Victory and Heartbreak for Oggelsby at Thruxton in the Caterham 270R Championship

The Caterham 270R Championship rolled into Thruxton over May bank holiday weekend, the fastest circuit on the calendar and it delivered exactly what it’s known for: high-speed drama, relentless battles, and absolute carnage. With five or six cars often hurtling side-by-side into the final chicane, penalties and collisions were inevitable across all races.

For Immico driver Paul Oggelsby, it was a rollercoaster weekend that showcased his pace and determination. Race 1 was a standout performance. Starting from 9th on the grid, Paul stormed through the pack with a perfectly judged drive, taking the lead just moments before the safety car was called due to a crash, which then led to the end of the race and Paul securing his first 270R win.

Race 2 looked set to deliver more points until disaster struck. While running in the lead pack, the car ahead mistakenly shifted from 3rd to 2nd gear at 85mph instead of up to 4th, dramatically slowing mid-corner. With no time to react, Paul made heavy contact and was launched into the wall, ending his race on the spot.

Thanks to an incredible effort from the RS Motorsport crew, the car was patched together in just 90 minutes for Race 3. But ongoing issues, including a bent chassis and severe handling problems made the car a real handful to drive. Despite climbing over 10 places from the back of the grid, a sudden engine cut-out on the final lap brought another DNF.

That’s three DNFs from six races so far, none of them Paul’s fault. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but the pace is clearly there, and the motivation is stronger than ever.

“I’ll take the positives,” Paul said. “We got the win, we’ve shown front-running pace every weekend, and the support from RS Motorsport has been fantastic. It’s tough to have three DNFs already, but I’m fired up for Anglesey at the end of May.”

Photos credit SnappyRacers