RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

The Fuchs Titan MR2 racing series moved on to Mallory Park, Leicestershire for rounds 11 & 12 or of the 2011 series, 23 cars lined up for qualifying on a sunny dry track.

After qualifying the top 5 drivers were all in the 57 sec laps, with the following 6 in the 58 sec laps, racing was going to be close on this one with such a short circuit and a mass grid , pole position went to Jonny White from Aaron Pullan and Paul Corbridge.

Race 1
Pole man Jonny White led from Aaron Pullan and Paul Corbridge, two laps in Aaron took the lead coming out of the hairpin, only for Jonny to attempt an overtake back going into the hairpin on the next lap, Jonny lost control and spun out, Aaron then pulled a 3 second gap on Paul Corbridge and was soon catching back markers , unfortunately Aaron was unlucky when an out of control back marker caused him to take avoiding action Aaron lost control himself and span and he had to retire , so the win went to Paul Corbridge his first win of the series.

results
1st Paul Corbridge 2nd Ian Davis 3rd Jon Winter
4th Chris Shackle 5th Roger Pullan 6th Gary Lawrence

race 2
with the track now very wet from midday torrential rain Paul Corbridge lead this race closely followed by Gary Lawrence and Chris Shackle, the race followed this pattern until the last pap when Gary Lawrence got better drive round Gerrards and passed Paul Corbridge into the esses to continue and take the win.

results
1st Gary Lawrence 2nd Paul Corbridge 3rd Chris Shackle
4th Jonny White 5th Matt Smith 6th Aaron Pullan

the final race is at Pembrey on 9th Oct

for further details on this series or Red Dragon Race and Track Club please see the clubs web site
www.reddragonraceandtrackclub.com
l

Nippon challenge at DTM 2nd 3rd and 4th Sept 2011

Following the success or the Nippon challenge at the recent FIA F2 meeting on Brands Hatch GP circuit, MSVR have asked Red Dragon race and track club series organiser Steve Vince to put a grid of his successful Nippon challenge series cars on the D.T.M meeting on the 2nd,3rd and 4th of Sept.
The Nippon challenge is open to all makes of Japanese cars of different power, we have classes from 150bhp to 500 bhp and cars ranging from Toyota,Honda,Subaru,Nissan,Mitsubishi and Suzuki to name a few.

for more information on this and any other Red Dragon events please contact Steve Vince on 01646601908 or got to the clubs web site: www.reddragonraceandtrackclub.com

Spaces left to race if you have a Japanese sports car eligible to race in the Red Dragon Nippon Challenge, a fantastic once in a life time chance to race on the full GP circuit at Brands Hatch one practice and two races on this fabulous circuit on the weekend commencing the 22 July please contact Steve Vince for more details on 01646601908 or email Stephenzebra@aol.com.
this is set to be a massive weekend on one of the best circuits our fair Isle has to offer, dont miss out you wont get this chance again!
anything Japanese can enter have a look at the Red Dragon Race and Track clubs site also for details on NIPPON CHALLENGE,SUBARU CUP, FUCH`S TITAN MR2 RACING SERIES,HYUNDAI COUPE CUP, BUDDYCLUB CIVIC CUP……..www.reddragonraceandtrackclub.com

Snetterton 300 circuit was the venue for rounds 5 & 6 of the RED DRAGON Race & Track club promoted series, on a very sunny hot weekend June 26^th.

30 Toyota MR2 MK1`s lined up for qualifying, for most drivers this was the first time they had seen and driven the new layout circuit.

Qualifying

1) Dave Pittard

2) Aaron Pullan

3) Gary Lawrence

4) Ralph Budd

5) Chris Shackle

All drivers came back praising the new circuit!

Race 1

On the long 3 mile circuit the field soon spread out, pole man Dave Pittard showed his experience at doing some track days and race meetings by leaving all behind, he finished 19 seconds ahead of Aaron Pullan .

1) Dave Pittard

2) Aaron Pullan

3) Ian Davis

4) Charlie Budd

5) Paul Corbridge

Race 2

Dave Pittard again used his track knowledge to pull away from the field finishing 17 seconds ahead of Aaron Pullan, who had slowed because of a loose exhaust, with Paul Corbridge getting his first MR2 podium in 3^rd.

1) Dave Pittard

2) Aaron Pullan

3) Paul Corbridge

4) Ian Davis

5) Charlie Budd

The RED DRAGON MR2 Racing series now moves to the full Brands Hatch GP circuit on the 22-24^th July, this is a major coupe for the club and Steve Vince the series organiser is looking for full grids in the MR2 series and the Nippon Challenge.

