RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

Ben Collins set for Touring Car debut at Brands Hatch

Ben Collins – the driver formerly known as ‘The Stig’ – will make his touring car race debut with Airwaves BMW in the final round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch, the team’s home circuit, next weekend (October 9/10).

In a career spanning 15 years, Collins has raced in a wide range of categories – taking victories in F3, GT and the European Le Mans Series – alongside his career as a precision and stunt driver. His recent credits including doubling for Daniel Craig in the James Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace’ and Nicolas Cage in ‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’.

While he has not yet raced in the BTCC, Collins is familiar with the car, having track-tested a Motorbase Performance-run BMW 320si at Brands Hatch on a wintery day last November for a feature in Autosport magazine. He will next become reacquainted with the car on Friday, when the team will test at Snetterton, Norfolk in preparation for the season finale.

Ben Collins said: “It’s fantastic news to be confirmed in the Airwaves BMW line up and I’m looking forward to my first outing in BTCC which should be an action packed finale for Britain’s premier racing series. I had a test with Motorbase Performance last year in the BMW and they are clearly a highly professional and highly motivated team which I’m really keen to work with.”

Airwaves BMW team boss David Bartrum added: “We’re delighted to be working with Ben again, or is it James Bond, I’m never really sure! After he had a run in one of our BMWs at Brands Hatch last year, we tried to put something together for a full season, but it didn’t quite come off, so we’re glad it has for the final round. Ben is a great driver and this is an excellent chance to see him mix it with the rest of the BTCC grid in an Airwaves BMW”.

Collins joins regular drivers Mat Jackson and Steven Kane for the Wrotham-based team’s home round.

Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on 9/10 October are now available from £24 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. For more information call 0870 950 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk.

Mallory Park saw the penultimate rounds of the Red Dragon Race & Track Club`s MR2 RACING SERIES, Sunday saw the opening weather dry and windy. Qualifying saw the top 10 drivers in the 57 second laps, on pole was Dave Pittard with a 57.3 lap and followed then by Alex Gassman,Adam Lockwood,Sarah Wherry,Chris Shackle and Arran Pullan with half a second covering these drivers.

Race 1: a great race between series leader Alex Gassman and new comer to the series Dave Pittard, the win going to Gassman by half a second from Pittard, Adam Lockwood took 3rd from Arron Pullan then Dave Hemmingway and Chris Shackle.

2nd race: had the same three drivers dicing for the lead, Gassman,Pittard and Lockwood, Pittard threw it in the gravel trap at Gerrards, leaving Gassman to win by half a second from Lockwood, Pittard put in the new lap record of 56:84 for the MR2 series, Chris Shackle , Roger Pullan, Matt Smith and Paul Corbridge filled the top six places special mention for the last three drivers on the grid, due to accidents in the first race, Sarah Wherry, Ross Stoner and Jon Winter were the last cars on the grid, Jon Winter made his way up to 10th place, Sarah Wherry finished in 9th place and Ross Stoner finished in 7th place and got the driver of the day award for his drive awarded by the MK1 Club on the day.

the last two races of the Series will be at Brands Hatch on Oct the 24th.

Whilst it may be a non-championship race, a bumper crop of cars has entered for the Monoposto Challenge races at Silverstone, enticed by the rare opportunity to race on the Silverstone GP circuit.    It has also the nominated event where the Ray Dackombe Trophy will be awarded, drivers accumulate points for both qualifying and both races.

Two drivers will be debuting new cars and stepping up a class.   Yunus Amiere has moved from Mono1800 class to Mono2000 with his new 2001 Formula Renault, and Henry Fryer will be moving to Classic in his new 1988 Tatuus Formula Renault.

1  Neil Harrison  Dallara F398 1998 Opel 2000cc
6  Tristan Cliffe  Dallara F398 1998 Toyota 3S-GE 2000cc
8  Tony Cotton  Dallara F300 2000 Toyota 3SGE 2000cc
9  Richard Purcell  Dallara F300 2000 Toyota 2000cc
12  Jeremy Timms  Dallara F397 1997 Vauxhall 2000cc
16  Tony Bishop  Formula Renault 2000 2006 Renault 2000cc
22  Chris Woodhouse  Dallara F302/4 2002 Toyota 1998cc
25 R5  Kevin Mason  Dallara F300 1999 Vauxhall 2000cc
26  Malcolm Scott  Van Diemen 2001 Ford 2000cc
34  Graham Read  Dallara F300 2001 Toyota Toms 2000cc
50  Yunus Amiere  Formula Renault 2001 Renault 1998cc

Mono Classic 2000

3  David Cox  Ralt RT3 1983 Vauxhall XE20 2000cc
4  Jim Blockley  Ralt RT3 1984 Vauxhall 2000cc
5  Russ Giles  Reynard 913 1991 VW 16v 2000cc
11  Mark Schofield  Ralt RT30 1985 Toyota 16V 2000cc
12  Peter Venn
14  Mark Smith  Tatuus Formula Renault RC97 1997 Renault 1998cc
18  Nick Anstruther  Bowman BC3 1992 VW 16v 2000cc
19  Nick Catanzaro  Formula Vauxhall Lotus 1989 Vauxhall 2000cc
20  Jeremy Goodman  Ralt RT3 1981 Ford Zetec 2000cc
23  Louis Watts  Vauxhall Lotus Reynard 1987 Opel/Vauxhall 2000cc
24  Christopher Anstruther  Ralt RT32B 1988 Toyota 2000cc
28  Lenny Coleman  Reynard 883 1988 Toyota 2000cc
31  Ian Hughes  Van Diemen RF88 1988 Vauxhall 2000cc
32  Terry Clark  Formula Vauxhall Lotus 1990 Vauxhall 2000cc
33  Francis Phillips  Reynard 923 1992 Volkswagen 16v 2000cc
35 R8  Simon Lonnergan  Formula Vauxhall Lotus 1992 Vauxhall 2000cc
44  Kevin Otway  Formula Vauxhall Lotus TBA Vauxhall 2000cc
45  Henry Fryer Fiamma Rossa Racing Tatuus Formula Renault RC98 1998 Renault 1998cc
46  Andy Woolley  Reynard 903 1990 Vauxhall XE 2000cc

Mono 1800

51  Philip Nicholson  Swift SC97Z 1997 Ford Zetec 1800cc
52 R6  Michael Dale  Van Diemen RF82 1982 Ford Pinto Holt 2000cc
63  Rupert Reader  Formula Vauxhall Junior 1998 Vauxhall 16v 1600cc
64  John Whitbourn  Ray GRS02 2002 Ford Zetec Scholar 1800cc
74  Marcus Sheard  Mygale SJ00 2000 Ford Zetec Solus 1800cc
81  Malcolm Cook  Van Diemen RF83 1983 Ford Pinto Damico 2000cc
85  Peter Bragg  Nemisis Mygale SJ00 2000 Ford Zetec 1800cc
91  Douglas McLay  Mygale SJ04 2004 Zetec 1800 1800cc

Mono 1600

57 R1  Eddie Guest  Lola T640 1982 FF Kent 1600cc
66  David Parkinson  Reynard FF83 1983 Kent Neil Bold 1600cc
70  Joe Venor  Lola T644E 1984 Kent Scolar 1600cc
73  Jonathan Baggott  AW1 1998 Ford Kent 1600cc
77  Nigel Davers  Van Diemen RF89 1989 Ford Kent 1600cc
88 R7  Michael Wilkinson  Swift Formula Renault 1994 Renault 1700cc

Mono 1400/1000

2  Peter Whitmore  Van Diemen RF05 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa 1340cc
7  Geoff Fern  TFR 10 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa 1340cc
17 R3  Gary Hill  OMS 2000M 2003 Suzuki Hayabusa 1340cc
21 R2  Adrian Wright  GEM AW2 2003 Yamaha R1 1000cc
27  Stuart Digby  Jedi Mk6 2006 Kawasaki 1000cc
29  Dax Ward  Jedi MK6 2008 Suzuki 1000cc
36  Darren Freeman  Jedi Mk6 TBN Yamaha R1 1000cc
39 R9  Marc Fortune  Jedi MK6 2008 Suzuki 1000cc
40 R4  Mike Reed  Jedi MK6 1997 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc
43  Tim Cameron  Jedi Mk4 2005 Yamaha R1 1000cc

The Monoposto Racing Club visited Oulton Park for the first time in two years on a Saturday with an unsettled weather forecast.

2000 & 2000 Classic

Jeremy Timms took another pole position during a damp qualifying session. Tristan Cliffe took 2nd, both drivers opting for slicks. Ray Rowan’s F3 engined car was next, Ray opting for wets. Mark Harrison, making a Mono return, was 4th and Terry Clark surviving a spin at Druids to take a stunning 5th to be the first non-Dallara and also taking pole for the Classic class ahead of Peter Venn’s Anson and Jeremy Goodman’s Ralt. Nick Anstruther was another returning driver, Nick having an early bath after coming unstuck at Druids and getting beached in the gravel trap, and brother Chris was out in his Ralt, the car fresh from rebuild and a rolling road session, but no opportunity for any shake down testing prior to the meeting.

Peter Venn was to take no further part in the meeting when his engine failed. Richard Purcell was another high profile casualty, his Dallara running well in Friday testing before a late afternoon engine failure meant a withdrawal from the meeting.

Race

Threatening skies meant that everyone was debating tyre choice. Some gambled on wets, most opted for slicks. Tristan got the better start, his side of the track drying faster than Jeremy’s side and established a lead he was not going to give up easily. Jeremy was quickly on his tail, the two pulling away from the squabble for third place which was contested between the Ray Rowan, Mark Harrison and Malcolm Scott.

Jeremy knew the circuit much better than Tristan and was using the brakes harder, but an errant misfire caused him to drop back a few times, before it cleared and he could close up again. Tristan made a small mistake on the 7th lap and spun at Cascades, Jeremy taking avoiding action which also caused him to spin onto the grass. Despite loosing 15 seconds, Tristan was able to re-start and continue in the lead, but sadly Jeremy couldn’t restart his car and retired.

This promoted Mark Harrison to 2nd, with Malcolm Scott 4th overall, but inheriting third as Ray Rowan was given a 10 second penalty for jumping the start. Graham Read clawed his way up from 13th to finish 5th on his first visit to the Oulton Park International Circuit, enough to earn him Driver of the Day.

Russ Giles took Classic honours, ahead of Jeremy Goodman and a 3rd in class for Graham Probyn in his Reynard 863. Francis Phillips retired after a collision with Jeremy Goodman, Nick Anstruter suffered a cracked exhaust and Chris Anstruther and Terry Clark were also those who did not finish.

1000, 1400, 1600 & 1800

Chris Woodhouse put his Speads on pole with Stephen Brooks lining up alongside him, with British GT Mosler pilot, Martin Short making his Monoposto debut with a 1800cc class pole and a stunning 3rd overall.

Geoff Fern, still sore from his Mallory Park accident, put his JKS in 4th as leading 1400 competitior. BTCC Commentator Ben Edwards was another welcome Monoposto debutant, also taking a 1600 class pole with 6th overall.

Chris Hill impressed on his second race weekend with 8th overall in tricky conditions in the OMS in Mono 1400, Henry Fryer qualified his FVJ well to take 2nd in the 1600 class. Ian Hughes pitted early with brake issues, and Nigel Davers spun off on his first visit to Oulton, the newcomer starting well down the field.

