RACE REPORT: MINI Challenge Rd2 - Brands GP

Words and photos David Young Photography

MINI Challenge
Brands GP 9/10th May for JCWs & Gen 3 cars

The second round of MINI Challenge racing was split between the different classes, with the new Generation 3 MINIs and JCWs racing at Brands Hatch on May 9-10 and the Coopers competing at Rockingham on May 23-24.

The Gen 3 cars should be able to stretch their legs a bit more and see how they go against a well sorted JCW on the long GP Circuit at Brands.  The Cooper class cars have been given the weekend off, they will race at Rockingham two weeks later. The weekend stars were supposed to be the Blancpain GT series, but I think the MINIs were the actual stars.

Saturday morning was cold, damp and the MINIs were first on the track at 9.00 sharp. The circuit opened at 8.00 so the first hour was a bit of a panic, get in, sign on, pick up media passes, park car again, get up to Druids all within the first hour!

Well I made it just. Some of the newer cars never actually made a good start, waiting the track to dry a bit before putting in a good time.  Steve Cocker put paid to that with and off, resulting in a Safety Car followed by the Red Flag terminating the session. Lee Pattison in his Excelr8 run Gen3 car was on pole, he managed 4 laps. Lawrence Davey did not manage to set a time as he was stuck in the pits with technical issues.  Rob Smith was P2 keeping up his performance from Donington, William Phillips was next up feeling bang on form.  Most of the Gen 3 cars had a new “map” to overcome overheating issues and run a full boost all of the time. (So I have been told anyway). JCWs were also racing alongside the Gen 3 cars. The good JCWs overtaking the slower Gen 3 cars. 

Results in Race 1 were as follows: Gen 3: Luke Pattison P1, Robert Smith P2, and William Phillips P3.  JCWs: Jono Brown P1, Neil Newstead P2 and Henry Duprey P3. It was Henry’s first time out in his JCW since October last year, he was well pleased, Neil Newstead put in a rock steady performance and was narrowly beaten by Jon Brown who was in a JCW this time rather than the Gen 3.

Races 2 & 3 were held on the Sunday afternoon to allow the teams to fettle their car and still enjoy a Sunday lunch.  What a magnificent couple of races they all had.  Race 2 had a manic start with all 23 cars trying to go round Paddock Bend on warm tyres.  Cars all over the place, a few dented panels and a safety car.  At the restart Luke Caudle was at last back to his winning ways, using Adam Weaver’s Power Maxed Gen 3 car, he had a great battle for the lead with William Phillips, William eventually took a bit too much speed into Paddock bend, it was effectively race over for him.  David Grady took up the chase and had a great race with Luke and Robert Smith, Charlie Butler-Henderson was also in with group, all finishing together with under 2 seconds splitting them.

JCWs were again having a fine battle, this time Henry Duprey and Hamish Brandon were having a great battle for honours with Erkka Lindstedt and Neil Newstead playing the supporting roll.  Superb sounds from the Gen 3 cars with their straight cut gears winning away along with a great sounding exhaust note.  They certainly sound better than F1s do today!

Race 3 was held late afternoon, the penultimate race of the meeting.  Reverse grid for the top 4 has Lawrence Davey on pole alongside Charlie Butler-Henderson with Rob Smith and David Grady on the next row.  The JCWs had Neil Newstead and Kevin O’Connor on pole, with Hamish and Erkka behind them.

Charlie got in front at the first bend and there he stayed until the chequered flag. Rob Smith had a rare mistake and went off leaving David Grady to chase down Charlie, who was driving his socks off in a very well sorted car.  Oakfield Motorsport, who run his car, have Bill Sollis as the team manager!

The JCWs this time had Neil Newstead in command, starting from the front row gave him the opportunity he needed. The race was between Hamish Brandon, Henry Duprey and Jono Brown, what a race that was, Neil was up in front totally relaxed and had a fair margin in hand, he decided to relax and save his tyres, this saw Henry seize his chance and started to put in some quick times in pursuit, meanwhile Hamish and Jono were slugging it out for 3^rd and 4^th.  Jono claims that as he is not in the championship he did not want to risk upsetting Hamish so he eased off, good excuse!

	Gen 3		JCWs
Race 1	Luke Pattison		Jono Brown
	Roberts Smith		Neil Newstead
	William Phillips		Henry Duprey
Race 2	Luke Caudle		Henry Duprey
	David Grady		Hamish Brandon
	Robert Smith		Erkka Lindstedt
Race 3	Charlie Butler-Henderson		Neil Newstead
	David Grady		Henry Duprey
	Bence Balogh		Hamish Brandon

Share this: