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CURSED
CROFT FOR BLYTH
Norwich’s James Blyth Is Cursed
With Bad Luck In the Latest Mini Challenge Round
James Blyth (Norwich)
had to endure a weekend of frustration at the latest round of the Mini
Challenge held at Croft in North Yorkshire.
Changes
made to the car during Friday’s testing sessions looked very hopeful and
it was hoped a shocker change would improve an on going handling
problem. However as Saturday’s qualifying got on the way the problem
arose again forcing James to record just one qualifying lap putting him
15th on the grid for Race One. However, without a second
qualifying lap recorded he would be forced to start Race Two from the
rear of the grid, behind all his fellow S Class competitors and the
lower Club Class cars – 29 cars would lay ahead!
In Race
One James put in a strong battle in the short race to make up five
places and score a 10th place finish. And although Race Two
saw him at the back of the grid, with it being the longer of the
weekend’s double header event, it was hoped James would scythe his way
through the pack.
With a
strong start, in a lap he had pipped off the Club Class cars when
disaster struck as the nightmare weekend continued! On lap 2 a gear box
failure forced James to retire.
James
tried to remain philosophical afterwards and took to the pitwall to
watch his rivals slug it out. “It was a case of a weekend where if it
could go wrong it would!” said James. “Sometimes not racing is the
biggest test in motor racing but I suppose at least we came away with no
damage! We will be in full fighting force next time out.”
The
next race is on 22nd-23rd September at the Welsh circuit of
Pembrey. James hope to be able to fit in a testing session in the
meantime which will hopefully exorcise the gremlins that are currently
blighting an otherwise strong season which sees James as a lead Novice
and S Class racer.
DIFFICULT DONINGTON
FOR BLYTH
Norwich’s James Blyth Battles In The Latest Round Of The Mini Challenge
The latest rounds of the Mini Challenge proved to be
just that, a challenge for Norwich racing driver James Blyth, though
through the battles he was still able to come away from the Donington
event in the lead of the Novice Class Championship and second in the S
Class Championship.
After a
successful testing on Friday and strong practice times James was feeling
confident though a problem with front end grip was causing an underlying
problem. Qualifying in 14th position was well down the grid
on his usual performance as the grip problem was emphasised on
Donington’s fast, sweeping and undulating track.
In the
first race, the shorter sprint race of the day’s double header, the
action was tight into the first corner and James’ Advent Motorsport
prepared S Class Mini showed a number of scars after the race! As James
raced up to the top ten for the finish it seemed a reasonably good
outcome given the circumstances only for misfortune to fall on him after
the chequered flag fell when he was informed he was excluded from the
final results. In the melee and with exuberance, James had unwittingly
overtaken a competitor when a yellow flag, which signals no overtaking
allowed, was waved.
With
the second race being the longer 30 minute race, James was hoping the
longer time would allow him to scythe through the field up from his 14th
starting point. Again, in blistering sunshine, the packed grid got off
to a fast and furious start. But, shortly into the race two large
accidents caused the safety car to be deployed and effectively shortened
the race. Most importantly the drivers of the stricken cars were okay
after their large shunts but the race was reduced to a four lap dash as
the clock counted down. Despite the shortened race James finished in 11th
just shy of the top ten.
“That’s
been a really tough weekend” said James afterwards who’ll be hoping for
better fortune in three weeks time when the Championship moves to Croft
in North Yorkshire for the 12th and 13th rounds.
POLES, POINTS AND A PODIUM FOR BLYTH!
Norwich’s James Blyth Takes Pole Position
in the latest Mini Challenge Event
James Blyth (Norwich) was
in blistering pace for the 8th and 9th rounds of the Mini Challenge held
at Thruxton, Hampshire at the weekend. Coming away with pole positions,
points and a podium to his name, he lies 2nd in the S Class
Championship, having made further inroads into the leader’s points
tally.
This was James’ first
visit to the ultra fast Thruxton circuit not that his qualifying
performance gave any hint of a newcomer as he set fastest laps to record
pole position for the weekend’s double header event. Indeed in his
Advent Motorsport (Norfolk) prepared S Class Mini, James was set to be
the pace setter all weekend coming away both race fastest laps.
