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MINI CHALLENGE  

SNETTERTON

Mortimer 2 Caudle 3  - Caudle takes the title

With titles in both classes up for grabs and the overall crown, there was plenty of action throughout the field in all three races. Oli Mortimer secured the S class title, by following his second place in race one with a double win, but it was Luke Caudle that took the overall title with another clean sweep.

Phil House led from pole in Saturday’s race, but there was midfield chaos on the approach to Riches, which delayed a number of the club class runners. But both House and Mortimer had sprinted clear on the opening lap, as Lee Allen, returnee Karl Greatrex, Martin Depper, Arthur Forster and Jason Richardson headed the next chase, running line astern until Richardson started to tail off on the fifth lap. While newcomer Chris Smith shared numerous exchanges with Shaun King in the fight for eighth.

Depper was the first to make a move, taking Greatrex for fourth on lap seven, with Forster poised to follow his team mate. Allen was next in line but catching was one thing and passing another, as the whole of the top four suddenly closed up. House successfully held off Mortimer’s challenge to record his first win of the season, “fantastic to get this as it’s been a long time in coming. It was perfect and I had an amazing start, pushed hard for the first few laps until it felt comfortable,” said House. “I was happy with that, if I had got him at the start it may have been different. I missed second gear and spun the wheels, so just stayed there and kept him in sight. I tried at the Esses on one occasion, but backed off for a safe second,” Mortimer replied.

Depper snatched third on the run to the flag, “I had a great start and got Jason early on into Sear as Arthur gave me the hurry up. He jinked one side and I got him the other and then snatched third from Lee at the very end,” said the outgoing champion. Allen was still a solid if not disappointed third on his first visit to the circuit for 15 years he was keen to point out. Despite almost pushing Greatrex over the closing laps, Forster still had to settle for sixth behind the Welshman.  “I just had to hold Arthur off, he got me twice and I got him back. I tried to hold them both back as long as I could, but then Martin got me,” Greatrex replied.

King was seventh, “disappointed, I got onto the back of Arthur and co but too late,” he said. Richardson fell back towards the end, “I had bogged down at the start, but had a great scrap with Arthur for a while, but then I had a balljoint and driveshaft break, so was lucky to finish at all.  Smith was ninth, “quite pleased but damaged the steering rack on a kerb,” he explained. Steve Liquorish, Roger Grimshaw, Chris James and Michael Cullen completed the S class finishers.

Caudle got a decisive break from the start in Club Class, “I watched it all unfold in my mirror and got away,” he said.  James Blyth was clear in pursuit too after a three car sort at Russell on lap five sent Nick Booth pitwards after his bonnet flew up. “I got hit by O’Connor at the start, I thought I was clear but he was still spinning and pitched me into the air. I landed on Sarah Parsons,” said Joey Powis who was forced straight into the pits to retire. “Me, Tim Crighton, Joey and Kevin O’Connor were on the grass at the start, my back wheel was hit and I had terrible vibration,” Blyth added, but still held onto second. Crighton was just behind in third from lap six, with Parsons, Justina Williams, Craig Freeman and Roger Bates completing the finishers.  

RACE TWO

Mortimer just had the advantage over House and Depper at the start of the second race, but the safety car was scrambled after Grimshaw, Smith and Liquorish collided at Riches,

It was follow my leader for the next three laps. From the green flag House pressed hard to get ahead, but Mortimer had him covered, as Depper was about a length back before a growing gap to Allen in fourth. But Depper surged back into contention snatching second into the Esses on lap six, before pushing hard for the lead as it became three cars line astern again, with Allen closing too.

They continued to run in a tight pack until an 11th lap sort out gave Mortimer a slight break.  Exiting Russell House was alongside Depper again, “I knew I had the pace but Oli drove well. |I missed third gear at Russell and let Phil alongside, but just held onto to second still,” said Depper. “I lost out because after going side by side with Martin it let Lee back in and he took me at the Esses,” House replied. “I think Phil and I were fairly even paced but I outbraked him at the Esses,” said Allen after securing third.

House also lost out to Forster on the last lap for fourth. I thought I had a good start but into Sear on the first lap I had a run over the bumps at the back of a gaggle, but Oli backed them up and I hit Jason,” Forster explained. King and Richardson both headed the recovering Greatrex, with Cullen, Laurance Sait and James rounding off the S class. But Mortimer’s victory had netted him the S Class title, “I really wanted that one so I can have fun in the last race, I was deliberately backing them up especially at Russell so Phil could keep challenging Martin,” said Mortimer.

Caudle had Blyth as a racelong shadow in the club class, but it still didn’t change the order. O’Connor slipped from an early third, which gave Booth the final podium place. Powis had to work hard but could get no further than fourth, after Crighton was an early pit visitor with a damaged wheel. O’Connor just held off debutant Justina Williams for fifth, and she was followed by Parsons, Bates and Freeman.

RACE THREE

Phil House thought he had secured a second win of the weekend when race three was red flagged, “I didn’t realise it had only been four laps as it seemed a lot more,” he said. They had done a couple of laps behind the safety, after Richardson and Sait had a touch at the Bombhole and Sait had a multiple roll.

The restart became an eight lap sprint, with Allen heading Mortimer and Greatrex after House was swamped.”I missed third gear and lost six places into the first corner. Exiting the chicane for the second time Mortimer was alongside Allen and won the drag into Riches. “I set myself the goal of a win, but missed a gear and Oli got me,” said Allen.  Depper ousted Greatrex for third and Forster was right on his tail within a lap.

As the lead began to grow, second to fifth could barely be parted until Depper missed a gear and left Allen clear. “At the Esses I tried for second gear, couldn’t get it so tried third and couldn’t get that either, and got hit by Jason,” Depper explained. “Yes I hit him and couldn’t get back,” Greatrex added.

Forster was up to third, “when Martin got whacked they were on the grass, so I picked my way through the mayhem,” he explained, King also followed after initially being taken out at the start. “I finally had a car that worked was third at the restart, missed a gear nowhere to go and got hit,” he said.

But Mortimer sailed through to end his season on another win, “that was the best I could do, just kept my nose clean,” he said. Forster kept the pressure on Allen to the end, and was rewarded with second place after taking the outside at Coram to move ahead. Depper recovered fourth from King and Greatrex held onto sixth from House, Cullen, Liquorish, Grimshaw and James.

Powis led the Club Class for the first three laps, but dropped to fourth on lap four. Luke just drove past me into Riches and James and Tim did the same at Sear, I just couldn’t respond,” said Powis. “I am relieved it’s all over now,” said Caudle who was also crowned overall champion. “I started to get the vibration again as it was sitting down on the rear corner, “said second placed Blyth. Creighton retained third over Powis, and Booth held off the determined Williams. Parsons, Freeman, Bates and O’Connor were the final finishers. 

Peter Scherer

ROUNDS 13-14, CROFT#

Forster fastest in two while Mortimer defeats Depper in the third…just!

Arthur Forster proved to be the man to beat in two of the three races at Croft, but the third became a duel between Martin Depper and Oli Mortimer, with rain becoming the deciding factor in Mortimer’s favour. In the Club class though Luke Caudle took a clean sweep.

As the lights went out in race one Forster led the initial charge out of Hawthorn from Depper, Phil House, Lee Allen, Mortimer, debutant Chris Knox and Shaun King. “I got Martin around the outside, I pushed him over a bit but left room for his car too,” said Forster. Allen then put a wheel on the grass at Tower as he tried to hold off Mortimer, which almost allowed Knox through too. 

As Forster, Depper and House started to stretch out, Mortimer was left to head a four car train for fourth. Knox took Allen for fifth at the Hairpin on the fourth lap, but a lap later Allen successfully rechallenged at Clervaux, before the young Scot finally made it stick and took King with him. But their duel allowed Mortimer to go free in fourth, but with little impression on the lead trio. 

By the end of lap six Forster had started to make his lead look decisive, while further down Steve Liquorish forced out Jason Richardson at the Hairpin for eighth, as both closed on Allen, and Carl Bennett pulled out of 10th at the Complex with a puncture. But the threat fired Allen up to close on King once more.

Apart from Forster the lead group started to close up too, with Mortimer finally making inroads as House challenged Depper for second. But with a couple of laps remaining Depper suddenly upped his pace, at the flag though it was still the North East Playboy in front by 0.667s over team mate Depper. “I got blocked by a club class car when I was lapping him and the gap suddenly closed,” said Forster. “I backed out a bit with Arthur, it was discretion, thinking of the team not just myself, “Depper replied.

House just held onto third from the rapidly closing Mortimer. “It was a steady result, but the others must have had a really good set up and it’s their home track,” said Mortimer. Knox retained a fairly solitary fifth, with Allen sixth after a couple of exchanges with King., which allowed Liquorish to close too. Richardson, Sait, Grimshaw and debutants Ben Harvey and Chris Smith completed the S class runners.

Caudle led the Club class from the start and never looked back. Joey Powis had a couple of stabs for the lead and hit Caudle’s rear as they braked for the Hairpin on lap four. Powis spent the next few laps defending from James Blyth, which also resulted in a clash exiting the Hairpin. Powis had tried for the lead, but ran wide onto the grass. Blyth nosed ahead, but Powis forced his way back on into the side of Blyth’s car.

Powis stayed close to Caudle for the remaining laps as Blyth fell back in a safe third, while Nick Booth had a solo run to fourth. Sarah Parsons survived a barge from Kevin O’Conner to consolidate fifth, leaving O’Conner, Josh Waddington and Craig Freeman to complete the finishers.

RACE TWO

Depper made sure he kept Forster at bay at the start of race two, as they were joined by Mortimer in an early break. Allen, House and Knox led the chasers, with Allen’s attempts to go clear in fourth lasting one lap, before House and Knox closed in again.

By the end of lap three Mortimer started to fall back from the lead pair, “it was getting a bit hot so I backed off, put the heater on and opened the windows,” he explained. Within a lap he was back challenging, which forced Forster into action too. “I could see Martin was struggling a bit and with Oli closing, so I decided I needed to be in front,” he said after leading out of Tower. Mortimer almost followed at the Jim Clark Esses, but Depper fought him off until the Hairpin a lap later.

Back in fourth Allen had respite again as House, Knox and Liquorish fought over fifth. They had numerous exchanges over the next few laps, before Knox broke free to chase Allen, leaving House to battle on with Liquorish. “Chris did a lunge at Tower and I lost momentum to avoid damage,” said House.

Although Forster kept the advantage, he couldn’t afford to relax as Mortimer kept himself in with a chance right to the flag. Depper fell back in a safe third, “I overcooked the tyres and had understeer everywhere. I held it is long as I could but third was comfortable,” he said. Knox finally stole fourth from Allen with a lap go, “I missed a gear and he got me,” admitted Allen.

Liquorish had managed to get sixth from House at the Hairpin on lap seven, but was robbed by a late puncture. “There was a horrendous noise in the car and I just hoped it wasn’t mechanical. But then on the last lap the tyre went big time,” he explained. Both Bennett and Richardson came by before Liquorish limped to the flag in ninth, ahead of Sait, Harvey and Grimshaw.

Club class leader Caudle was in the clear after two laps as Blyth tried to hold off Powis for second. Behind them Booth was clear in fourth as Parsons and O’Conner duelled again over fifth. At the flag Caudle had four seconds in hand, with Powis equally comfortable in second, after taking Blyth at the Hairpin on lap eight. “I just couldn’t get back to rechallenge Joey, the car felt flat,” said Blyth.

Booth spent most of the race on his own again, while Parsons shook off O’Conner from lap eight, who was well clear of Waddington and Freeman.

RACE THREE

The familiar reverse top six grid placed House on pole for rolling start, but it was Allen that grabbed the lead with House sideways at Hawthorn on a chaotic opening lap. Depper shot into second and joined Allen in a attempted break, which failed to survive as the top six were nose to tail into Tower on the second lap, with House in third, from Knox, Mortimer and Forster.

Depper made a dive for the lead at Tower on the third lap, but failed and almost lost second to House.  Allen then went wide on the exit and Depper charged ahead. House was poised to follow, while Knox was mugged at the Hairpin. Mortimer grabbed fourth and Forster was fifth past the pits before the Scot regained his momentum.

Depper made the most of his freedom as the scraps behind continued. Allen did his best to fend off House at the Complex, but his efforts not only gave the former VW Cup Champion third, but allowed Mortimer through too. But the pressure continued to mount on Allen, who after Forster got by at Tower, found Knox and Liquorish in his wheeltracks. But Allen muscled his way back in front of Forster for a couple more laps, before finally giving best.

Mortimer had managed to hunt down House and take second into Tower on lap seven, but Depper was still comfortably clear until the rain started to fall. “I slowed down and then drifted wide at Clervaux and Oli got me. I nearly got him back but he held it well,” said Depper. “I just took a few more chances and nature was on my side,” Mortimer replied after taking victory by 0.3secs.

House retained a clear third, “the car was really good, I just had some damage from Lee on the second corner when he got the lead,” he said. Although Forster eventually managed fourth, his race was far from memorable. “By the time I battled through the leaders were well gone,” he said. Allen fended off any threat from Knox to hold onto fifth and with Liquorish pulling off again, Richardson, Bennett, King, Sait and Harvey all moved up. 

“I don’t know about easy I thought it was quite tough,” said Caudle after dominating the Club Class again for his third win of the weekend. Parsons led the chasers for the first three laps, while Blyth played catch up.  “I got hit at the first corner, but then worked through and got Sarah at Tower,” said Blyth.

Parsons held onto a well deserved third, as Powis was frustrated behind an unpredictable O’Conner, which also allowed Booth to challenge. Powis finally secured third with two laps to go, while both Booth and Waddington made it past O’Conner too. Freeman completed the finishers.  

Peter Scherer

Forster takes two while Allen takes his second

ROUNDS 10-12, CASTLE COMBE

Both Arthur Forster and Joey Powis were looking for clean sweeps at Castle Combe, after taking victories in the first two of the weekends races. But the reverse grid and a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers put pay to their aspirations as Lee Allen and Luke Caudle took the final spoils.

Only 0.7 secs covered the top seven after qualifying, but it was Martin Depper and his team-mate Forster sharing the all important front row for the opening race. It was Depper that had the early lead over his team mate with Oli Mortimer doing his best to stay in touch. Phil House lost his initial fourth place on the second lap, as both Shaun King and Allen came charging passed.

As the order began to settle it all closed up again and House started to challenge Allen again in an attempt to regain fifth. But the battle only allowed Carl Bennett and Steve Liquorish to close in too, as both Allen and House started to fall off the back of the lead quartet.

But after shadowing his protégé for 10 laps, Forster decided to make his move for victory. “I had enough of not winning and needed to be in my rightful place, so I got him at Tower,” he said. Mortimer also closed but was never really in a challenging position.

While King continued to hold a solid fourth, Bennett had pounced to snatch fifth on lap eight when House and Allen came together. “I locked up at Quarry and was pushed onto the grass. It knocked my steering out,” House explained. Allen was still sixth but went on to share a couple of exchanges with Liquorish.

As the flag came out though it was Forster’s win by 0.242secs over Depper. “Martin tried a few moves but I blocked him, he tried very hard but couldn’t get me back,” he said. “I knew he was testing me, I showed him my moves but he knew where they would be,” Depper replied. Mortimer retained his racelong third, “My steering rack broke towards the end, but the others had such good pace I was just having to look for points,” he said.

