Mighty Minis Go Mad in Wales 24th August 2006 |
|---|
|
Saturday and Sunday 19th to 20th August at Isle of Anglesey They say still waters run deep, but in the Principality the flowing water was pretty deep as well; on the Saturday. But first; let us start at the beginning. This weekend’s race was to be a double header with qualifying Saturday morning, one race in the afternoon and the second race Sunday afternoon. Some of the drivers, however took the opportunity of testing on the Friday as many drivers were new to this circuit. The weather stayed clear and dry for most of the day but normality was established with rain starting around 3.00pm. This was to set the tone for the following 24 hours. BR Minis could not take the opportunity of Friday testing, but set out from base on the morning with the plan of arriving at a reasonable time in the afternoon. This was confounded, however by a lorry on the M6 falling over and spilling a load of cooking fat. Rain set in as we travelled north and west. Arrived at the circuit at 6.00pm in rain and gloom. The sign said Anglesey Circuit, Trac Mon but it looked more like a building site. A new track is being constructed and the paddock was cramped together in much reduced space. The Mighty Minis were consigned to the grassy verges, away from the flat tarmac areas. In addition the Mighty Minis and Super Mighty Minis were combined into a single race each day giving a field of 28 cars on a small one mile circuit. This was going to be interesting. Saturday  (click to enlarge)Qualifying for all competitors was supposed to start at 10.00am but by lunchtime nothing had happened. Heavy squalls of rain interspersed with periods of light drizzle kept everyone under cover. Eventually a decision was taken. For each class qualifying would consist of three laps behind the course car. A great help to those never having driven here before! At about 1.20pm the Mighty Minis and Super Mighty Minis were out. Three laps behind a Ford Mondeo road car. Don’t think I got out of third gear. Great introduction to a new track, in the wet with no experience at racing speeds. At least we had qualified, possibly with the slowest lap time ever. Starting order was decided by championship positions. The race was going to be run! The paddock announcer told us it was now reduced to 10 minutes. They had nine races to complete. The Mighty Minis and Super Mighty Minis was set for 15.40. The grid was to be split with the Supers in front and Mighties behind. With the differences in lap speeds it was likely that a number of Mighties would be lapped. The green flag lap was one partial lap of the course from the assembly area round to the grid. Tyres and brakes were going to be very cold for the first race lap. David Kirkpatrick did not make the start with a fuel problem, later identified as a faulty relay. The start was reasonably clean, but with the lower gearing of the Mighties the leaders were into the back of the Supers quite quickly by the first corner at School. Fairly soon contact between Mark Ditchburn and Andy Harrison resulted in a spin for the former and contact with another car resulting in front end damage for Mark, and a rapid demotion to 22nd place. Mark, however fought back through the field to finish seventh by the end of the race.  (click to enlarge)Team BR Minis started reasonably well. The run into the first few corners was exciting with a damp track, though the rain had stopped. By the end of lap 1 car No. 57 was in fifth place and beginning to understand the track. This all changed on lap 3. A determined passing effort from Craig Rogers in car 30 at Abbotts resulted in a spin for BR Minis and a close encounter with the tyre barrier at the Marshall’s Post. This demoted car 57 to 16th place. From here we managed to work back to 12th place by the end of the race and fourth fastest lap time. Sunday Wow, time for a lie-in. No signing on, no qualifying, no race until after lunch; and no rain. A leisurely breakfast at the B&B. Time to talk to a team from the Ford Fiesta Championship. Saturday had not been a good day for them. They went to the assembly area on wet tyres. Rain then stopped, but no time was allowed to change to dry weather tyres. Result; one set of wets destroyed in less than 10 minutes. One expensive race.  (click to enlarge)The initial grid placing was based on the finishing order of Saturday’s race with Supers and Mighties mixed together. Sanity prevailed, however and the Supers were set to start in front of the Mighties. Twenty seven cars made the start of the second race. David Kirkpatrick in his resurrected car was at the back of the Supers grid. Conditions were good, the track was dry, the sun was shining, but there was a stiff breeze off the sea.  (click to enlarge)BR Minis finished lap 1 in 8th place a position maintained, but gradually closed the gap on Tim Harber in car 71. Hopes of a demon passing manoeuvre were deferred when Tim spun on lap 12 at Abbotts allowing the BR Minis car to pass. The favour was returned by an error by car 57 on the same corner on lap 18. A moment for BR Minis at the hairpin on lap 20 allowed Mike Tarr in car 88 to close in but we held on to 8th place until the end of the race.  (click to enlarge)There was close racing throughout the field and all cars finished the race. It was an excellent spectacle and was well received by the spectators. Next race Brands Hatch on the 2nd and 3rd September. The Supers and Mighty Minis will be racing on the Sunday. Again this will be an action packed spectacle with cars four abreast into Paddock Bend and the late dive down the inside at Druids. BR Minis will be there. 
[Ben]
|
| << Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> |