Whilst much of the country
suffered abysmal weather it thankfully stayed dry in Hampshire where
James made a good start from his first Mini pole position. With fierce
and extremely close racing from Arthur Forster and Carl Bradley paint
was swapped and the sprint race was all action. Despite the knocks and
bumps, James ably hung on and battled to a well deserved 3rd spot to
claim his third podium in a row.
For the second race there
was a bit of grid shuffling with the stewards issuing grid penalties to
many drivers after the boisterous action in race one. Starting from 5th
on the grid, James made another strong start and was again putting in
the fastest laps. An exciting battle for 3rd place followed with James
at its heart but disaster was to strike when one of his back tyres
suffered a puncture. Some good fortune was the blow out occurred just
metres from the pit entrance and James was able to dive in for the
Advent Motorsport team to perform a lightening quick tyre change. With
only a quarter of the race left James sped back into the action and was
quickly making up places to finish the race in 10th position.
“The weekend had been
perfect to the second race” said James who is backed by MiniPro.co.uk,
Carlyle Finance and MiniPirate.com. “The most encouraging thing was to
be the quickest car out there all weekend so it’s just disappointing
that the puncture in race two stopped us translating that pace into
another podium but these things happen in motor racing!”
James’ next outing is on
4-5th August at Donington Park in Leicestershire. The event will be
particularly special for Mini enthusiasts as spectators arriving in a
Mini will be able to get a 2 for 1 ticket offer and take there own car
on track to be part of a, hopefully, world record breaking parade of
Minis. Hopefully some Norfolk Mini drivers will make the journey and
cheer James on whilst they are there!
BLYTH SHINES AT SPA
Norwich’s James Blyth
Takes A Stunning Pair of Podium Finishes as the Mini Challenge Visits
Spa
James
Blyth put in a stunning performance competing in the 6th and
7th rounds of the Mini Challenge when it went overseas to the
famous and daunting Spa circuit in Belgium. The Norwich teenage, having
his first visit to the circuit famous for amongst other events holding
the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix, came away with an armful of
Championship points after scoring an impressive two pole positions, two
fastest race laps and two podium finishes taking 2nd and 3rd
in the weekend’s double header event.
As
James first took the track ,set in the Ardennes forest, its awesome
reputation was not lost on him, especially the world famous corners such
as Eau Rogue, and asked to describe the circuit James summed it up as
‘”a bit mad really”!!
In
qualifying, which was red flagged twice, James was worried that getting
a clear run would be nigh impossible and headed out with a determined
‘just go for it’ attitude which paid off as he secured two pole
positions which in turn gained him extra championship points.
The
first race was set to be dramatic with James slipping to 5th
but battling back to 2nd and eager to reel in leader Oli
Mortimer. James was soon within 2seconds of Mortimer, recognised as
quite some feat given the former Scottish Champion’s powerful hold over
the championship this year. And second place meant the chance to stand
on the legendary Spa podium.
“You
couldn’t help but think of all the motorsport greats who have stood
there before you” said James. “It is a very special memory.”
James
had the chance to relive the moment as he came a strong third in the
second race of the weekend, possibly all the more impressive given car
problems to contend with. Having led the race for the first 15 minutes,
the engine mount broke causing the engine block to move and in turn make
gear selection difficult seeing James have to fight the car which wanted
to shoot straight ahead at corners! Even with these troubles James
again set the fastest race lap and was back on the podium!
Bringing two sets of silverware home to Norwich, James summed the
weekend up as “a great experience” and now sits 2nd in the S
Class Championship
BLYTH BATTLES AT OULTON PARK
Norwich’s James Blyth Comes Away
With More Championship Points at an Eventful Mini Challenge Event at
Oulton Park
James
Blyth (Norwich) came away from the fourth and fifth rounds of the Mini
Challenge with battlescars to the car but valuable points in the bank.
Held at Cheshire’s Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday, the rain largely
stayed away with only Saturday’s qualifying session taking place on a
damp track when James took a solid 5th on the grid for Race
One and 3rd on the grid for Race Two in a Championship
boasting over 30 entrants.