Race

Chris and Stephen pulled away fairly easily, with Chris always having the advantage on pace to take an easy win. Peter Bragg and Martin Short had a race long battle, the two cars trading third place several times with Bragg making the position stick on the last lap, to take the final step on overall winners podium, a position that the 1600 and 1800  cars rarely see. Geoff Fern 5th and Ben Edwards 6th. Phil Nicholson muscled his Swift to 3rd overall 1800, in a battle with Rupert Reader, Jim Timms and Michael Dale. David Parkinson took 2nd in 1600′s with Nigel Davers recovering well to take 3rd. Len Turner took points for 3rd in Mono1000 which will do his championship hopes no harm.  John Rawlings, making his racing debut, took driver of the day, making 4 places from his qualifying position to finish in 14th overall.

The race was interupted with several laps under the safety car, to recover the Agent DR1 of Ian Hughes which shed one of its front wheels near the Shell Oils corner. Henry Fryer was the other non-finisher.

Report: Andrew Cliffe
Photo: Norwich Photo

Brands Hatch to host historic four-way British Touring Car title decider

Quartet of drivers capable of sealing title honours at Kent season finale

The 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will go down to the wire at Brands Hatch next month (9/10 October) where for the first time in history, four drivers will do battle for the overall title.

Never before has a quartet of racers arrived at the season finale in contention for the drivers’ crown, and leading the charge is Silverline Chevrolet’s Jason Plato – who is bidding for his first title glory since 2001.

Plato bounced back from a five car pile-up in the last round to score two podium finishes and build a 17 point cushion over his three title rivals. However, with more than 45 points available during the hat-trick of BTCC races at Brands Hatch, the trophy challenge remains wide open.

Plato will have to fend off competition from Honda Racing duo Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, who have secured no less than 10 race wins between them this season, and the rapid Team Aon Ford Focus of Tom Onslow-Cole, who clinched his maiden 2010 victory on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in May.

The season finale is also an important meeting for two south east teams, as the Airwaves BMW squad from Wrotham in Kent lies third in the teams’ championship with drivers Steven Kane and Mat Jackson, whilst AmD Milltek’s Shaun Hollamby from Thurrock in Essex will be hoping to steer his VW Golf to its first top ten result this season.

Another local driver hoping for glory on home ground is 16-year-old Jake Hill from Goudhurst in Kent, who is challenging for this year’s Ginetta Junior Championship, a racing series for 14-17 year olds. Hill – who races for the Tollbar team – has taken nine victories this season and lies second in the standings, however he will need to overturn a 42 point deficit on championship leader Tom Ingram in order to take overall honours.

The weekend will also feature title-deciding action from Formula Renault UK, Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the Ginetta Junior Championship, plus racing from the Renault Clio Cup and Ginetta G50 Cup.

After a season full of the highs of motorsport, Team sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed endured its most difficult weekend of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season in the penultimate round of the year at Donington Park.

The team headed to the re-opened East Midlands circuit on the back of strong weekends at both Silverstone and Knockhill, but both Widnes-racer Paul O’Neill and Guernsey-based team-mate John George found themselves out of luck in the latest three races of the campaign.

Paul was in impressive form in qualifying to secure the seventh quickest time at the wheel of his BTC-spec Honda Integra but was unable to match that performance on race day due to a mysterious handling issue on his car.

Having been forced out of the opening race after an incident involving Tom Boardman on the exit of Coppice, Paul did well to battle through the field to twelfth in race two before the problem with his car forced him out of the final race of the weekend.

Despite failing to score a top ten finish on a race weekend for the first time this season, Paul remains inside the top ten overall and is fifth in the Independents’ championship heading to the final round at Brands Hatch in three weeks time.

“Qualifying was great but we had a problem with the car which we chased all weekend but were unable to resolve,” he said. “We need to look into it back at the workshop and solve the problem for Brands Hatch, but this has been a tough one for us. As a team, we always do our best but unfortunately this weekend, it wasn’t good enough.

“However, as we have shown all season, this team is one of the best in the paddock so we’ll put the weekend behind us, forget what happened and come out fighting for a good end to the year on Finals Day.”

Team-mate John started the opening race of the weekend from 16th on the grid but a poor start saw him lose places when the lights went out, with his Honda sitting 18th after an early Safety Car period. A multi-car accident ahead on the restart saw John forced to pick his way through damaged cars and foam barriers littering the circuit at Goddards and he made the most of the chance to pass numerous cars and finish just outside the points in twelfth place.

After a 16th place finish in race two, John matched his race one result in the final race of the weekend to add more points to his Independents’ championship challenge and to help the team to maintain third in the Independents’ team standings.

“Things started well in practice but I didn’t get the best from the car in qualifying so was lower than I should have been on the grid,” he said. “I have to admit that my start in race one was terrible but then there was carnage and we were able to make up places. Races two and three were better although things got a bit spread out, but this weekend just makes me more determined to have a good run at Brands Hatch and end the year with another top ten finish.”

Tech-Speed chief Marvin Humphries saw his team work hard throughout race day to try and remedy the issues that emerged at Donington and said the team would now work hard to ensure a successful end to the year in the season finale.

“Things went okay for John but on the whole, Paul has summed it up really; it just wasn’t our weekend,” he said. “We had an issue with the handling of the car, which need to look at when we get back to base and fix the problem for the final rounds. This is the first really bad weekend we have had this season but it happens in motorsport. We will pick ourselves up from it and chase a good end to the year at Brands Hatch.”

Sunshine.co.uk MD Chris Brown shared in the disappointment following the weekend and vowed that the team would come back fighting on Finals Day to repay the support shown by BTCC fans in recent weeks.

