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 Practice Sessions - Class B |
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The practice and race sessions for round 12 of the BARC/MGOC Championship were unusually held over two days. On Saturday it was the turn of Class B, with the entire entry of 21 cars being made up of MG Maestros. The MGs were the first out onto the circuit at around 9am.Most drivers got in 14 laps during their fifteen minute slot. Simon Kendrick, out in his re-shelled MG Maestro for the first time, (he wrote off his previous shell at Lydden Hill) had a bit of a surprise on his first flying lap of the 1.2262 mile Indy Circuit, the bonnet flew open as he went down 'Paddock Hill'. Rather scary to loose all your forward vision at over 80mph! He quickly pulled off the circuit where upon race marshalls helped to re-secure the bonnet so he could complete his qualifying session. The rest of the session was completed without incident. Amazingly the first 13 cars all qualified within a second of each other with Nick Golhar getting the fastest lap of 1 minute 1.449 seconds. Mark Freeman in car number 13 qualified 13th in 1 minute 2.378 seconds. The gap between 1st and 13th was just 0.929 sec. It was going to be a close race!
Class B - All MG Maestros 1 Nick Golhar 1:01.449 2 Andy Campbell +0.076 3 Nick Evans +0.123 4 Jim Edwards +0.187 5 John Lane +0.357 6 James Perry +0.418 7 Darryl Davis +0.539 8 Nick Arden +0.550 9 Darren Winter +0.798 10 Ian Evans +0.811 11 Martin Gilcrest +0.866 12 Doug Cole +0.875 13 Mark Freeman +0.929 14 Kevin Bull +1.056 15 Robin Walker +1.219 16 Martin Lovell +1.305 17 Paul Naish +1.385 18 Daniel Whittington +1.477 19 Steve Gray +2.026 20 Simon Kendrick +3.422 21 Vincent Hunt +4.848All 21 competitors are shown , note that the first 13 cars all qualified within a single second!! (could this be some sort of record?) |
| Practice Sessions - Class A |
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The Class A cars went onto the circuit in bright sunshine in the third
qualifying period of the morning shortly before eleven. Each and
everyone of the 23 drivers were hoping for a problem free session, as
the cars were due to be back on the grid within the hour for the actual
race. The timetable allowed them only just enough time to get back to
the paddock to re-fuel before then making their way back to the
collection area prior to the race. For the first time this season we
saw a total of four MGFs all fighting for the top spot, but it was the
superfast lady, Julie Clark, in an MG Midget who set the pace and earned
herself the well deserved pole position. Former MG Maestro driver
Michael Weidner who was making his debut in a beautifully prepared MGF
put himself in ninth place on the grid. As you can see below, the first
five cars set very close times, would the race be as close?
Class A 1.. Julie Clark Midget 1:01.643 2..Adian Olsson MGF +0.295 3..Nigel Woolcott Midget +0.341 4..Darry Davis MGF +0.472 5..Jim Baynam MGB +0.762 6..Gary Smith Midget +1.509 7..Nick Golhar MGF +1.529 8..Peter St.Barbe Midget +2.078 9..Michael Weidner MGF +2.092 10..Jonathan Kimber MGB +2.186 |
| Class B Race Report
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By the time the front front runners went around 'Druids' for the first time, poleman Nick Golhar had slipped back to third as Nick Evans went around the tight right hander on the inside. Andy Campbell's 1600 MG Maestro seemed well suited to the Brands Hatch circuit and now that he was in front, he was going to stay there! A little further down the field Robin Walkers Maestro made contact with the number 13 car of Mark Freeman, as they sped up the hill towards 'Driuid'. Freemans car spun out taking the unfortunate Kevin Bull, in the number 8 car, with him. Both Freeman and Bull were unable to continue, Walker on the other hand went on to finish the race in 13th! For much of the race it was a Campbell, Evans, Golhar 1-2-3, but in the latter stages Nick Evans lost two places, firstly to Nick Golhar, who moved up to second and then he lost another place to James Perry, who stole third after the two went around 'Druids' locked together!! Results: Class B - 10 Laps 1..Andy Campbell 10:29.705 2..Nick Golhar +0.241 3..James Perry +2.975 4..Nick Evans +3.351 5..Darryl Davis +7.285 6..John Lane +7.744 Fastest Lap: Nick Golhar 1:01.458 on lap 4 @ 71.82mph |
| Class A Race Report
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As already mentioned above amongst the 23 entries there were four MGFs, not one managed to steal pole position, this went to Julie Clark in an MG Midget. The MGFs are very quick off the line and both Adrian Olsson and Darryl Davis made good starts, with Julie Clark dropping to back to third almost immediately. As the cars powered around the first corner, which quickly drops down steeply, quickly rising once more up to 'Druids', it was the yellow & red MGF of Olsson with the edge over the pink MGF of Darryl Davis. In third place it was Julie Clark, quickly followed by Nigel Woolcott, with Jim Baynam (MGB and Gary Smith (MG Midget) duelling over fourth, with the inside line advantage going to Baynam. It was now getting a little crowed around 'Druids'! but at least everyone got around the circuit on the first lap, on lap two however it went all pear shaped for Michael Weidner in his MGF. As the leading cars were approaching 'Druids' for the second time, there was a huge cloud of dust on 'Paddock Hill'. Weidner had gone wider than he had intended, the car dug itself into the gravel and ended up on its roof. The driver quickly scrambled out with the aid of the ever efficent BRSCC marshals. The race continued without stopage until the chequred flag fell in front of a triumphant Adrian Olsson. Darryl Davis was second with Julie Clark, who never gave up chasing!, was third. Results:Class A - 10 Laps 1..Adrian Olsson MGF 10:35.076 2..Darryl Davis MGF +0.173 3..Julie Clark MG Midget +0.653 4..Nigel Woolcott MG Midget +1.237 5..Jim Baynam MGB +1.537 6..Nick Golhar MGF +9.231 Fastest Lap: Nigel Woolcott 1:02.193 on lap 8 @70.97mph Round 13 of the championship will be held at Snetterton |
| Championship Points Summary - Class A & B |
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Brands Hatch was the penultimate round of the championship for the year 2000, and it could not be any closer as we head for last race! The situation, after taking the dropped scores into account, is that Darryl Davis leads Class A with 190 points and Andy Campbell in Class B also has 190 points. Campbell has already secured the championship in Class A, but with both drivers on equal points who will emerge as overall champion? Get yourself along to Snetterton on Saturday the14th October to find out!
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