RACE REPORT: MINI Challenge Finals - Snetterton

MINI Challenge 15 Finals

Snetterton 300

31^st October-1^st November

Words and Photography David Young & MINI Challenge

With the MINI Challenge final rounds this weekend we saw a massive turnout in competitors and spectators.  All three titles were still undecided so there was everything to play for. 

Points can be scored according to position, 50 max, points for pole 3 points and points for leading the race 3 points.  (Points make prizes). David Grady had been leading the F56 most of the year but had Charlie Butler-Henderson breathing down his neck after a superb clean sweep at Donington. Neil Newstead had a commanding lead in the JCW class with Hamish Brandon having a very narrow chance of toppling him. Nathan Harrison in the Cooper Class had a large lead but both Ricky Page and Mark Wakefield were in contention with a fighting chance too.

Charlie Butler-Henderson on the grid

Friday saw the usual test day with most teams trying to get a wet setup, as far as I can remember only Silverstone was wet this year and that was a long time ago.  Luke Reade was showing a great turn of speed after changing to Sussex Road and Race, well up to speed with the 6^th fastest time.  Charlie Butler-Henderson had a headache but had his sister Vicky to comfort him. Neil Newstead was looking stressed but in control.  Henry Neal was having engine problems, no compression, Team Dynamics were desperately trying to source a spare, (MINTECH to the rescue), Nathan Harrison looked smooth and Ricky Page although still in with a chance thought it impossible to win.  And it rained and rained and rained.

Neil Newstead 2015 JCW Champion Oakfield Motorsport

Saturday morning and the sun came out with no rain forecast but a very damp track.  Qualifying saw some of the F56’s trying a mixture of slicks and wets or all slicks. It was not damp enough for full wets and with 15 minutes to qualify with laps of 2.10, 7 laps are the maximum you could get in if you did not come in for a change of tyres. Charlie B-H in the Oakfield Motorsport F56 got it right and did 7 laps scoring 3 points for pole followed by Jack Mitchell, a guest driver and Jeff Smith from Eurotech trying out their new F56 for a full assault next year. Luke Caudle another guest was 4^th with Lawrence Davey next up. JCWs had Scot Adam run by LDR in pole position followed by Hamish and Steve Ruxton-Cocker in 3^rd. Neil Newstead could only manage 4^th! All drivers getting their quickest times on the last lap as the track dried. Neil was on pole until the last lap.

Cooper qualifying was in the dry and with the sun out. Nathan Harrison secured pole and the 3 points with Max Leaver and Ricky Page next up followed by Simon Walton. Henry Neal had a new engine but it was not running at all well. Max Bladon and Mark Wakefield were all showing a good turn of speed on what is a very fast long circuit. (3 miles in fact).

David Grady’s destroyed front end in the first race

The first F56-JCW Race was a disaster for David Grady who crashed out of contention.  Charlie had a good turn of luck with a helping push from Jeff Smith going into Riches, this enabled him to stay in front.  A very fast almost manic race, 20 minutes seemed more like 30 minutes. Charlie came home first and narrowed Grady’s margin of 54 considerably.  Neil Newstead cemented the JCW championship with another win as love:mini driver Hamish Brandon was forced into the pits with no power.

Adam Cunnington & Mark Steward in qualifying

The Cooper Race saw Nathan Harrison in a lights to flag run to secure the Cooper Class win having pulled a great stunt to keep Ricky at bay, Ricky was a bit sideways going into Brundle and saw his chances slide away (pun). Ricky losing out to Mark Wakefield and Simon Walton whist he recovered his speed. Fastest lap went to Mark and the Cooper Class Championship to Nathan.

Lawrence Davey pushing Rob Smith around Montreal

Sunday morning came and went!  No racing. We were due to start at 9.30, I went round to Nelson to try and get some two-wheel action but when in place I could not see the track or the bridge.  10.30 the revised start time came and went, still too foggy.  11.30 and the fog lifted a bit but not enough for racing. The timetable was rejigged to allow the Track Attack trophy to take place behind the safety car and 1 car at a time! I was getting bored. 12.30 and the fog had still not lifted and the PA said racing may have to aborted for the day.  I started a casual walk back to the pits to be greeted by all the F56-JCW drivers still in jeans etc.  Suddenly the fog lifted.  The PA announced racing would start at 13.15 if the fog stayed away.  Not only did it stay away the sun came out and a big blue sky appeared. Round to the Montreal Hairpin I ran ready for the first race.  In the next 3 hours the whole day's racing took place.

The first F56-JCW race saw Luke Caudle take a brilliant win from Lee Pattison and Lawrence Davey with Charlie B-H in 4^th, David Grady could only score 8^th place and was seeing the title slip away.  In the JCW class it was Steve Ruxton-Cocker’s time to get on the top step as Oakfield teammate Neil protected him from Hamish Brandon and they finished 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd. Fastest laps being scored by Charlie, to collect another 3 points and Steve in his JCW.

Henry Neal Taking his first win

Next race was the Cooper Class, with no pause starting just 15 minutes after the flag in the last race.  This saw the first win of Henry Neal in the Cooper Class.  He got the lead halfway through and he stayed put and drove superbly. Moving up 6 places by some great overtaking moves - taking after his father Matt. Nathan’s car cut out on the way to the grid, then restarted OK. Cut out again on the grid and restarted OK and did the same again during the race.  Alt-Ctrl-Delete comes to mind.  Good job it happened after Nathan had secured the championship. The race was great to watch; the Cooper Class is a bit special with a lot of good young talent learning race craft. Max Bladon in his rooky year came 2^nd with Mark Wakefield in 3^rd. Nathan managed to score quickest lap!

45 minutes later and the F56-JCWs are out again! The sun is now very bright and low in the sky. A pain for photography as you just can’t shoot into a low strong sun, well you can but it’s all grey with no definition or all white and overexposed.

Jeff Smith on a charge

Charlie Butler-Henderson did what he had to do, he had drawn pole position. A superb start with Pattison bogging down a bit and that is where he stayed. Jeff Smith had a great race with a strong battle with Luke Caudle who had his tyres go off halfway through.  David Grady could only secure 6^th.  Hamish Brandon won the JCW Class in what is to be his swansong, car is up for sale, followed by Scot Adam who had a great weekend and Kevin O’Connor. Neil Newstead had a puncture and came into the pits for a new tyre and finished 24^th.

Last race of the day at 16.00 hours. Sun was now getting very low and actually set by race end!  Mark Wakefield secured the win followed by Max Bladon and Max Leaver, Henry Neal could only manage 4^th!  Still a great race to watch with lots of battles going on down the field. Not much panel damage either!

Nathan Harrison-Max Leaver-Mark Wakefield & Simon Walton

So the year has come to a close.  I must say it has been one of great change and excitement with the new F56 being developed through the season.  The clutch plate and sequential gearbox both being brand new designs will no doubt be developed more over the winter. The rear suspension will no doubt be improved to allow teams to dial in camber and toe in/out to get more control of the back end. Rome was not built in a day and the car has come a long way in a very short space of time. Antony Williams and his team at the MINI Challenge are to be congratulated on taking on a great risk and bring home a superb Championship, which must by now be the best single make race series in the country if not Europe.  25 cars in the F56-JCW class and growing. Next year we will see a new class for MINI allcomers, featuring the R53 ‘S’ and JCWs as well as single grids for the F56 and Coopers. Plans are in development to stage a European MINI Festival at Spa with the German MINI Challenge being featured alongside the F56.

Charlie Butler-Henderson MINI Challenge 2015 Champion

Race Results

Final Championship Standings

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