“The fact that this season has gone so well for us makes the difficult weekends harder to swallow, but they happen to everyone at some point,” he said. “It’s disappointing for Paul to have been unable to add to his tally and also for John that he couldn’t break into the top ten after his recent strong performances. However, it’s an indication of the job that both drivers, and the guys at Tech-Speed, have done all year that we can have a tough weekend like this and still be third in the Independents’ standings at the end of it.

“Away from the track, I want to also say thank-you to the fans who have expressed support for Paul and the team in the two weeks between Knockhill and Donington Park. It’s hugely appreciated, and after a tough weekend here, the whole team will be looking to repay that backing at Brands Hatch.”

Report: Matt Salisbury
Photos: www.speedsnaps.co.uk

GT Cup :: Round Six Brands Hatch Sept 19th

RACE ONE

In Group One Alex Martin #87 Porsche 997 GT3 had an exciting race long battle with Michael Saunders in his #99 TVR Cerbera. Saunders kept Martin under huge pressure and eventually took the lead at three quarter distance only to spin coming into Graham Hill Bend leaving Martin with what turned out to be a comfortable win. The two FF Corse Ferrari 430 GTCs of Gary Eastwood #18 and Leon Price #88 had their own battle coming home 2nd and 3rd

Group Two it was Marco Pullen in his #13 Ferrari 360 who won the Group Battle by about half a second ahead of Colin Mowle in his #77 KTM XBow. Colin Broster had qualified 14th and then had a brilliant drive back up through the field and joined the battle for the Group Lead until he spun at Dingle Dell, even so he still came home 3rd in Group Two.

Group Three was another very close race , this time between Tom Andrew in his #7 KTM XBow and Dan Norris-Jones in his #73 Lotus Exige. Dave Botterill picked up a puncture and performed the impressive feat of returning to the outer paddock to change the wheel himself, came back, rejoin the race and qualify as a finisher coming 3rd in Group.

Group One

1st Alex Martin #87 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

2nd Gary Eastwood #6 Ferrari 430 GTC

3rd Leon Price #88 Ferrari 430 GTC

Group Two

1st Marco Pullen #13 Ferrari 360 GTC

2nd Colin Mowle # 77 KTM XBow

3rd Colin Broster # 15Porsche 996 GT3 Cup

Group Three

1st Tom Andrew #7 KTM XBow

2nd Dan Norris-Jones #73 Lotus Exige

3rd David Botterill #8 Porsche 944 Turbo

RACE TWO

Saunders started the race well down the grid having only established one quick qualifying lap leaving much work to do to join Martin at the front of the grid and to repeat the excitement of race one. The opening lap of race two was to dash any prospect of the crowd seeing another Cerbera v. Porsche duel. Leon Price #88 Ferrari 430 GTC spun in heavy traffic going into Paddock Bend, this then caused a number of other incidents further back down the field and as a result Mike Saunders ,#99 TVR Cerbera, ended up in the gravel traps beside the Price,t hankfully both relatively unscathed. Marco Pullen #13 Ferrari 360 GTC was also involved and was forced to retire. However the car had leaked oil and this caught out Peter Belshaw #39 KTM XBow who spun at Druids. Tom Andrew also had a spin. The safety car came out, when racing resumed Alex Martin emerged with a comfortable lead well ahead of his nearest Group One rival , Gary Eastwood who had been held up in the first lap incident. Danny Winstanley had decided that the TVR was no longer a viable proposition and instead he brought out the #48 Porsche 964 Turbo and he came a 3rd in Group One

The action now moved to Group Two where #52 Nick Foster BMW CSL Coupe, Keith Webster in his now rather battered #10 BMW M3 E46 and Benjamin Harvey in his #45 KTM XBow had a race long battle. The three crossed the line in that order.

In Group Three David Botterill led the Group for a large part of the race and eventually Sara Bennett-Baggs in her #72 BMW M3 E46 took the lead ahead of Tom Andrew who had spun early on in his #7 KTM XBow . At the flag it was a delighted Sara Bennett-Baggs who took her first ever Group win followed by Tom Andrew and David Botterill.

The next round of GT Cup is at Spa-Francorchamps on the 2nd and 3rd of October.

The Pinkney Motorsport team secured its seventh top ten finish of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park, although the penultimate rounds of the 2010 season would leave the team disappointed at being unable to match the potential of its car.

Having been forced into an engine change on Sunday morning prior to the opening race of the weekend, Harpenden-racer David Pinkney went into the first race looking to progress up the order after an incident in qualifying left him down in 18th place on the grid.

David climbed to 15th before the Safety Car was deployed to retrieve the car of Paul O’Neill from the grass exiting Coppice before a multi-car accident on the resumption of the race allowed him to jump up to ninth place having avoided a series of cars and foam barriers littering the circuit at Goddards.

Unfortunately, a trip across the grass exiting the Old Hairpin while following Tom Boardman’s SEAT saw grass collected in the radiator of his Vauxhall Vectra and David was forced to back off through the final laps as the engine started to overheat, although he took the flag in tenth place for a championship point.

The hopes of more points in race two were ended on the second lap when contact from the BMW of Andy Neate at Redgate saw David spin into the gravel. While marshals were able to push him out onto the circuit as the Safety Car was deployed, the fact that the race was under caution for just a single lap meant he was unable to close onto the train of cars ahead. Despite that, David lapped strongly to make up two places before the finish to take the flag in 18th.

A strong start to race three saw David climb up to 13th on the opening lap as the Vectra showed its strongest pace of the weekend, and he made up a further place to twelfth on lap two. However, more grass thrown up from a car ahead became lodged in the radiator which saw David forced to back off and rather than fight for points, he had to settle for 13th at the chequered flag.

“It’s frustrating when things that you can’t control affect the results on track,” he said. “The pace was there in the car and we showed it can be quick, especially in the final race when I managed to set a 12.8 lap despite being in traffic. However, our race day has been ruined by the fact that the grass around the circuit had been cut and was thrown up into the radiator causing the engine to overheat, which shouldn’t be a problem we have to deal with.”