King and Bennett were next home, with Liquorish sixth after taking his duel with Allen right to the flag. “He took me flat out through Quarry but I retook and then with a lap to go he straightlined the chicane and got me again,” said Allen. Jason Richardson held eighth from lap eight, leaving Laurence Sait, Roger Grimshaw and S class debutant Graham Parsons to head home the ailing House.

James Blyth had the initiative from the start in the Club Class but Powis was hot on his heels and shadowed him for the first seven laps. “I got him into Tower but it was still close. Then he got a run on me at Quarry but I took him back finally at Quarry,” said Powis after taking victory. Caudle was a clear third from lap two, after easing passed Dave Nixon, but was unable to make inroads on the lead pair.

Nick Booth chipped away at Nixon for a few laps before moving into fourth on lap eight. But Nixon never gave up and reclaimed the place on the last lap around the outside at Camp. Kevin O’Connor closed considerably on the final laps to threaten from fifth, leaving Nigel Johnson, returnee Sarah Parsons, Craig Freeman and Roger Bates to complete the finishers.

RACE TWO

Despite Richardson making one of the clearest cut jump starts of the season, Forster led from pole with Mortimer second into Quarry from Depper, Allen, King and Bennett. A brave move around the outside at Camp failed to pay off for Allen, but Mortimer tried a similar move on Forster’s lead a lap later with the same result.

Both Bennett and Liquorish got by King on the second lap, while Bennett’s momentum took him straight into a challenge for Allen’s fourth place. With Mortimer still attacking for the lead, the top five had broken clear after four laps, with Liquorish doing his best to stay with them.

Mortimer’s pressure finally paid off a lap later, diving ahead on the inside into Quarry. “I knew I had to get Arthur quickly before the track dried out,” he explained. Depper lay in wait too while Allen and Bennett were wheel to wheel and sometimes even closer. But their duel only allowed Liquorish and King to close again. Bennett was almost through at Bobbies on lap seven, but as Allen tried to hold his place through Camp they touched, before Bennett finally nosed ahead.

Back at the front Depper had briefly dropped back, but came back even stronger. Allen had lost out to Liquorish after his skirmish with Bennett, but was back into fifth on lap 10.

Mortimer was finding Forster’s pressure building over the closing laps and with a lap to go he was forced to surrender as they headed along Westway. Forster collected his second win of the weekend in his usual modest way, “My career is relaunched, I knew Oli was quicker when it was wet and mine would come on later. So I just waited until it did,” he explained. But Mortimer lost out to Depper for second too at Quarry on the last lap. “The understeer got really bad and when Martin caught me he just flew passed,” Mortimer explained.

Bennett only just missed out on a podium finish too, taking the flag nose to tail behind Depper and Mortimer. “I pushed really hard once I had got Lee. I was on them at Quarry and the chicanes, so it’s definitely a podium in the last race,” he forecast.

While Allen and Liquorish disputed fifth, House picked them both off on consecutive laps and left them to battle to the flag for sixth while he consolidated his place. “I had cooked my tyres after four laps but wasn’t going to give in. We swapped a bit but I finally held Steve off down the inside at Tower,” said Allen.

King settled in eighth, “I couldn’t see a thing. I was third into Quarry on the first lap, but had no screenwash when they kept going over the chicanes in front of me. It was horrible,” he explained. Sait and Richardson completed the top ten on the road, but Richardson’s jump start penalty dropped him behind Grimshaw to 11th.

Blyth made the best of the start again in Club Class but went wide at Camp on the second lap and let both Caudle and O’Connor go by. Powis then followed a lap later and hunted down O’Connor, before joining Caudle in a fourth lap break. But Blyth had more problems at Camp and was unable to rejoin the battle for the lead, which grew lap by lap.

Into Quarry on lap eight Powis grabbed the lead, but Caudle wasn’t giving up without a fight. “I got him at Quarry but he briefly got me back on the last lap, but I don’t know how he got through,” said Powis. Caudle reluctantly had to accept second on this occasion, “I just overcooked it a bit,” he said. Blyth was left with a solitary third, “I had three moments at Camp and just lost too much. The car was a real handful and they were out of reach,” he said.

Booth was fourth after escaping from a determined O’Connor, Nixon rounded off the top six and was followed to the flag by Parsons, Johnson, Freeman and Bates.

RACE THREE

As usual the reverse grids caused an upset. With Allen having won the equivalent race last time out at Donington, his confidence was high despite the wet track. Although Allen made a good getaway from pole, House made an even better one. But into Quarry Allen surged back ahead, with Bennett in third from Forster, Mortimer and Depper.

By the end of the opening lap it was clear Forster was struggling. Mortimer had taken him and Depper followed a lap a later. But it was the battle for second that caught the eye, with House and Bennett side by side along Westway before House held his place into Camp. They were side by side on numerous more occasions until Bennett started to fall back to Mortimer on lap five.

Having dropped back to sixth Forster had Liquorish were next in line to challenge. “I just couldn’t get the front to turn in, so I had to throw the back out. I was on worn wets and knew straight away it was the wrong way to go,” he explained.

Having temporarily shaken off Bennett, House was able to focus solely on challenging Allen. He had the lead at Tower on lap six, only to lose it again a lap later. “I got it at Tower and lost it at Tower,” he said.  That brought Bennett back into conflict, who had also towed along Mortimer and Depper in a clean break for top five. Within a lap though both Mortimer and Depper had lost touch again but Bennett stayed inches from House’s tailgate.