FUCHS TITAN MR2 Racing Series
Castle Combe was the venue for rounds 3 & 4 of the FUCHS TITAN MR2 Racing series on 30th May, 2011.
Qualifying
35 drivers lined up on a wet circuit for qualifying, Jason Jesse and Aaron Pullan found conditions not to their liking and attacked the barriers, Dave Pittard proved to be the wet master or the day from Mat Smith and Richard Avery to 5 were as follows…
1) David Pittard
2) Mat Smith
3) Richard Avery
4) Ralph Budd
5) Charlotte Burridge
6) Steve Hennessy
Race 1
With the circuit still wet and still raining, Dave Pittard lead off the line from Mat Smith and Richard Avery, Richard moved up to 2nd place but lost control and spun backwards into the barrier losing him a few places, so another win for Pittard from Mat Smith and Mark Woods.
Race 2
With a drying track now for this race and almost the last race of the day the grid was formed up ready with Dave Pittard on pole again and true to his form all day he left the start line and pole never to be seen again by the grid, he finished a full 4 seconds ahead of Aaron Pullan who was 5 seconds ahead of 3rd place Jonny White, unfortunately front row starter Matt Smith had a mechanical / car fire after an off the track moment, this also covering part of the circuit in oil, thus causing quite a few cars to spin off.
1) Dave Pittard
2) Aaron Pullan
3) Jonny White
4) Ralph Budd
5) Jon Winter
The Red Dragon Race & Track Club Promoted series next visits the New Snetterton 300 circuit on 26/6/2011
With the Red Dragons NIPPON CHALLENGE also at this event.

The Red Dragon race & track club started its 2011 racing season at Brands Hatch Indy circuit on the 1st of May with a full grid of 30 cars. Steve Vince the series organiser said we have 12 new novice drivers joining the series or 2011, its a great series for first time racers with cheap cars to buy or build yourselves and controlled regulations to make for close racing.

qualifying
with 39 cars on the circuit on the short indy circuit finding space for a good lap was going to be crucial, the best man at this job was car 69 Simon Lockey followed by car 26 Arron Pullan, both drivers lapped in the high 59 secs, there then followed 7 drivers all lapping in the i mins, led by car 9 Dave Pittard, 13 drivers then followed in the 1 min 1 sec.

race 1
After a frantic start this soon developed into a 3 car race at the front with car 9 Dave Pittard taking the win from Arron Pullan car 26 and car 51 Adam Lockwood, the front 3 covered by only 1 second.

race 2
Fantastic racing all through the grid probably one of the best races I have ever seen said Steve Vince, what a great advert for the series, the race win going to car 9 Dave Pittard from Arron Pullan car 26 then car 80 Dave Thomas and 51 Adam Lockwood, these four covered by less than 1 second.
the leading lady in the races was car 38 Charlotte Burridge with 24th in race 1 and 20 in race 2.
the series now moves on to Castle Combe on the 30th of May.

Red Dragon Race & Track Club presents a sponsorship deal!

Steve Vince the coordinator of the club has announced a sponsorship deal for new Toyota Drivers interested in racing in the Nippon Challenge for the first time in 2011. “we have been very successful with our series for the Toyota MR2 MK1 race cars and with some additional sponsorship, I have put a fantastic deal together for other new Toyota cars and drivers!”

so if your the owner of a Toyota MK2 MR2 , MRS or Roadster or any of the Celica range , Supra range, Corolla etc we can help you with cheaper racing in 2011.

The sponsorship is for new drivers entering the Nippon Challenge for the first time in 2011 it comes in the form of reduced race entries and free race tyres!

for more information contact

Steve Vince :01646601908
email: Stephenzebra@aol.com

Organised by The Red Dragon Race and Track club, the series promoter Steve Vince set up the NIPPON CHALLENGE to run along side his successful MR2 Racing series.
Set up in 2008, it is the only MSA affiliated club dedicated to Japanese and Asian racing cars such as Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan ,Hyundai and Proton, so what ever the car, what ever the performance there will be a place to race it in the NIPPON CHALLENGE!
The class structure is based on weight and BHP to allow a multitude of cars of varying types to compete on track together.
We have seen Integras , Civics ,MR2 turbos, 350zs, 200sx, Swifts, Evos and Impretzas to name a few, with Honda 2000s and 300bhp Nissan Pulsars on the way for 2011, and to add to the mix Asian brands are being allowed in 2011 such as Hyundai and Proton.