Team manager Andrew Dean was pleased with the way the team had improved the car over the course of race day, even if that progress wasn’t reflected in the overall results.

“Yet again we’ve made changes throughout the day which have made the car quicker but we haven’t been rewarded with the results,” he said. “In the opening race we were running strongly before grass blocked the radiator and David had to back off, so even though we scored tenth place, the potential was there for more. It was disappointing that another driver cost us the chance to fight for points in race two and then in the final race, we could run easily with the top eight until more grass in the radiator meant we had to back off.

“We had a car that had the potential to score in all three races so it’s disappointing that we haven’t got the result for the boys. Lady luck hasn’t been on our side but we’ll regroup for Brands Hatch and hope to end the season well.”

Report: Matt Salisbury
Photos: PSP Images

With much of the Toyo Tires Racing Saloons series now done and dusted, the stage was set for two of the greatest tracks on the motor racing calendar – Cadwell Park and Oulton Park.

With Cadwell resembling the infamous Nurburgring circuit in Germany, racing drivers are always eager to grace this UK-based ‘Nordschleife’, and this year was no exception.

Colin Tester was a force to be reckoned with, after stealing pole position and a double victory, to enhance his championship charge in fine style. As Tester crossed the line for honours in the opening adventure, it was Leigh Franklin and Stephen Primett who followed him onto the podium. Meanwhile, Lawrie Dunster continued his strong showing, backing the top three up in fourth.

The second race was a similar story, as Tester again proved he was the man to fear. Edging out a slight advantage, Franklin, Primett and Dunster again rounded out the top four, narrowly ahead of Mark Smith and Mike Collins.

After a strong showing at Cadwell, Colin Tester retained his crown when the series made its way to Cheshire for their 2010 Oulton Park excursion. With qualifying setting the early pace of the weekend, Tester was well on his way to proving his dominance yet again, with pole position for the first of two races. Ken Savage lined his Lotus Elise S1 machine up alongside Tester on the front row, with Tim Sweet and reigning champion Tony Ellis completing the second row of the grid.

As the first race got underway, it was Ellis who controlled the pace, with his fourth place start transferring into an immediate lead, as the field roared away from the grid. As 27 cars thundered around Old Hall (turn one) and made their way down the Avenue towards the renowned Cascades bend, chaos struck as Darren Stamp and Joseph Adam found themselves immediately running out of track.

The incident caused the instant release of the safety car, whilst their stricken vehicles were recovered safely. As the race restarted shortly afterwards, Tester, in second place, was hot on the heels of leader Ellis, as the field bunched up behind.

Before too long the view at the head of the field changed, when a determined Tester found his way passed an unsuspecting Ellis. From here the Ford Sierra Cosworth pilot never looked back, as he edged away into the distance.

As the seventh and final lap came to an end, Tester swept passed the chequered flag, as Ellis narrowed the margin between them on the final tour in second. Simon Phillips changed his fifth place start into a third place finish, while Tim Sweet, Lawrie Dunster and Roger Kneebone completed the top six.

The second outing was a different story at the front, with Kneebone taking advantage of a failing Tester to score honours.

A race one victory handed Tester a pole position start for race two, however as the race unfolded he soon returned to the pits with a problem that ended his race.

As the lights went out it was excitement up at the front, as Sweet, Kneebone and Dunster sandwiched one another into Old Hall Corner, whilst Tester expanded his initial advantage out in front. Once the Sierra peddler was forced into retirement it was Kneebone who took control of the outing, fending off a forceful charge from Sweet for the duration.

Behind the leading duo, Dunster soon met his match in the form of Leigh Franklin, as the latter latched onto the back of Dunster’s BMW M3 E36, before sneaking passed for third.

As the final lap arrived the chequered flag awaited a three-way fight for honours, with Kneebone grasping it millimetres ahead of Sweet and Franklin. Dunster crossed the line a somewhat distant fourth, whilst Stephen Primett and Mark Capewell completed the top six.

There are now just two rounds remaining, with Silverstone and the additional Meldrew Trophy date left awaiting the TTRS fraternity, and what a showdown it’s set to be.

With three races planned for the Production BMW Championship at Cadwell Park, the pressure was on to see who would come out smiling.

Dubbed the ‘mini Nurburgring’ due to its tight and narrow track, Cadwell always puts on a good show for the fans, and this was no exception.

The first qualifying session went the way of Ben Winrow, with the former Clio Cup Champion ready to battle for honours. James McIntyre secured the quickest time in the second qualifying outing, with Winrow setting the fastest overall time.

A strong field of entrants allowed for three separate races, to ensure each driver fought it out twice each. The first outing went the way of Winrow, with the youngster getting the better of rivals Rob Smith and Liam Crilly.

Determined not to let Winrow escape into the distance, the latter two hung onto his BMW 320i, with just over one second separating the top three.

As the grid lined up for the second time, honours came the way of Smith, with the reigning champion waltzing onto the top step of the podium. Behind, Nick Barke completed the challenge a somewhat distant second, with Tim Wilson right on his tail in third.

With the BMW chase coming to an end at the challenging circuit, the final race of the weekend got underway with Winrow heading the field once again. Eager to shake off advances from his closest rivals he stormed around the tight and twisty track, with Wilson in tow.

As the pair swept across the finish line, Wilson was just 1.371 seconds adrift, handing Winrow another double bout of victories.

The top of the championship standings is still extremely tight. As the season weaves to an end all eyes are focused on who will be taking home the most important spoils.

After doubling his on track efforts this season with the Production BMW Championship and Trofeo Abarth GB series, Ben Winrow racked up a double victory at Oulton Park (11^th September).

