Brands Hatch 5/6th May 2012
The Trophy season continued with our first ever(?) triple header race weekend at a cool and wet Brands Hatch. Those out for the first time this season were Dan Surridge in Julia’s ZR 160 from last year, our 2011 third placed man Ross Makar in a brand new ZR 160 and David Koskela in his F 160. A late entry from returnee Alastair Rushforth in his ZR 160 boosted the grid to 18 cars, the minimum we need to maintain our championship status, however this was not to last!
Testing
The testing on the Friday was attended by less cars than I had envisaged however the high cost for the 4 half hour sessions was probably the reason why only 8 Trophy cars were present. In the morning session David Williams suffered with a blown engine and the CMC guys fitted a replacement. Ross Makar’s new car had an intermittent electrical problem causing it to cut out, this proved to be difficult to diagnose. Several cars had ‘offs’ during testing including Dan Surridge.
The afternoon sessions kicked off at 2pm and all those that were able to were out on track re-aquainting themselves with the Indy circuit. Ross managed a few laps but the intermittent problem persisted and much head scratching followed. David had to miss this session but his car was ready for the 4pm final session later. Richard Marsh unintentionally experimented with an automatic opening boot-lid airbrake but decided it was quicker with it shut! Some good times were recorded with Dan Surridge on a 57:98 and Chris Bray on an alleged 53:08, both excellent times for their classes. Ross again suffered with the intermittent problem. The 4pm session again saw most cars out but the CMC guys were busy again changing the clutch on Dan’s car.
The afternoon sessions kicked off at 2pm and all those that were able to were out on track re-aquainting themselves with the Indy circuit. Ross managed a few laps but the intermittent problem persisted and much head scratching followed. David had to miss this session but his car was ready for the 4pm final session later. Richard Marsh unintentionally experimented with an automatic opening boot-lid airbrake but decided it was quicker with it shut! Some good times were recorded with Dan Surridge on a 57:98 and Chris Bray on an alleged 53:08, both excellent times for their classes. Ross again suffered with the intermittent problem. The 4pm session again saw most cars out but the CMC guys were busy again changing the clutch on Dan’s car.
Qualifying
The Trophy qualifying commenced at 09.41 on a wet track, all 18 cars taking part. The problem with the Makar car was solved very late on Friday evening, a broken wire was found, and part of the wiring loom was replaced. Budby was off on lap 2 at Paddock Hill bend and didn’t continue. Early pace setters were Streather, Bray, Ollie Neaves, Winstanley, Makar, Luti and Cole. Surridge made an early pit stop to attend to a bit of right rear quarter damage following an off but was soon back out. At five laps it was Bray, Streather, Makar, Walker, Ollie Neaves, Buckley and Cole. All the C class cars were running either the 16” or 17” wets.
Walker was in on his 6th lap and didn’t continue due to a loose gearbox mounting bracket. The Makar car ran with no problems to the relief of the 4G racing team. Luti was still down in 10th at the 10 min. mark, however, on his 8th lap he was up to P3. With 3 minutes left it was Bray, Streather, Luti, Cole, Dan Neaves, Makar, Buckley and Savage. At the flag,the class A/B pole went to Bray on a 59.827 and the class C/D pole to Paul Savage on 1:02.976 both these times being achieved on their final laps.
Race 1 (Saturday)
The first of the Evans Power-Cool sponsored races was at 14.42. Unfortunately, as everyone lined up on dry tyres, it began to drizzle making the track conditions treacherous to the point that certain drivers managed to spin on the green flag lap! The first casualties were Budby and Gordon-Colebrooke at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend on the opening lap, both ended up in the gravel, Gordon-Colebrooke made it back to the pits but didn’t continue. At Graham Hill bend Ollie Neaves spun off and hit the barrier, Cole spun at Clearways but rejoined at the back, all this bought the safety car out. On the re-start, Surridge and Williams spun at Graham
Hill bend and Savage and Marsh spun at Surtees, the following pack narrowly avoiding them. At the end of lap 4 it was Bray, Streather, Luti, Savage and Marsh. Buckley received a warning flag and pulled in after 7 laps, the car handling badly in these conditions. The various spins etc stretched the field and Bray, Streather and Luti built up a gap from the rest of the pack. At half distance it was these three followed by Rushforth, who had made excellent progress from 16th, Makar and Walker. Makar moved into P4 on lap 10 but lost his position a lap later dropping down to 7th. The last couple of laps saw the ZR190’s of Walker, Dan Neaves and Cole move up to 4th, 5th and 6th respectively with Rushforth taking the win for class C/D in 7th. Bray, Streather and Luti claimed the first three spots for the 190 cars and following Rushforth, Makar and Surridge claimed 2nd and 3rd in class C/D.