Two new competitions are being introduced for this season, the “Hyundai Coupe Cup”.

and the” Buddy Club Civic Club”.

Both offering affordable options to start out racing with cars costing as little as £3900 ready to race!
So the club looks forward to many more years of exiting motor sport with the cars from the far east at its core.

for contacts and information please visit:

www.reddragonraceandtrackclub.com
www.nipponchallenge.co.uk
www.subarucup.com

tel Steve Vince: 01646 601908

race dates for 2011

March 14th (meet & greet)…Silverstone

May 1st………………………….Brands Hatch

May 30th………………………..Castle Combe

June 26th………………………..Snetterton 300

July 17th…………………………Cadwell Park

Aug 29th………………………….Rockingham

Sept 18th………………………….Mallory Park

Oct 16th……………………………Donnington Park

The Red Dragon race and track club organisers of one of the 2010`s UK motor sports biggest success stories the “MR2 MK1 Racing series”,have announced their racing calender for 2011.
Steve Vince the promoter of the series says he is amazed at the interest shown for 2011, the registrations are coming in fast, Steve Vince puts the series success down to his original format of “cheap as chips racing!”
He used a great base car, the Toyota MR2 MK1, a 1600cc 125bhp RWD sports car, which apart from safety items that are required for circuit racing, the cars are kept standard.
This gives us very close racing and drivers skills coming through, no cheque book racing here! If you want to build your own car you can have one ready to race for £2500.00, second hand race cars from £3000,00, or newly built cars ready to race from £4000.00.

Race calender daters for 2011

March 14th (meet and greet) Silverstone ,all welcome to come and view!
May 1st…Brands Hatch
May 30th..Castle Combe
June 26th..Snetterton 300
July 17th…Cadwell Park
August 29th.Rockingham
Sept 18th..Mallory Park
Oct 16th…Donnington Park

for further details please contact:
Steve Vince tel 01646601908
www.reddragonraceandtrackclub.com
www.mr2racing.com

Brands Hatch Oct 24th                                                                               (photo of  Alex Gassman most accomplished driver of 2010 and winner at Brands Hatch)

For the final two races the RED DRAGON RACE & TRACK CLUB visited Brands Hatch on Oct 24th.

as with all year we enjoyed full grids again for the last two rounds at Brands Hatch a grid of 34 cars lined up for qualifying on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit,over night rain had left the circuit  damp with a drying line, pole position went to Alex Gassman from Adam Lockwood, Ross Stoner , Jonny White ,Mark Scott and Neil Stratton.

Race 1

The track was fully dry for race one, Alex Gassman had a start too finish victory chased hard by Adam Lockwood and Dave Pittard, Ross Stoner made his way up to 4th place after a flag infringement during qualifying which had caused him so start from 20th on the grid.

Race 2

It rained hard before race 2 making conditions very tricky, Ross Stoner made best start from Dave Pittard , Adam Lockwood and Alex Gassman, Alex Gassman then got spun out at Druids on lap 1, he then completed the first lap in 30th place, then had a great drive through the field to finish in 4th place.

Up front Ross Stoner and Dave Pittard were having a great battle, Dave passed Ross at Paddock on the last lap, Ross then fought back with an outside move at Druids but ran out of track. So a win to Dave Pittard from Adam Lockwood with Jonny White in 3rd.

A great end to a fantastic MR2 MK1 racing year with new drivers already ordering race cars to be built for 2011  it looks like 2011 will be dare I predict ,even better!

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.

Cadwell Park for rounds 8 and 9 of the MR2 RACING Series with Red Dragon Race and Track club, Sunday race day was nice and sunny saw an absolutely full grid of 32 cars, qualifying was damp but drying due too a wet night so Hall Bends was interesting!
Qualifying saw Alex Gassman in car 48 get pole followed by Sarah Wherry in car 4 in 2nd place both lapping in 1 min 50 sec, then Ross Stoner in car 22 with a 1min 51 lap.

race 1
was a four car battle between Alex Gassman car 48, Ross Stoner car 22 , Sarah Wherry car 4 and David Hemingway car 5, the win went too Gassman from Stoner, Wherry and Hemingway, with the rest of the grid over two seconds behind having there own battles lead by Chris Shackle in car 77 and Shane Wright car 71 and Matt Smith.

race 2
Again the same four leading the pack this time saw Ross Stoner take 1st from the first lap up Coppice from Gassman then Wherry who was also taken by Hemingway on the first lap, this order continued with all four drivers chasing hard and leaving the grid again, with hot battles going on behind on this tight twisty circuit, on lap 5 the front order changed again seeing Wherry sneak an underpass on Hemingway at the bottom of the Mountain to take back third again and then hold this until the chequed flag, so race podium went too Ross Stoner 1st,Alex Gassman 2nd and Sarah Wherry 3rd the next rounds will be at Mallory Park on September 19th.