The opening race of the day was very much controlled by the weather, when a down pour on the first lap slowed the pace dramatically. As everyone tried their best to manoeuvre the wet track a number of drivers succumbed to the circumstances, as they pirouetted around Old Hall corner.

Winrow managed to negotiate his way around, heading the field from a pole position start, whilst his nearest rivals splashed their way to success behind. Despite keeping a close eye on the leader, second and third placed Rob Smith and Tim Wilson were unable to make too much of an impression, as they followed Winrow onto the podium.

Further adrift, Stuart Waite made up ground from his starting position to cross the line fourth, whilst Robin Welsh translated a 23^rd place grid slot into fifth place at the flag.

As the lights diminished for the second time, Winrow and Smith launched towards turn one side by side, with the former getting the advantage once again. With the weather in their favour this time around a dry track presented a great deal of excitement, with Smith harassing Winrow for the duration.

Chaos struck when the safety car made an appearance with just seven minutes remaining, to recover a number of stricken vehicles. As the time ticked downwards, the race was restarted with a one lap dash to the flag, which saw Smith lock onto the rear of Winrow’s similar machine for honours.

Unable to distract the youngster, Smith and Wilson followed Winrow home once again. Welsh progressed on his opening race performance to finish fourth, with Jack Gabriel fifth.

Report: Leanne Fahy

Track Torque at the Britcar 24 hours – Fun, History, and Endurance with Chevron

The British sports car industry is once again in the ascendancy, with marques that have lain dormant being revived, as typified by Chevron, a manufacturer which makes its debut in next weekend’s Britcar 24 hrs at Silverstone

Tockwith-based Track Torque, renowned for their successes in historic racing, Porsche Open, and Fun Cup, will be running the single-car initiative, with an impressive driver line-up, and team director Clive Ray Young outlined their background, and their aspirations for the race; “We wanted somewhere to develop our drivers, upwards from the Fun Cup, and were looking for a GT racing category. We considered Ginettas, but everybody seems to be doing that, then we saw the Chevron GR8 at the Autosport show last January. We’ve been running Travis drummer Neil Primrose, and our other team director Nick Jarvis, in the one-make Chevron GR8 Challenge all through this season, but, right from the start, it was always our intention to do the Britcar 24 hours – the Challenge is a good series, but we want to test the Chevron against other cars. This is a works-backed effort – Chevron have come up with the manpower, and Track Torque the finance”

A 24-hour race is a very different matter to a one-make sprint, but Clive has no concerns with facing the gruelling event; “The Fun Cup is endurance racing, and we are always the best British finisher in the Spa 25hrs race, so we know how to run these type of races”.

And the car?

“We’ve just had a three-day test at Anglesey. We spent one day getting the settings right, then just ran continuously for two straight days, with no real problems- we just switched the engine off at the end of one day, then turned it on again the next morning. It was also our first time out on slicks, as we normally run on Toyo control tyres, and a revised aero package. You could say we are quietly confident. Rob Wilson did a lot of the work – it’s said that a good deal of the F1 grid goes through his instruction – and he’ll be joining our two regulars, Neil and Nick, in the car”.

With the final driver now announced – this was always going to be Chevron’s choice, and it’s BTCC and British GT star Paul O’Neill – this has got to be considered a serious contender.

STEVE WOOD

Snetterton race circuit to undergo major redevelopment

New ‘300’ configuration to be created for 2011 season

Snetterton 300 circuit

Snetterton race circuit is to undergo major redevelopment before the 2011 season with the objective of transforming it to become the best circuit in the UK through a combination of driver exhilaration, spectator entertainment and safety.

A new 3 mile circuit is being created – Snetterton 300 – which incorporates a completely new infield section of approximately 1 mile integrated with a revised version of the original Snetterton circuit. Snetterton 300 will become the newest circuit in the UK and the second longest in the country, and has been designed as an international circuit with the target of achieving an FIA Grade 2 licence.

For MotorSport Vision Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer this has been a project of great personal interest. “With Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Cadwell Park we have three outstanding circuits with immense driver/rider appeal. Snetterton has its own character and great features of long straights and superb high speed corners but overall has lagged behind the other MSV circuits in terms of driver/rider appeal and spectator entertainment. Now that will all change and many will regard Snetterton as being the best circuit in the country for these crucial elements.

“Circuit layout is something I am passionate about and I have enjoyed designing the new Snetterton circuits. It was important to combine the best features of old Snetterton with the elimination of its weaknesses and the addition of a major new section to expand it and make it a real competitors’ and spectators’ favourite. I wanted every corner to either be a really exciting driver/rider challenge, or produce a good overtaking opportunity.”

Three different circuits

Snetterton 300 circuit

Snetterton 300 is the longest layout at 3 miles and is expected to be used for not only the major British Superbike and British Touring Car events but also many national and club events. Snetterton 200 is the closest to the original circuit but evolved to provide much better overtaking opportunities with the new turn 2 and turn 13. Snetterton 200 is expected to be used for some club race events and on such occasions it will be possible to use the Snetterton 100 circuit simultaneously for trackday type activities as well as enable spectators to take their cars and bikes onto the track on a pay per lap basis. Snetterton 100 will also be used for race school and testing activities.

The new track width will be 10m, an increase from the 9m of most of the existing track, and similar to many F1 tracks. As part of the redevelopment all of the remaining original circuit will also be resurfaced. Furthermore there will be an increased track width of 12m at turns 2 and 13 to further facilitate overtaking.

Snetterton 200 circuit

Superbly exciting to drive and ride on

Jonathan Palmer talks through the rationale behind each of the corners on the Snetterton 300 circuit:

“Turn 1 is the existing super fast Riches, one of the best corners on any track, and this remains unchanged.

