place by just over 1sec. At the back, Bhola and Justin Maloney enjoyed a real cut and thrust battle, Maloney seeking every opportunity to pass; on the last lap, both spun at the Hairpin, spelling potential disaster for the lead battle, which was homing in to lap them. Stuart and Mark Maloney picked their way neatly between the two stricken cars, however, while both Bhola and Justin Maloney re-started, crossing the line a lap down.

 

National Circuit, Bushy Park Barbados (July 7)

Qualifying:

Pole - Stuart Maloney (BAR) - Bushy Park Barbados Radical SR3 RS, 39.304s, 117.24kmh/72.85mph (establishes Qualifying Record)

2nd - Mark Maloney (BAR) - Rock Hard Cement/Bushy Park Barbados Radical SR3 RS, + 0.133s

3rd - Isa Deen (T&T) - Fast Parts/Torco Race Fuels/Car Boutique/Redline Oils/

Richtune/Bhola's Marketing Radical SR3 RS, + 0.221s

4th - Kristian Boodoosingh - T&T (CR Boodoosingh & Sons Ltd/Fast Parts/Torco Race Fuels/Richtune/Garage 61/TechPoint Tuning Radical SR3 RS), + 0.639s

5th - Luke Bhola - T&T (Bholas Marketing/Fast Parts/Torco Race Fuels/Richtune/Garage 61/TechPoint Tuning Radical SR3 RS), + 1.480s

6th - Justin Maloney (BAR) - Bushy Park Barbados Radical SR3 RS, + 1.548s

Race 1 (15 laps): 1st S Maloney, 10m 26.857s; 2nd M Maloney, + 0.392s; 3rd Deen, + 7.031s; 4th Boodoosingh, + 8.755s; 5th Bhola, + 42.227s; 6th J Maloney, + 1:11.494s Fastest lap: M Maloney, 39.625s, 116.290kmh/72.26mph (establishes Race Record) Race 2 (15 laps): 1st Boodoosingh, 11m 32.038s; 2nd M Maloney, + 0.334s; 3rd Deen, + 2.589s; 4th S Maloney, + 7.760s; 5th J Maloney, + 22.048s; 6th Bhola, + 1 lap. Fastest lap: M Maloney, 39.059s, 117.975kmh/73.31mph (new Race Record) Race 3 (15 laps): 1st S Maloney, 10m 47.630s; 2nd M Maloney, + 0.456s; 3rd Deen, + 1.881s; 4th Boodoosingh, + 2.927s; 5th J Maloney, + 1 lap; 6th Bhola, + 1 lap. Fastest lap: Deen, 39.491s, 116.685kmh/72.50mph

Points after round 2: 1st Stuart Maloney 127pts; 2nd M Maloney 105pts; 3rd Deen 96pts; 4th Boodoosingh 49pts; 5th Sol Esuf (BAR) - Express Imports/S Y Adams/Prosales Radical SR3 RS 36 points; 6th J Maloney 28pts; 7th Bhola 26pts; 8th Sean Maloney (BAR) - Bushy Park Barbados Radical SR3 RS) 25pts; 9th Mark Vieira (GUY) - Radical SR3 RS 10pts

Qualifying rounds: Jun 23/24, Frankie Boodram Wallerfield International Raceway (T&T); Jul 7, Bushy Park National Circuit (BAR) - Night Races; Sep 1/2, Bushy Park International Circuit (BAR); Nov 10/11, South Dakota (GUY)

 

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