Blue skies and a healthy timetable greeted visitors to Castle Combe on Sunday for day two of the Rapid Racking June Summer Racing Carnival.

Mazda

In the Ma5da Racing Championship events which were spread throughout the day, reigning champion Tom Roche had an engine failure on Friday, but managed to get another power plant sorted out in time to take part. Because of the size of the entry list, the competitors are split into three groups A, B & C. Race one was groups A & C in which Roche, and pole sitter Adam Gore both had a poor starts. Roche managed to recover to second position (setting fastest lap in the process) hounding eventual winner Rob Boston to finish just 0.5 seconds behind at the finish. Some 6 seconds further back was Luke Herbert, who took third spot on the podium finishing 2 seconds ahead of Gore.

In the group B & C race, Gore wasn’t able to make amends, starting in second place and finishing third, albeit a lot closer to race winner Paul Sheard – just 0.6 seconds back. Sandwiched in between was Johnathan Greensmith who had started in 7^th place – but managed to make up 3 places by the end of lap one alone. Luke Herbet couldn’t make it second podium of the day, but was only a second adrift and finished in 4^th place.

The final Ma5da race was groups A & B, with three familiar names on the podium. Paul Sheard took his second victory of the day just 0.2 seconds ahead of race one winner Rob Boston. Less than another 0.2seconds back was race one runner up Tom Roche.

Formula Ford 1600

In race 1 of the Formula Ford 1600 events, pole sitter Scott Pye led from lights to flag with Scott Malvern taking the second spot on the podium, after starting 7^th and improving to third by the end of lap 3. Josh Hill, driving in his father’s, and grandfathers, helmet colours of the London Rowing Club had started from the front row, but had dropped to 4^th by the end of lap 3. A brave move into camp corner gave him the final podium position.

Race 2 had the same front row and the same 3 drivers on the podium. This time Hill managed to hold on to his second place starting position, following Scott Pye home by less than a second. In this race Scott Malvern was still the man making moves, all of them on lap 1 incidentally, – finishing third from his 6^th place starting spot.

Toyota MR2

Another lights to flag victory of the day, this time in both of Toyota MR2 races – Alex Gassman taking the honours in both events. He was followed home very closely by Adam Lockwood, with the two of them pulling away from the rest of the grid at a huge rate of knots. Arron Pullan almost was almost on his own in race one, with a 5 second margin over the close fighting Ross Stoner and Mark Scott who finished 4^th and 5^th respectively.

In the second race Stoner managed to go one better, but couldn’t seem to live with the pace of Gassman & Lockwood, and was 18 seconds behind by the end of the race.

Lockwood took the honours for fastest lap in race 1 by 72/1000ths of a second, and Gassman had his turn in race two, claiming it by 21/1000ths of a second.

Another good battle was a little further down the field with Matt Garnham and Philip O’Halloran going side by side into, round and exiting Tower corner, and off as far as I could see, still side by side.

Full Britcar race report to follow…

Words: Alex Ings / Images: Alex Ings.

The first rounds of the Red Dragon Mr2 racing series had a fantastic start to the season at Mallory Park, the grid was at its maximum and over subscribed, but the entries that were taken in after the Mr2 racing grid was full still got to race competitively in the Nippon Challenge also held on the same day and run by Red Dragon track and race club.
On the day the two main MR2 enthusiast clubs were also at the race to witness the start of the 2010 race season they were the MR2 Drivers Club & The MK1  club and both enjoyed this fantastic show of what these cars can do in completely standard form with only safety preparation for racing.

The next two rounds are at Snetterton on May 30th and already the grid is full again with over 38 cars entered and a few more going to qualify possibly with Nippon challenge entries again! So an event not to be missed and one of the fastest circuits on the Mr2 racing and Nippon Challenge calendar this promises yet again very close racing and action packed laps, not to be missed!