Race Report – Tony’s Smokin’ 75
One again another event worth staying up late (or early) for. Brands Hatch Indy and the Mini Challenge car is a classic combination. This was the site of my first ever public server win in these very cars. It’s a great track has most of the very technical corners of the International layout. After my last Mini outing at Edmonton Airport, I couldn’t resist staying up late on a work night to run this. Didn’t quite know what to expect as I’d only ever run short races here (6 – 10 Laps). Could I carry enough fuel, will the fronts scrub themselves into oblivion half way through, will slamming the H-box from 5th to 2nd at Druids for 32 laps finally blow up the Mini’s indestructible gearbox?
Practice
I thought I was doing well in 6th place with a race fuel load run a 55.5, then the big boys turned up the wick, The top 3 at the end of practice were within 0.2s of each other in the highish 54’s and by the end of the Practice, my best time left me 12th of a 15 car grid.
Qualifying.
Even on low fuel, I failed to run a clean lap never bettering my practice time and sitting 12th (still) on a 55:6.
Race 1 – Grid 12th finish 10th
Sitting on the grid, I know that the secret for a good start is care through Paddock hill and Druids. Managed to get my self up to 8th as there was some contact from those in front but slipped back because of a few small mistakes. Was close to picking up other places but just as I was getting to terms with the driver in front, I’d make a silly mistake. Although good tussles with Saul kept me on my toes to the finish! Jesper just passed me on my penultimate and his last lap, I finished 10th, 1 lap down.
Race 2 – Grid 10th finish 7th
There was a bit more contact from the drivers at the front of the grid through Paddock Hill and Druids and I find myself 5th with a good run on Will Y down hill on the approach to Graham Hill Bend to take 4th. Don’t think that there was contact Will, but if there was I’m sorry. It’s sometimes tricky to judge from cockpit view.
Now I was in trouble! I had nowhere near the pace to run down the first three and knew that I’d be under constant pressure from the faster drivers who were also behind me; my ATCC team mate Brandon Lawson, Peter Nielson and Will Yunck. I had about 5 laps where I was running on my own whilst they caught me up and set my PB of the event of 55.4. Once Brandon was on my tail then the pressure started. I think that from about lap 6-29 I was always defending making sure to hit the apex and get clean drive out of the corner. I made a few mistakes which let Brandon and Peter past, but had also pulled a couple of sneaky repasses on Brandon through Paddock hill. Eventually, I was running 7th with Brandon and Peter some way off in front and Will in my tail pipes. Brandon and Peter had an off at Druids so Will and I gained two places. As Will said we battled closely for about 12 laps where I needed to defend strongly, closing the door emphatically on some smart moves from Will. I got the low fuel warning on lap 24 just to add to the tension (although MOTEC told me that I had exactly 8 laps left in the tank, and I was hoping it was correct).After a couple of hairy sideway moments through Clearways, on lap 29 I finally failed to catch it and finished up nose into the barrier on the exit to Clark. By the time that I had found reverse on the H-box I’d lost the place to Will and another to Peter with no chance of making it back.
Fortunately, Mike C was some way behind with the leaders on his tail so the pressure was off for the last three laps. My only issue was that Keith in the lead was catching me and I’d wanted to finish at least on the lead lap.
MOTEC showed that Keith’s lead over 2nd place was comfortable enough that I guess he took it easy on the last lap. If it had been closer for 1st and 2nd I guess that I would have finished 1 lap down.
Finished the race in 7th, with a spluttery motor only to run out of fuel on the inlap. Thank you Motec (1 more litre next time).
Disappointing that my only big mistake of the whole event cost me a finish higher up the field. But positive that despite my lack of pace I kept the faster driver behind with some smart and, mostly, careful driving
So 64 laps down added to the 40 or so that I ran in practice and quail made for a tough event. Thanks Tony for the idea, RD and Eric for the event.
