Steve Chaplin has been crowned as the 2010 Volkswagen Racing Cup with Fuchs Lubricants champion in his 'Herbie'-liveried Beetle RSI. After taking over the championship lead back in May, the 45 year old sealed the crown at the series final rounds at Donington Park.
Chaplin headed into the final weekend with a comfortable margin over nearest rival Paul Taylor, but still needed a strong showing to secure the championship. There was a scare in race one, contact with Richard Walker spinning Chaplin off track, but the Maisemore-based driver recovered to take fourth. He wrapped up the title in the final race with a solid drive to second place, his eighth podium of the season, including one victory.
After five years of campaigning 'Herbie' in the VW Cup, Chaplin is relieved to have finally got the silverware: “We have been hunting it down for a while. This is a hard-fought championship and it seems like an awful long time that we have been plodding away at it. The way the points work, one minute you seem miles in front and the next you are right back in the mix again. I haven't enjoyed defending my lead all year. I go to races to win, to do my best, and this defending business isn't all it's cracked up to be.
“I couldn't have done it without the help of my team, and in particular John Dowds, Craig Davis and Chris Jones, nor without the support I have received from Power Station, AST and Complete Utilities; I'm very grateful to everyone who has assisted along the way.”
Looking ahead to 2011, Chaplin hopes to come back and defend his title, but is also looking to use the experienced he has gained to move into GT-racing: “This is an excellent championship with some wonderful people in it, and I've made some great friends. It's like a holiday going to the races; you come away from work, see all the familiar faces, and I always get the feeling that an awful lot of people are willing me to do well.”