Fastest laps Class A/B was Streather with a 55.94 on lap 13 an excellent achievement in these conditions. Class C/D was ‘guest’ Surridge with a 58.967 on lap 13, another excellent time.
Driver of the Race and winner of a Titan oil voucher, Alastair Rushforth ZR160.
Race 2(Sunday)
Despite the Ollie Neaves car being repaired overnight, unfortunately neither the Budby or Gordon-Colebrooke cars were able to compete on the Sunday, reducing the grid to 16 cars. Class poles based on 2nd best qualifying times went to Bray (class B) and Makar (class C). A slightly revised timetable gave us a start time of just before midday for the second of our three races. The continuing wet conditions at least meant that all cars were suitably shod for the start. More bad luck saw the Ollie Neaves car being pushed off the grid leaving 15 cars to take the start. The opening lap saw the same three cars in the lead as previously with Streather literally inches from Bray’s back bumper. On the second lap Marsh slid off at Graham Hill bend and rejoined the track just as David Williams arrived on the scene, with nowhere to go Williams T-boned Marsh’s passenger door, eliminating both cars. Streather continued to push Bray very hard with Luti less than half a second behind. Following these was Cole in 4th then a gap to the first class C car of Makar, closely followed by Dan Neaves and Savage. Savage moved up to P6 on lap 8 a position he held to the finish. The class C/D cars of Rushforth and Koskela, running without wet tyres, soon dropped to the back, being lapped as early as lap 6. The fight at the front between Bray and Streather reached a climax at the end of lap 6 as Streather moved into P1 along the Brabham Straight only to lose it as he went slightly wide at Graham Hill bend where Luti took advantage and slipped into P2. Bray heeded the warning and pushed harder to maintain his lead, Streather re-taking Luti back into P2 at Druids on lap 10. Buckley had an off on lap 8 but rejoined, Winstanley held on to a tank slapper and Walker and Surridge kissed at Druids. Bray pressed harder and began to open a gap between himself and Streather and at the flag it was Bray from Streather by 3.24 secs. with Luti in 3rd a further 1.6secs. back. 4th place went to Cole some 27 secs. adrift. Class C/D race was won by Savage from Makar and Surridge, Winstanley recovering to take 4th.
Fastest laps Class A/B was Bray on lap 15 with 59.814, Class C/D was Savage on lap 11 with 1:01.693
Driver of the Race and winner of a Titan oil voucher, Paul Savage.
Race 3 (Sunday)
Both the Marsh and Williams cars were too badly damaged to continue however the problem with the Ollie Neaves car was due to a flat battery, this was put on charge with the hope that it would last for race three. 14 cars took the start at 14.27 in the rain. In pole position was Bray for the third time, with Streather next to him and Luti third, exactly the same positions for all three races. Makar took the class C/D pole for the second time. At the end of the first lap it was Bray, Streather, Luti, Cole. Ollie Neaves finally got a race but limited his use of his lights to maintain some battery voltage! Winstanley spun going up Hailwood Hill on lap 3, Rushforth also spun on the same lap dropping both down the placings. Buckley had a problem on lap 5 which also dropped him back down the placings. At the front, Bray lead from Streather and Luti with a gap back to 4th place man Cole. The order stayed much the same throughout the race, Bray taking his third win of the weekend with Streather and Luti also taking 2nd and 3rd again. In the class C/D race the win went to Savage with Makar 2nd and Surridge 3rd.
Fastest laps Class A/B was Bray on lap 9 with 59.646, Class C/D was Savage on lap 8 with 1:02.039
Driver of the Race and also overall Driver of the Day Chris Bray.