House ran out of grip though on lap nine, “it was a lack of ABS at Quarry trying to keep up,” he explained. He dropped to a solitary fifth as the top four paired off. Bennett pushed hard but it was Allen who claimed his second win of the season, “We had struggled all weekend with understeer, which turned out to be wrong tyre pressure due to a faulty gauge. The only bit I didn’t get right was the start, as Phil judged it perfectly,” said Allen.

Bennett’s earlier forecast proved spot on as he took the second step on the podium, while Depper shook off any late threat from Mortimer to secure third, after ousting the Scot at Tower on lap nine. “I had new tyres and the grip was Ok. I could tell Arthur was struggling. I managed to build a gap over Oli and then missed a gear at Tower on the last lap,” said Depper. “Standard procedure, understeer all the way, terrible.” Mortimer added.

While House managed to retain fifth, both Liquorish and King eventually got the better of Forster. “It was a great dice with Arthur but I couldn’t see a thing early on in that spray,” said Liquorish. Sait, Richardson and Grimshaw completed the S Class finishers.

Caudle was a comfortable Club Class winner having led from the second lap. Having led the opener Booth tried hard to hold off the challenge from Blyth for second, but his defence was breached on the third lap. Although Powis caught and began to challenge Booth from lap six, it was another five laps before he finally got by. But Booth came straight back, “Nick got me on the run to Quarry after I went wide at Camp, but I got him back again at the Esses on the next lap,” said Powis.

It was Caudle’s victory over Blyth, with Powis third and Booth just fourth, as O’Connor closed in after he finally shook off Nixon. Parsons, Johnson, Freeman and Bates once again completed the finishers. 

Peter Scherer

Mortiimer goes to the top of the class

ROUNDS 7-9, DONINGTON PARK

Oli Mortimer moved to the top of the overall Championship standings in the Mini Challenge at Donington Park, after taking two wins and a second. Lee Allen celebratied his first win since 1998 in his comeback year. In the Club Class Jamees Blyth still heads the title chase, he couldn’t get near Luke Caudle’s pace on this occasion

Only 0.186secs separated the top three after qualifying on a drying track, Mortimer claiming pole from Martin Depper and Arthur Forster. Caudle took class pole by 0.603secs from Blyth, with Nick Booth only fractionally behind in third.

It was sunny and dry as the 19 car field lined up for the first race of the weekend. There was little between the top three as they arrived at Redgate on the opening lap, but Mortimer had the edge over Depper and Forster. Steve Liquorish slotted into fourth and Allen grabbed fifth when Phil House ran wide exiting Goddards.

As the lead trio continued to open the gap, Depper darted past Forster into Melbourne Hairpin while behind them Allen made a similar move to take Liquorish on the exit. Mortimer began to up his pace, while Allen found himself at the head of a four car train for fourth. Shaun King dived inside Liquorish at Goddards for fifth and the set about challenging Allen.

Depper had responded to Mortimer’s break and was close enough to take a cursory look at the lead into Goddards on lap six. But a lap later he was back behind Forster and losing ground. “The brakes faded at Redgate and then there was nothing at the Old Hairpin,” he explained,

Forster maintained the pressure over the remaining laps, but Mortimer looked comfortable on his way to win number one of the weekend. “I gave Oli a few friendly taps to let him know I was there. It was comfortable but not easy,” said Forster. “I knew there would be brake problems so I was easy on them, my car was spot on all the way through,” added Mortimer.

Depper’s early advantage was enough to retain a safe third, while King had a couple of exchanges with Allen, before retaining fourth from Melbourne on lap eight. Allen then came under attack from Liquorish and Carl Bennett, with House waiting in the wings. All four were still close to King, but Liquorish grabbed fifth at Melbourne before Bennett followed into Goddards. Allen managed to reclaim sixth, with House pipping Bennett for seventh on the last lap. “I was comfortably fourth for a while, but there was so much side by side and a lottery with the backmarkers,” said Allen. “No straightline pace again after a mega start, so we are changing the supercharger for the second race,” House added.

Jason Richardson, Laurence Sait and Roger Grimshaw completed the S class runners, while in Club Blyth made the best of the start to head Caudle for a lap, before the gap was decisive in Caudle’s favour. “I got ahead into the Esses and had a couple of good laps then got away,” said Caudle. Both Blyth and Nigel Johnson had solitary races into second and third, but after being left at the start Kevin O’Connor reeled in Joey Powis and had fourth from lap six. “I just had nothing there to fight back with,” explained Blyth. Powis retained fifth after a late challenge from debutant Craig Freeman, while Roger Bates came in seventh from Booth, who pitted after an out lap puncture.

RACE TWO

Mortimer was straight back to the fore at the start of the second race, leading from pole into Redgate, despite Forster’s best efforts. Allen had also started well and was into third at McLeans at Depper’s expense. But the reigning champion was quick to retaliate and was all over Allen for the next few laps, while Forster pushed even harder to keep Mortimer under pressure. The rest were virtually line astern with King, heading House, Bennett, Liquorish, Richardson and Grimshaw.

Depper almost squeezed through on lap three at McLeans on Allen’s inside, but at the front it was side by side into Goddards, with Forster almost pushing Mortimer past the pits.  Into Goddards for the eighth time Depper finally managed slide through on Allen’s inside for fourth, while behind them King had House and Bennett piling on the pressure. As they went into Goddards on lap eight they touched as they both tried to make identical moves on King and all three held station.

Forster’s pressure finally paid off with a lap to go, but there was to be no victory for the North East playboy, “I got the lead into Redgate and then lost about half of my brakes and then they went completely at the Esses. If they hadn’t I would have won,” he said. But Mortimer led again out of Goddards to clinch his second win, “I was braking earlier than Arthur but then he just went straight on. He gave me a few taps again, but I expect that from Arthur of course,” he said.

King made it past Allen with a lap to go and caught the ailing Depper. Into Goddards he had third, but was wide on the exit and Depper sneaked back through to reclaim his place. “I got a puncture after a touch with Lee, it just held on,” said Depper. Allen retained fifth and House retook Bennett for sixth on the last lap, after exchanging a lap earlier. “I went wide at Coppice,” Bennett admitted. Liquorish and Richardson retained racelong eighth and ninth and Sait headed Grimshaw for tenth from lap eight.

Powis got the early break in the Club Class, after there was chaos at the start. Team mates Blyth and Johnson made contact and both spun. “I think Nigel got squeezed and the next thing we were spinning,” said Blyth. Caudle got Powis into Goddards on lap three and pulled out a comfortable lead within a couple of laps.

Powis held a solid second and Booth came through to take O’Connor for third on lap four, with Johnson claiming fourth from Bates on the same lap. Freeman failed to make the start after starter motor problems.

RACE THREE

With the front of the grid reversed, there was always the possibilities of surprises in the final race of the weekend. House led from pole, but had Allen challenged hard over the opening lap. King was third but had Depper, Forster and Liquorish in his wheeltracks. Forster ousted Depper from fourth into Goddards and picked off King a lap later, but Allen had got the lead on the run into Melbourne Hairpin and was in no mood to surrender it. Depper and Mortimer were next in line to harass King, and over the next couple of laps House kept the pressure on Allen, likewise King with Forster.

There became an equal spread between the top six and fortunately the safety car wasn’t required wasn’t required when Sait shot into the Redgate gravel.  Gradually Forster shook off King and having started to drop Depper, Mortimer took fourth at Goddards when King ran wide.

Forster’s charge gave him second at Goddards on lap seven, but Allen was still looking confident at the front. As Depper continued to slip back Mortimer closed in on House. But Depper surged back into contention and reclaimed fourth into Melbourne a couple of laps later, to make it a four car fight for second, with Forster losing out to House again into Goddards.

But the finish couldn’t have been more dramatic, Allen won by over six seconds, “I thought I had a chance of beating Phil, but needed to pick my moment, I was worried about the others though. But they fought against themselves and let me consolidate my lead,” he said. House headed up the hill from Melbourne with second place, but exiting Goddards his engine blew. Mortimer gave him tap as he snatched second, which gave House enough momentum to retain third from Forster and King. “I just looked in the mirror and saw Oli, that push got me over the line. I had the power in this race, until the engine blew,” said House. “We tried some new things with the car and they didn’t work. I knew it was going to be hard, but it worked out really well,” added Mortimer.

Forster was a little disappointed to be down in fourth. “I thought once I got past Phil and onto Lee’s tail it was going to be easy. But I lost second when the ABS tripped, I locked up and flat spotted a tyre,” he explained.  But Depper suffered worse, when he trundled home ninth, behind Liquorish, Bennett and Richardson. “I made contact with one of the Club cars at the Old Hairpin and punctured again,” he explained. Grimshaw completed the S Class finishers and the top ten.

Caudle secured his Club Class hattrick with a lights to flag victory. Blyth led the chase, aided when O’Connor ran wide at Goddards on the second lap and gave Powis the chance to pounce. The Scholarship winner was into second by lap three, but took a while to shake off Blyth. They briefly swapped again on lap eight, before Powis claimed it from McLeans a lap later.

Booth was a clear fourth, with Johnson recovering from a first lap spin at the Esses to take O’Connor with a lap to go. But O’Connor made it home sixth despite a front puncture. Freeman and Bates completed the finishers. 

Peter Scherer

Depper and Blyth come up one short in the hat-trick stakes

 ROUNDS 4-6, BRANDS HATCH

Martin Depper and James Blyth both fell one short of a hopeful hat-trick of wins at Brands Hatch, in an incident packed weekend of Mini racing.

Ollie Mortimer qualified on pole, from Depper, James Richardson and Phil House, but only four tenths covered the top 11. Keith Issatt topped the Club Class, but only a whisker ahead of Blyth and Joey Powis.

At the start of the first race Mortimer headed a five car break, from, Depper, Jack Stanford, House and Arthur Forster. But Depper dived alongside Mortimer through Clark Curve and had the lead into Paddock for the fourth time. Stanford pushed the erstwhile leader down to third at Druids, but as Depper started to build a lead, Mortimer and Forster both charged past Stanford and House tried to follow.

As Stanford fought back it became a three car battle for third, which allowed Mortimer to tighten his grip on second place.