Turn 2 is very different from the old Sear – a corner that produced little overtaking, was not particularly challenging and inevitably featured cars running onto scruffy exit concrete beyond the track. This is replaced with a tight hairpin modelled on one of the best overtaking points on F1 circuits – the Montreal hairpin. Cars and bikes can often close through Riches, and this will create a superb overtaking opportunity.Turn 3 is designed to be an exhilarating driver/rider challenge and features the exact radius of Monza’s Parabolica – a fantastic sweeping corner.

The straight from Turn 3 to Turn 4 runs right past what will be a new extensive garden terrace area at the back of Tyrrells restaurant, so just like at Le Mans you can enjoy a meal or drink right beside cars and bikes speeding by.

Snetterton 100 circuit

Turn 4 is the second big overtaking opportunity. Faster competitors should be able to close through Turn 3 and then outbrake into 4, which will have a big run off area straight ahead and feature wider track width, to help encourage lunges!

Turn 5 is a fast curve designed to require just a dab on the brakes or a lift, enabling faster competitors to close in preparation for turn 6.

Turn 6 is a tight right hander providing the third overtaking opportunity, modelled on Rivazza from Imola.

Turn 8 follows the turn 7 curve and is a medium fast corner leading on to the original main straight – such corners provide the best opportunity to keep close to a competitor ahead leading on to a long straight. Another great Italian corner provides inspiration, and this is essentially Monza Lesmo 1.

Turns 9 and 10 are the existing Esses corners, with tidying up of the run off areas and surrounds. Popular competitor opinion was that this should remain as a unique traditional feature of Snetterton providing good overtaking opportunities.

Turn 11 – the Bomb Hole – continues unchanged, its mid corner depression always creating a challenge and now enjoying a huge new run off area outside.

Turn 12 is the existing fast sweeping Coram, one of the country’s favourites, which will in effect become a bit tighter by continuing through a larger angle and for longer. If a car was just flat before, it won’t be now.

Turn 13 replaces the old Russells chicane. For me the worst corner on the existing track, providing little overtaking opportunity, no driver challenge and needing various degrees of messy, car damaging kerb crashing to be quick. This is replaced by one tight left hand corner, braking for which will prove a real challenge with cars and bikes loaded up exiting Coram. Drivers and riders face a dilemma – keep left for a fast Coram exit and enter 13 tight and lose exit speed there, or compromise Coram exit speed to get to the right side to give a wide turn in to turn 13 for optimal speed down the pits straight.”

Outstanding spectator viewing

A key consideration for Snetterton 300 has been to provide a circuit with the best viewing in the UK along with Brands Hatch Indy. To achieve this, the new section is all within an infield arena that can be entirely viewed from three separate elevated viewing embankments. The central viewing bank by turn 4 will enable easy viewing over an incredible 2 miles of circuit, and equally importantly, three new major overtaking points will be within this area. No UK circuit will have such a combination of extensive track with great action viewable from one location.

Great safety

With the recent major pushing back of the Bomb Hole bank to increase the amount of run off available, Snetterton has become an even safer circuit. All of the new sections have also been designed with big run off areas to minimise the chances of a car or bike making contact with the tyre walls, to both maximise safety and minimise the risk of damage to vehicles.

Paddock area

The asphalted areas of the Snetterton paddock will be extended to provide more hard standing for

competitors, and allow a paddock with direct access to the Snetterton 100 circuit via its own pit lane. Power supply to existing garages will be increased and the ramps from the garages modified to enable low single seaters better ground clearance. In the future the existing garages will be refurbished and a new pit garage complex built to service Snetterton 100.

Future development

Phase 2 of the Snetterton transformation will be to develop the 30 acres of land to the east of the entrance old runway approach to build motor racing team workshops, engineering workshops, car and motor cycle retail outlets and accessory shops. The Snetterton Business Park planning permission also includes a hotel and conference centre near the entrance. Such development is planned to commence in 2012.

Fans to contribute to corner naming

We believe that many fans may have great ideas with regard to the naming of not just the new Snetterton corners, but some of the existing ones too, and MSV welcomes all suggestions. To enable this, a website has been created – www.snettertonnames.com – at which fans can make their proposals.

For more information on the Snetterton redevelopment plans visit www.snetterton.co.uk.

Race Report – Mallory Park, 19th SEPTEMBER 2010

As is traditional, the Caterham Academy came to a close at Mallory Park, but with a little more action than expected.

Gp1 - A champion’s finish…

Merlin Edwards had been tipped for the win this weekend and when he put his orange car on pole, it looked like it was definitely going to be his moment.

That all changed when the lights went out and Blaize Rhodes leapt into the lead from the second row, Edwards being shuffled back. Rhodes clung on to the narrowest of leads which now looked like anybody’s. Champion-elect, Wes Fox only had to keep his nose clean to take the crown, but couldn’t help being part of the battle, briefly overhauling Edwards for second as a seven car train formed to vie for the lead. But of main concern to Edwards was Jon Mortimer, the two fighting over the runners-up spot in the championship. After frustrating opening laps, Mortimer was starting to make progress up the train, picking off the positions one by one. Meanwhile, Rhodes had succumbed to Edwards, with Matthew Whate and Wes Fox just behind, each trying to out-brake the others into the Esses. As the midway point of the race was reached, disaster struck for Edwards with a spin from the lead at the hairpin, dropping him to eleventh. Fox inherited the lead, still pulling Whate along with him, with Rhodes and Mortimer (now looking secure for the second place in the championship) in close attendance. The four squabbled furiously, but cleanly, over the lead positions until a couple of laps from home when contact with Whate pushed Mortimer into a spin and well down the order. Fox held firm to take the win, rounding off his championship winning year, with Rhodes an excellent second. Mike Hart inherited third in the confusion, with James Bishop in a good show for fourth and Matthew Whate shunted back to fifth. An excellent recovery drive from Edwards gave him sixth and the fastest lap, but with drop scores taking effect, this was one position shy of demoting Mortimer from the runner-up slot.

