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Ross
clinches Rookie Championship at Donington – Full Story (17 Oct
04)
 Donington
Park on 25/26th September was to make it or break it
this season for Ross Curnow. He arrived for the last two
rounds, 34 points ahead of his nearest rival and needing to only
finish one race to secure the Rookie Championship. After two
troubled meetings which included a dramatic crash at Rockingham,
however, Ross and the Panther team were taking nothing for
granted.
Having
qualified cautiously in the mid-field for both races, Ross tiptoed
round in Race 1 and finished 3rd Rookie and 12th
overall to pick up the points he needed to take the Rookie
Championship. “I had to take things very steadily to make sure I
didn’t have the championship hanging over me for the second race”,
said Ross afterwards.
In Race 2,
he shot away from 7th on the grid to take 6th
at the first corner and seize three further places by lap 4. He
then held on to 3rd place right to the chequered flag
in a drive which showed great maturity. It extended his Rookie
Championship lead to 43 points and a jubilant Curnow said: “It has
been great to end the season on the podium and this is a fitting
reward to everyone in the team.”
 At the
Championship prize giving hosted by BMW in the evening, tributes
were paid to Ross by Peter Walker, Motor Sport Manager BMW UK, and
Andy Priaulx who has since then won the 2004 European Touring Car
Championship for BMW. Presenting Ross with his trophy, Priaulx
said: Ross has been the only Rookie driver to win a race outright
this year and he should be looking forward to a very successful
Championship in 2005. After that, we should be seeing him in line
for a top Formula 3 drive.”
Having
dominated this year’s Rookie Championship, Ross’s team is already
looking to next year. His father, Alan Curnow, said: “I think we
have some real talent here but we’re in need of serious financial
backing if we are to see it thrive. We’re keen to talk to any
prospective business partners about how we can work together to
ensure that they get a tangible commercial return from their
involvement with us.”
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