Depper eased his way to a fairly comfortable win, “I was happy with my pace, once I settled and made a race of it,” he said. Forster managed to catch Mortimer and snatched second through Clark Curve on lap 20, but Mortimer claimed it back for keeps a lap later when Forster ran wide. “I had a good start, but knew when I had the lead it was going to be hard, just to stay in the top three. I thought I had held Martin, but he still got by, then it became a fight to keep second, good and close though,” Mortimer explained. “Cracking fun, it was an excellent race with Ollie, Jack and Phil and no damage,” Forster replied.

House had got the better of Stanford for fourth from lap seven, “I was glad to be in the lead group but still seem to be losing out on power,” House reckoned. “I had fun but my cars suspension is getting tired,” Stanford added. Lee Allen completed the top six, having brought an end to Shaun King’s charge through the field.

Issatt led the way in the Club Class, heading Blyth and returnee Graham Parsons in a nose to tail battle. Blyth had the lead into Surtees on lap 11, but as Issatt reclaimed the place Parsons made it three abreast past the pits. But a couple of laps later Blyth hit the front again at Druids, but this time he stayed there. “I held my place until we got lapped by the S Class, and then used them as blockers,” he explained.

Parsons followed through for second and Luke Caudle and Joey Powis completed the top four, as Issatt slipped to fifth. “I gained and lost a bit through traffic, but lost a place near the end going off at Graham Hill Bend,” said Powis. “My car was just so good, it was an excellent race,” Caudle concluded.

RACE TWO

The finishing order formed the grid for race two, but with Steve Liquorish off in the gravel at Clark Curve on the first lap, the safety car was called on. Mortimer, headed House, Depper, Stanford, Allen and Forster for four laps before the green flag came out and the top three immediately broke away.

Forster was the first to make a move, taking Allen for fifth into Paddock on lap seven. But Allen’s response drew them both within striking distance of Stanford’s fourth place. As the lead trio continued to hold formation, Forster’s presence finally got the better of Stanford into Paddock for the ninth time. Allen bided his time until Clark Curve on the next lap, leaving Stanford to settle for sixth, but well clear of next man Jason Richardson.

But the race was cut short after House got caught up with the battle for third in the Club Class and the red flags flew with two minutes left on the clock.

Mortimer was a declared a lights to flag winner, “we changed things on the car set up wise and it worked well. A cracking start as well,” he said. House still held onto second, but sustained damage to a front corner. “I went into McLaren and Keith Issatt and Graham Parsons were battling. I went on the grass to try and avoid them, but caught Keith as he came back across,” he explained.

Depper retained third despite a late threat from his team principal. “I was robbed at the end, I was catching Martin and would have got him,” Forster reckoned.

While Blyth built up a decisive lead in the Club Class, Issatt kept the pressure on Caudle for second, which allowed Graham Parsons to challenge too. But as Caudle started to ease away to secure the place, Powis closed and made it three cars for third again. But it got a little too close through Clark Curve, when Issatt’s efforts to keep Parsons at bay, coincided with their lappery by the S Class leaders. Issatt’s race ended in the gravel at Clark Curve, leaving Parsons to clinch third on countback, despite Powis having gone by just before the red flags.

RACE THREE

With the top six in each class reversed for the rolling start in race three, the opening laps were expected to be close.  Stanford grabbed the initial lead from pole, and was closely followed by Allen, Forster and Depper as they charged through Paddock. But Allen got alongside on the run up to Druids, briefly backed off but had the line as they arrived at McLaren. Stanford tried to hold on but after contact he was left heading for the GP circuit.

Depper darted ahead of Forster into Druids for second on lap two, while Mortimer was beginning to close, after putting some daylight between himself and the chasing Richardson and House. But Forster rechallenged almost immediately and retook Depper, before closing down Allen’s options to lead into Paddock on lap five. Allen did his best to come back at Druids, but his efforts dropped him to third as Depper shot by. “No way was I giving up though,” said Allen,

But Allen wasn’t done yet and claimed his place back under tremendous pressure, only to lose it again at Druids a lap later. The duel had allowed Mortimer to close in and it nearly paid dividends for the Scot when Allen ran wide on the exit. He didn’t have to wait long though and third was his when they arrived at Paddock on the next lap.

Having started to pull clear of the third place fight, Depper got a run on Forster on lap 10 and emerged with the lead. A lap later Forster was badly delayed by backmarkers at Graham Hill Bend, which allowed Mortimer to shoot past for second. But as they arrived at Surtees there was chaos, after Sarah Parsons Club Class was touched and came back across into both Forster and Mortimer. “It was hard to tell exactly what happened, Sarah suddenly appeared across the front of me and we hit, the car is pretty bad,” Mortimer explained. “I got hit by someone and sent back across the track,” Forster added.

After four laps behind the safety car it became a two lap sprint to the finish. Depper took his second win of the weekend, with a delighted Allen a close second. “It was fun with Arthur again, I saw the club cars tag and just missed it,” said Depper.

House was on the podium again in third, with Chris Panayiotou, Carl Bennett and Shaun King completing the top six. “It was obvious something was going to happen with the Club Class battle, so I backed off,” said House. “I just pushed hard after we struggled all weekend for set up until this race,” added Panayiotou. Bennett was equally pleased with his result. “A new car, we tried lots of things and got a good result in the end,” he said.

