Snetterton April 8th to 9th 2006 10th April 2006 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Though this was a two day meeting the Mighty Minis were all running on the Sunday. The drive to Snetterton is a long cross country trip for Team BRMinis so we started out on the Saturday. Arrived at the circuit late Saturday afternoon to set up in the paddock for the following day. Weather was typical for Norfolk with a strong wind making it a chilly end to the day. Sunday was an early start with signing on at 08:08 for the Super Mighty Minis and scrutineering at 08:18. BRSCC are very exact about their timings! Only the Standards and the Supers were running this time due to the cancellation of the Xtremes. Qualifying was under dry and cloudy conditions and the temperature struggled to get above freezing. The wind had dropped. My qualifying effort was not all that impressive. Getting used to the car and with cold tyres (JB excuse No.14), meant it was mainly a learning experience. Acceleration in the Supers is much better than the Standards and I was on the rev. limit at the end of the Revett Straight. Enjoyed the feel of the car and it seemed easier to control than my old Standard car. I was a bit disappointed by my lap times as I was about 7.5 seconds off the pole position time. Room for improvement there, all down to the driver as the car seemed good to me. From qualifying at 09:33 (that exact timing again) we had to wait until after lunch for the race. During the period of waiting there was much muttering about the weather. Cloud was building up and darkening. At Snetterton you can see the weather coming from several miles off and it did not look too good. First race after lunch was the Ford Fiestas. Rain arrived, with showers falling just before the race started, and during the green flag laps. After two abortive starts and two red flag incidents they were relegated to the end of the day for being naughty boys (shades of Rockingham last year for the Mighty Minis). This meant the Supers were on. As we drove on to the grid there was light rain. We were allowed two green flag laps to warm up and get used to the conditions. The plan at BRMinis was to get a good start and keep up with the faster cars hoping to learn from their lines through the corners. Things did not quite work out as planned. I made a good start, closed up on Andy Harrison who was in front of me on the grid. I passed Maria Brown on the run down to Riches Corner. This was due, not to any skill on my part, but a problem with Maria’s car. Made it safely round Riches but threw it all away at Seer; performing a wonderful spin on to the Revett Straight. This lost me a whole bunch of time, and some colourful epithets. I took up the chase as the car in front disappeared through the Essess. Over the next few laps I adjusted to the circuit as it dried in places, and was getting more confident. I felt I was closing on Andy until another spin, at Russell this time undid all the good work. Despite the variable grip I was getting comfortable with the car and set my fastest lap time on the last but one lap. To my amazement this was the fourth fastest lap time in the race. If only I could do it on every lap, and keep it on the circuit more! The car ran well for me except that it was not pulling strongly from the corners in low revs. In fact as I returned to the paddock I ran out of fuel. It appears that the car was running very rich, as the exhaust was smoky, the tail pipe very black and I used 17 litres of fuel over 15 laps. Engine temperature was low due to the cold weather, but an engine sensor may also be faulty. I will have to speak to my Race Engineer about this. Though I missed the rest of the race, as they were out of view, I am told it was a good spectacle with a close finish between Neven and David Kirkpatrick. The Standard Mighty Minis distinguished themselves by avoiding the traditional season opening crash at the first corner and produced an excellent race. It had to be red flagged after several laps when Emma Blaken became stranded in a dangerous place at Riches. A restart was necessary. I am pleased to say that my old car, in the hands of Phil Hetherington distinguished itself by finishing third after leading for some time. This was a good bit further up the results than it had ever been before in my hands. David Berney, one of seven new Mighty Mini entrants was the eventual winner with Nigel Pike second. Of the twenty starters, seventeen finished. Dave Rees not making it off the starting grid. With many thanks to my loyal support team and pit crew at BRMinis who braved the Arctic conditions to supply help, encouragement and food as required to keep the intrepid pilote going. Pictures will be posted on the Mighty Minis Gallery. Full size copies can be supplied on request. ResultsSuper Mighty Minis
Not Classified
Fastest Lap
Standard Mighty Minis
Fastest Lap
[Ben]
|
| << Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> |