MINI Challenge Race Report: Cadwell Park

MINI Challenge Race Report:

Cadwell Park 3rd September

Words & Photos: David Young

A trip up North again, this time to the wonderful countryside of Lincolnshire, for the MSV jewel in the crown called Cadwell Park. What a great circuit. The MINI Challenge had never been before so for all the drivers it was a first. 

Cadwell Park is full of ups and downs, is very narrow, flowing and has some very fast straights. It has been said that is a bit like the Nubugring only shorter at 2.19 miles. It is even more exciting when it rains. We had a lot of that too.

The Coopers had their own grid with the Cooper S and Open 180 classes sharing the other.  Just as well with the track being so narrow you have to be brave to overtake even if you a small advantage. Mistakes are jumped on straight away; with no sand traps, any excursion off tack could be very expensive.

Max Bladon leading the field.

Cooper Class
9.30 in the morning had 12 Coopers on the track qualifying. Simon Walton was not racing after his massive crash at Oulton Park, missing as well was Kyle Reid, Morgan Jones and a few others. 7 laps of qualifying for most and Josh Gollin was on Pole followed by Oulton Park Winner Martin Poole and Sam Weller.  Max Bladon was in 4th.

 

Adrian Norman followed by Josh Gollin & Martin Poole in quailifying

Just before the start of the race the heavens opened up and most of the field still on slicks. The front four cars made a break from the rest of field until Josh lost the front end at the hairpin and spun around; he went from 1st to 9th. Max Bladon stormed away from the rest of the field and secured 1st place which confirmed his 1st place in the Cooper Class Championship.

Max Bladon Cooper Class Champion.

Next stop the Sunoco Challenge! Brad Hutchinson and Martin Poole joined him on the podium.

Max Bladon and Brad Hutchinson at the Hairpin

Second race was held at 4.00 in the afternoon after the 2.30 start was pushed back and back with delays due to rain and standing water, this made parts of the circuit un-drivable. With Josh Gollin on pole due to the reverse grid with Will Neal beside him followed by Sam Weller and Martin Poole.  Josh was out to get his first win of the season, with some great driving he led from start to finish keeping Will Neal firmly in his place. Both Josh and Will were clearly very happy with their trip to the podium, it became a champagne spaying contest, Sam Weller joined them on the Podium with Max Bladon content with 4th. Adrian Norman continued to race and finished with an undamaged car unlike the rest of the Swanflight team.

Henry Neal and Sam Weller 1,2 & 3

The Champagne fight

 
Cooper S and Open 180
The return to the Cooper's S class of Neil Newstead, this time in Steve Cocker’s car was a highlight of the class. With Bill Sollis trying to set the car up to work with Neil’s driving style, the style which saw Oakfield Motorsport secure last year’s class win with Neil at the helm.

Neil Newstead 2015 Champion at the Mountain.

It was dry at the start of Qualifying with black clouds threatening to deluge us all. Carlito Miracco was driving his socks off in the Sussex Road and Race prepared and run R56 Cooper S with Scot Adam close behind followed by Neil who was looking very fast but overdriving the car. Probably due to the way he drives the F56 JCW.

Jonathan Davis in the wet, a great weekend in his R53 'S'

All 3 led the way in the first race in the pouring rain. It was a bit processional but visibility was poor and the few cars left were content to finish. Carlito was black flagged, his rear rain light had stopped working, Scott Jeffs closed the gap to Neil by the time of the chequered flag with Tim Porter a fair way behind to take the final podium position.
 
The 2nd Race was again held in the rain. 10 cars lined up for the start only to see Neil’s car pushed into the pits with the rear brake light failing. Carlito pushing Scott Jeffs and Tim Porter very hard. To be honest it looked a bit scary to race that close in very wet conditions. Aquaplaning on full wets at 100mph + is not my idea of fun. Carlito drove his socks off and got the lead from Tim after a race long battle. As soon and Carlito got the lead Scott Jeffs began to push Tim very hard, as they both came into the “mountain” side by side they ran out of track, Tim ended up in the barriers and Scott continued to finish 2nd, 3rd in Class was Scot Adam. In the Open 180 class Jonathan Davis continued his form with another class win for A Reeve Motorsport followed by Keith Issatt and Richard Mills. 
 

Carlito Miracco taking Tim Porter.

Scott Jeffs and Tim Porter about to run out of track!

A very wet weekend at a glorious circuit. Next up are the final rounds of the season at Snetterton 29th-30th October. With the JCWs in action too and with the overall Championship to decide it should be a cracking weekend.

 

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