There was little between Graham Parsons and Caudle at the head of the Club Class, but when the safety car gave them almost a lap on their rivals, Parsons was left to successfully defend his winning margin to the flag. For a while it was a seven car train for third, with Sarah Parsons leading the way. But the closeness was the undoing as Sarah was attacked at Surtees and was left with a well damaged car for her efforts. Blyth emerged to seal third from Kevin O’Connor and debutant Dave Nixon, O’Connor having also received damage in the incident.

Peter Scherer

 ROUNDS 1 -3, ROCKINGHAM

Olly Mortimer returns with a bang! 

Having missed out on last years campaign, Ollie Mortimer‘s hunger for success showed in abundance at Rockingham. He won the first two races and only a narrow defeat by defending champion Martin Depper kept him from a hattrick.

Former VW Cup Champion Phil House had set the pole time and he held the initial lead in race one as they arrived at Deene. Depper and Mortimer were close behind, but in the scramble Depper got a tap and was left to limp back to the pits with a front puncture. “If there was a touch it was very light, as I didn’t feel anything,” he explained.

Jack Stanford emerged from Yentwood as House’s chief pursuer, followed by Mortimer, Arthur Forster, Lee Allen and Steve Liquorish.  Stanford was in a determined mood and wasted no time in making his lead challenge through Pif Paf on the second lap and emerged with the his nose ahead.

For a while it was six car lead train, but House slipped back fourth when he was unable to match Mortimer and Forster on the straights. A lap later he lost out to Allen too, but fought his way to rechallenge for fourth. Liquorish was also under pressure as Jason Richardson, Carl Bennett and Shaun King joined him, but within a couple of laps he shook them off again.

Although he still had a solid third Forster started to lose ground on the lead pair, which prompted Mortimer to close in and challenge Stanford. They were side by side through Pif Paf but it was Mortimer that led into the Steel Straight for the ninth time. “I was trying to get Ollie and got on the marbles out of Gracelands and drove over the gravel trap, Forster explained.

House clawed his way back into fourth at Deene, but was unable to make further progress as the top three closed up again.  “I just kept losing out every lap around the banking,” he said. Mortimer responded again to secure his first win of the weekend, while Forster snatched second from Stanford with a lap to go. “It was a crazy start, but I stayed cool and got third. I was happy behind Jack until Arthur caught us, then just sat and waited for my moment,” said Mortimer.

Stanford was still happy with third however, “I got a good start but when Ollie had a run on me I let him go and tried to stick with him, but had gearbox problems and so Arthur caught me,” he explained. House, Allen and Liquorish completed the top six, while Joey Powis held a steady racelong gap over James Blyth to take the Club class, with Nick Booth a distant third. 

RACE TWO

Mortimer and Forster were side by to Deene on the opening lap of race two, before Mortimer nosed in front. Stanford was into third, from Allen, House, Bennett and Liquorish, before the top five made a second lap break. But having started at the back, Depper was carving his way through and was into sixth by Tarzan on lap three.

As the lead pair edged clear, Allen started to threaten Stanford for third. He got inside at Tarzan but Stanford fought back to hold the place at the Brook Esses. Allen tried again into Deene on the next lap, but went sailing straight on as he missed his braking point.

Forster began to close and looked poised to challenge Mortimer for the lead, until both hit the wall in Turn four and Mortimer got away again. “We both hit the wall but I think Arthur hit it harder,” said Mortimer. They both held station for remaining laps for Mortimer to record win number two.

Stanford made it home third again from the closing Depper, who had made it past House with a couple laps to go. “I was pushing as hard as I could, but with bad understeer I was just holding on,” said Stanford. “I had a mid race break or something then came strong again at the end,” Depper added. Liquorish was on his own in sixth, while Bennett’s hold on seventh came to an abrupt end when he was tapped into a huge 100mph+ slide on the back straight  which ended in the wall.

Roles were reversed in the Club class from the first race, with Blyth keeping Powis at a safe distance throughout and Sarah Parsons a solitary third. “It was a good start and I seized the moment to get Joey at Deene,” said Blyth. “I couldn’t gain but didn’t lose, so the gap stayed the same. We just couldn’t get close enough to dice,” Powis replied. 

RACE THREE

It was Stanford turn to lead at the start of race three, from House, Depper, Mortimer, King and Forster. House chased Stanford hard and Mortimer began to challenge Depper too, as Forster tried to make his presence felt.

On lap three Mortimer took another exploratory look at Depper, but the defending champion had it covered. House had more success when he went for the lead into Tarzan on lap eight, but it was all starting to close up between the top four, after Forster started to lose touch.

As House tried to build on his lead, Stanford ran wide at Deene on lap 11 and both Depper and Mortimer shot through. It was all over for House a lap later, as he explains. “I was comfortable then went from fifth to fourth approaching the Esses and there was nothing. The gear linkage had broken and I just coasted along the banking. Depper therefore picked up a late win, “I was pushing hard though at the end,” he said. Mortimer held onto second and Forster followed Stanford in a distant fourth. “When I hit the wall in the second race I must have dislodged the dash, as it came away and got between the steering wheel spokes,” Forster explained.

King and Richardson rounded off the top six, and Blyth took another clear win in the Club class over Booth. Powis made it home third after a frustrating race in Sarah Parsons wheeltracks. He finally got by aggressively at Deene into Deene with a couple of laps remaining.

Peter Scherer