Stockport – Cloud 9 Hosts’ Graham Saul picks up Goldenware at Oulton Park

Graham Saul of Stockport based Tectanet Systems and Cloud 9 Hosts won his class and has brought home a Gold Cup at the Oulton Park Gold Cup. Epic for the car being only the third race it’s ever done since being built.

Oulton Park’s signature historic event returned on its traditional August Bank Holiday weekend date this year (24th-26th), with an astonishing line-up of racing from the Historic Sports Car Club. Last year’s programme included everything from ’60s Grand Prix cars, to powerful ’70s single-seaters, and stunning ’90s touring cars.

Graham wasn’t the only Cloud 9 Hosts sponsored driver on track!

Cloud 9 sponsored Jake Hill got a ‘Dream Drives’ in Holden V8 Supercar and Nissan Skyline GTR at Oulton Park Gold Cup.

Invited to drive Ric Wood’s stunning Nissan GTR R32 Skyline at the Oulton Park Gold Cup, BTCC star Jake Hill got an extra bonus when an issue with the Skyline prior to qualifying, saw the cars owner Ric Wood generously give the 25 year-old a chance to drive Wood’s spectacular Holden Commodore V8 Supercar.

Jake was delighted to have been given the chance to take part:

“My friend and sponsor Graham Saul from Cloud 9 Hosts is one of Ric’s closest friends – he put me forward to drive the Skyline knowing how passionate I am about the cars.

“I have my own R32 road car that I love to bits – but it’s thanks to Ric, Graham and (fellow BTCC star) Adam Morgan that I have been given this chance.”

Grinned Hill:

“I was gutted the Skyline developed an issue in practice, but so fortunate that Ric gave me the chance of a few laps in the Holden in qualifying. What a car and what an experience!”

After hard-work from the Ric Wood Motorsport crew overnight, the stunning blue Japanese machine was primed for action on Sunday, Hill forced to start from the back of the grid having not set a time in qualifying.

With Wood electing to start from the pitlane, and Hill starting last of the 17 car field having not driven a lap in qualifying, it was a daunting task for the young BRDC member – never having driven the car at all, and on one of the most challenging circuits in the UK!

However, Hill quickly sliced through the field, ending the opening lap a remarkable 7th overall, and then working his way up to 4th by the end of lap two, passing Mark Jones’ Renault Laguna Super Tourer then to take P3.

As Hill started lap four he was aware of an issue with the car, and was forced to bring the car into the pits at the end of the following lap and into retirement.

“What an amazing experience. To have raced my ‘dream’ car today – despite having never done a lap in it before – was such a fantastic feeling. The car is SO fast, I absolutely love it! My thanks are to Ric (Wood) and Graham (Saul) for this opportunity – not only in the Skyline, but also to get some laps in the Holden Australian V8 Supercar….oh my word! Thanks to Ric, Graham and Ollie for having faith in me. I’m a lucky boy!”

Hill will be back in the Trade Price Cars Racing Audi S3 at Knockhill on 14/15th September.