The
first race of the weekend’s double header event was to see James in the
middle of drama by the first corner. In the melee of the start James’
Mini Cooper S was hit, denting the body work and putting him into a
spin.
“I
found myself spinning and facing the wrong way with about 30 Minis
raring passed which was pretty hairy!” said James afterwards.
Thankfully James kept the car going and rejoined at the back of the
field before scything his way past some 19 cars to finish in 10th
place.
Still
showing the wounds from his first outing, James set off on the rolling
start for the longer 30minute second race of the weekend. James felt
his start was poor and he dropped to 8th place but fought
back to make his way up to 4th with 20 minutes of the race left, the
leading trio having drawn out a lead. James set about hunting down the
leading three and after a fine performance he was just on their tail as
the chequered flag frustratingly fell.
Just
shy of the podium James was disappointed but the consolation was more
points in the Championship bank.
“I
felt we could have had two podium finishes today, the car was strong on
this fast circuit but events conspired against us” James reflected
afterwards. “The car has got some serious dents after I was hit in the
first race but at least we come away from the weekend with more points
for the Championship.”
A
further important aside to the weekend was James has now received the
necessary race experience and official signatures on his race licence
which allows it to be upgraded to the next level which sees him eligible
to compete in the next two rounds of the Mini Challenge as it heads
overseas to the famous circuit of Spa in Belgium on 16-17th
June.
BLYTH TAKES A
PODIUM ON STRONG DEBUT
Pic Ian Crockett, MSportUK.com.
Norwich’s James Blyth Made a
Strong Debut in the Mini Challenge, Including a 3rd Place
Finish
Norwich racing driver, James Blyth made a solid start to his Mini
Challenge season taking two fifths and a third place in the weekend’s
triple header at his home circuit, Snetterton.
In his
debut Mini Challenge weekend, 19 year old James was keen to get off to a
flying start after a recent successful outing in the Mini Challenge
Spring Cup which preluded the start of the season proper.
Run by
Advent Motorsport, who themselves have recently relocated to Norfolk
from Surrey, James’ S Class Mini was on fine form during Friday’s
practice sessions when the team took the opportunity to tweak the set up
for the weekend.
Saturday’s qualifying saw James put in a series of fast laps to be sixth
quickest of the 35 cars, though his position was promoted to fifth on
the grid after a competitor ahead was penalised for being underweight.
The
first of the weekend’s three races was held on Saturday afternoon. At
the start James dropped down to seventh place but soon battled back into
fifth place where he remained unchallenged until the end of the race to
take an admirable finish in his first Mini Challenge race.
The
second race took place on Sunday morning, when Snetterton found itself
basking in sunshine once again. James was aware that the car was slower
than the previous day, after minor contact with a club class car he was
lapping in race one caused damage to the air scoop causing the engine
not to run at its optimum. But this wasn’t to faze James and once again
he put in a valiant drive to finish in fifth place for the second race
in a row.
By the
afternoon and the third and final race, which at 22 laps was to be twice
as long as the previous races, James really had the bit between his
teeth! After the rolling start James dropped from fourth to eighth but
as charged back. Other drivers found themselves in trouble in an
incident packed race and by the 25minutes to go mark James found himself
fighting for third place with Nathan Coulter. The battle was to be
intense with their places swapping but as James got ahead of Coulter he
was able to use the back markers they came across to his advantage and
pull out a lead which saw him finish with a superb podium on his debut
weekend.
“It has been a fantastic start
to the season” said a clearly delighted James afterwards. “We’ve come
away with three strong finishes and even a podium, so I am very pleased
and thank the team for their support. I am looking forward to the next
round now, which is Oulton Park where I think the car will go well and
hope to continue with more consistent finishes to really stake my place
in the Championship”
Snetterton weekend was also the first race where James was supported by
new sponsor MiniPro.co.uk who offer an online performance parts service
to Mini owners. James would welcome further sponsors and partners,
offering a wide range of packages tailored for all budgets, further
details and contacts can be found on his website at
www.jamesblyth.com
The
next two rounds of the Mini Challenge are at Oulton Park, Cheshire on
Bank Holiday Monday 28th May.
Pics Ian
Crockett, MSportUK.com.
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