Snetterton

MINI Challenge visits Snetterton

MINI CHALLENGE, SNETTERTON, OCTOBER 16/17TH

Chris Knox became the 2011 Mini Challenge Champion, after another action packed weekend at Snetterton. The Scot secured three podium finishes and victory in the first of the weekend, while Ant Whorton-Eales made it a double celebration for ExcelR8 Motorsport by clinching the Club Class crown too.

Sam Osborne was on pole for the first race, still seeking his maiden victory. But with Luke Caudle, Jason Richardson, Lee Allen, Knox and 16 year old Shane Stoney all within 0.8secs, it was desperately close. Chris Knox
Into Riches it was side by side for the lead between Osborne and Caudle. Osborne just nosed ahead on the exit as Allen pressed for second. But Caudle attacked again and completed the first lap at the head of the train, from Osborne, Knox, Allen, Richardson and Chris Smith. “I had a reasonable start in third, but Lee got me got me back at the Hairpin, so I had to do it again,” said Knox.
Knox snatched second on lap two and soon had his sights set on Caudle’s lead, while down in fifth Smith had managed to sneak ahead of Richardson.
Into Murray’s on the next lap it was nose to tail for the top three, with Allen split between them and the continuing duel between Smith and Richardson.
Richardson managed to regain fifth on lap four and as he began to close on Allen, both edged nearer to the lead trio too. Richardson kept the pressure on Allen and got the better of the outgoing champion, before the top four split into two pairs.
With Allen down to fifth, he had Smith and Stoney battling behind, while Finlay Crocker and Stewart Lines were equally close for eighth.
With a lap to go Knox started to size up Caudle for a challenge, but on the final tour approaching Montreal Caudle appeared to slow and there was light nose to tail contact. “Luke was on the inside but his car just slowed and I clipped him,” said Knox as he took the flag for another win.
Over The Grass“It just wasn’t meant to be,” said Caudle as his title hopes disappeared in 10th place.
Osborne and Richardson continued nose to tail too as they completed the podium. “It was a good scrap with Chris, Sam and Lee, no contact, nice and clean, and so close on performance” said Richardson.
Allen held onto fourth, “I enjoyed it immensely, but had a bit of understeer which cost me some speed,” he explained. While Smith slipped down to seventh in the closing laps, Finlay Crocker finished strongly and edged out newly crowned Saxmax Champion Stoney for fifth on the last lap. “I was a bit too cautious, but learned a lot. Quite different to what I have been used too though,” Stoney explained.
Lines followed Smith home in eighth, “I was struggling for exit speed again,” he said. David Ogden and the unfortunate Caudle completed the top ten.
In the Club Class it was a victorious return for Michelle Nixon after more than two years on the sidelines. She drove Sam Osborne’s 2010 car to a comfortable victory, after Dean Raymond pitted on the second lap. “I made a blinding start, had a nice lead and then it overheated on the Bentley Straight, so I toured in,” said Raymond.
“That was just amazing, I could see them fighting behind, so just concentrated on my own race,” Nixon added. Whorton-Eales finished second, “I started from the pitlane to stay out of trouble and just bring it home for the class title,” he explained.
Newcomer Daniel Bishop completed the class podium, from Patrick Mortimer and Andrey Magiy.

 

RACE TWO

It was four abreast into Riches at the start of the second race, but Allen who held the line and the lead as they charged towards the Montreal Hairpin. Knox, Caudle, Crocker and Richardson followed, with Osborne squeezed Snettertondown to sixth.
The lead duo had already built a good lead as they completed the opening lap, but into Agostini for the second time Richardson made it past Crocker, but touched the grass, which sent him across the apex to t-bone the unsighted Caudle, before both piled into the barriers.
“I saw Jason coming and didn’t think he was going stop, so got out of his way,” said Crocker. “I didn’t see that coming, Jason was on the grass I think and came straight through my car,” Caudle explained. “All I can think is that I must have touched the grass, but it was a big hit,” Richardson added.
Both drivers were treated at the medical centre, Richardson broke his right collarbone and fractured his left wrist, as well as bruising his coccyx, while Caudle strained his right thigh, along with cuts and bruises. “They thought I had damaged my pelvis, but it’s just my leg,” he said.
After three laps behind the safety car there was one green flag lap before the race was stopped after George Allen left the track, with Lee Allen the winner, but Knox the Champion in second place. “A superb start and the car handled much better than the first race and it gave me the edge on Knox,” said Allen. “It was probably my worst start, then overcooked at Riches, but followed Lee through it all,” Knox explained.
Crocker completed the podium, from Lines, Smith and Osborne. “I had let Chris by and Lee got through too. But Luke nearly put me off and it unsettled the car, then I just fell back,” said Osborne.
Whorton-Eales returned to the top step of the podium in the Club Class, to head home Nixon, Bishop, Magiy and Mortimer. Raymond once again ran out of luck, “I ran over debris from Kevin O’Connor’s car and it damaged the radiator,” he explained after vacating second place on lap two.

RACE THREE

MINI ChallengeAfter a disappointing race 2 result the reverse grid gave Osborne the privilege of lining up on pole for the final race of a hard fought season. But it was Lines that made the best start and managed to lead the pole man for a few yards, Osborne regained and led the field through the first lap, from Smith, Knox, Crocker, Lee Sullivan and Stoney, but Lee Allen was also a first lap casualty. “I had a little touch on Chris Knox and a water pipe fractured,” he confirmed.
Smith had the lead as they came into Montreal Hairpin for the second time and Knox tried to follow, but on this occasion Osborne had it covered. Crocker was fairly lonely in fourth, as Sullivan, Rhys Lloyd and Stoney fought for fifth.
It was close still for the lead on lap three when a determined Osborne was almost pushing Smith. The leader was forced wide at Hamilton’s, but still held on, with Osborne relegated to third, after Knox split them into Brundle.
Crocker had also closed again as the lead trio intensified their battle, while Stoney edged himself clear of his battle with Sullivan and Lloyd for fifth.
Knox was all over Smith in the closing laps, with Osborne still in touch too. But on the last lap they came on to Patrick Mortimer’s club Class car, Smith made it by but Knox made contact and effectively ended his challenge, Osborne kept clear of the confusion and made off after Smith. “That was such a tough race with Knoxy, so I was grateful for the club class car. He got caught up and I didn’t. Nice to win the last race too, my only win this year, but what a race to win” said the victorious Smith.
“I thought Patrick was letting me through just before the corner, but we had contact.” Knox explained. “I really thought my championship hopes were over by round three though, then I got the treble at Brands and I am now the champion,” he added.
Osborne took advantage to secure second, “I was driving the socks off the car,” he said. Crocker retained fourth, from Stoney and Sullivan, but a few rallycross excursions and a drive through left Lloyd down in tenth, promoting O’Connor, Andrew Bailey and Ogden. “Totally undamaged and finished every race, that was my aim,” said Stoney. “I had Lee Allen’s coolant all over my screen, so I couldn’t see very well,” added Sullivan.
Whorton-Eales completed his title year with another dominant Club Class win, from Nixon, Bishop and Magiy.
Another epic MINI Challenge season closes, but all the talk was of 2012.

 

End of Season

 
 
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2012 Try out days

14th February  - Brands Hatch - pm
19th February - BrandsHatch - All day
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