Championship position confirmation: 1st Fox (120pts), 2nd Mortimer (103pts), 3rd Edwards (102pts).

Academy Gp2 – Another champion’s finish, but with added action…

Brands Hatch victor Ross Macindoe was delighted to snatch pole in the last laps of qualifying to the dismay of PistonHeads.com journo Matt ‘Riggers’ Rigby, who would still be starting from the front row for the first time.

Championship leader Kurt Brady made the best start from the second row, to take the lead with Macindoe behind and David Menzies in third. But at the Esses, midfielders James Needham, Chris Bingham and Tim Abbott (uncharacteristically low down the field) tried going three abreast around the corner. It didn’t work and Abbott briefly took to the sky as he climbed over the right rear of Bingham, who was left spinning. Behind them Andrew West tried to avoid Abbott’s wayward car but was clipped, sending him into a dramatic series of cartwheels, bringing out the red flag. This greeted the leaders as they came over the Devil’s Elbow, but David Menzies was too close to Ross Macindoe to see it in time as Macindoe backed off. Menzies hit the back of Macindoe’s car, firing himself into the Recticel barriers on the inside of the Start/finish straight, coming to rest upsidedown in the gravel. Despite the magnitude of the two accidents, the cars were in remarkably good shape (though not able to restart), as were all the drivers who escaped completely unharmed.

A shortened race got underway from original positions, with Brady once again taking the lead. Riggers made a much better fist of it this time and, after one brief lapse to Martin Pass, retook his second place and himself and Brady stretched their legs on the remaining pack. Pass fell back to spend the rest of the race fending off Macindoe and narrowly did so to take third at the flag, with Brady and Riggers still in position at the front; Brady, like Fox, finishing his championship winning season in style. With Abbott unable to make the restart and Rigger’s best ever finish, he clinches third place in the championship by a single point from Abbott.

Championship position confirmation: 1st Brady (116pts), 2nd Pass (111pts), 3rd Rigby (104pts).

Jack Clarke marks the scores during the test

BRITISH MEN REJOICE: PRE-SCHOOLERS PROVE THAT THE AGE-OLD MYTH IS TRUE – MEN ARE BETTER DRIVERS!

BRANDS HATCH HOSTS UNIQUE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT

New findings revealed today that men are naturally better drivers than women, following an experiment involving over 70 pre-school boys and girls who took part in a series of controlled tests. The research was conducted using electric Roary the Racing Car ride-ons at world-famous motorsport circuit, Brands Hatch.

Results were analyzed based on concentration, spatial awareness, dexterity, control and overall speed in a series of three trials. The examination included a straight race from start to finish, a reversing test and a manoeuvring challenge around cones. The findings proved that although girls were slightly quicker off the mark at the start of the race, boys were 34% better at concentrating and demonstrating visual-spatial skills whilst driving in a straight line. Although, girls overall speed is 5% faster than boys when racing straight, boys are 20% better than girls at maintaining their line.

Pre-schoolers aged 3-4 years were deemed best for this study to test natural driving ability. According to child psychologist, Donna Dawson, boys and girls develop significant differences in brain structure, hormones, and are influenced by culture and society a lot more after this age.

Donna Dawson comments: “We analysed the driving skills of pre-schoolers to ensure, as much as possible, that it was a level playing field to find out which gender is naturally superior. The research proved that the boys came up trumps, but that the girls also excelled in different areas, such as listening and better hand coordination.”

When manoeuvring around cones, boys pipped the girls on speed by 10%, whilst girls had greater focus and better hand dexterity. Surprisingly, the reverse test reveals that boys are 17% better than girls at doing two things at once such as moving and steering whilst looking over their shoulder.

Jack Clarke with Roary the Racing Car Character Big Chris

Specialists from the hit children’s programme, Roary the Racing Car (the motor racing ambassador for the under-5’s), worked with Brands Hatch’s leading motoring experts and Donna Dawson, to create the tests that were overseen by FIA Formula Two Championship Driver, Jack Clarke, and Brands Hatch Senior Driving Instructor, Alan Wilshire.

Jack Clarke comments, “While the boys were better at applying the theory and their scores were more consistent, I think overall the girls were better at taking in information. Motorsport is fast becoming a much more mixed sport and there are certainly a lot of female drivers – such as Danica Patrick and Natacha Gachnang, who I have raced against in Formula Two – coming through and some are beating the top male drivers.”

Keith Chapman, co-creator of the hit children’s programme comments, “We investigated the myth ‘are men really better drivers than woman’ using pre-schoolers as Roary the Racing Car is a recognised authority on motor racing for children aged 2-5 years. The boys and girls had a lot of fun on the track. We wanted to give them a great experience as well as achieve conclusive results about which sex is better behind the wheel. My wife is devastated by the findings!”

2010 Caterham Supersport Champion James Maclachlan steps up to R300 with dpr motorsport

2010 Supersport Champion James Maclachlan will be taking part in the last two rounds of the 2010 Superlight R300 championship as a preliminary to his entry into the 2011 championship. Maclachlan has purchased a dpr motorsport built R300 which he will be racing in the forthcoming R300 rounds at Castle Combe and Donington.

James Maclachlan steps up to R300

Following his success in the 2010 Supersport championship James Maclachlan has purchased the dpr motorsport built R300 previously raced by Andrew Bruce. James Maclachlan said “Both Andrew Bruce and myself have been racing with the support of dpr motorsport. When Andrew’s R300 became available I jumped at the opportunity to race in the last two R300 race weekends. I recognise the step-up from Supersport and the benefit from gaining some actual Superlight race experience prior to the start of the 2011 championship.”