Mini Se7ens & Miglias Donington Park 15th & 16th April 2023
Dunlop Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares Mini Miglia Qualifying/Race One: After their season-opening meeting on the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone in March, the Mini 7 Racing Club pitched up at Donington Park for their second outing over the weekend of the 15th and 16th of April. Kane Astin secured pole position by the large margin, in Mini terms, of 0.415 seconds from multiple Miglia champion Aaron Smith. Forming up on the second row would be Ashley Davies and Colin Peacock. The last car within a second of the pole time was that of Phil Bullen-Brown in fifth. Title contender Jeff Smith had a nightmare session and failed to set a time after an electrical fault caused water pump failure, he would start from the back of Miglia grid in fourteenth. Converting his pole position, Astin held the lead out of Redgate for the first time with Aaron Smith, Davies and Peacock next in line. Contact amongst the group into Redgate on lap two sent Davies into the gravel and Phil Bullen-Brown into the lead, Davies rejoined but retired to the pits at the end of the lap. Bullen-Brown's tenure of the lead would be short as Astin retook the place at Redgate starting lap three whilst a charging Jeff Smith had reached third, which became second by the Old Hairpin! At the end of the lap, Astin was held up by a backmarker at the Roberts chicane, which gave Jeff Smith the chance to complete his march to the front. Astin would soon be back ahead but Bullen-Brown tagged the rear of his car as the pack jostled into Redgate next time around, sending Astin wide and down to fifth place, whilst Jeff Smith took up the race lead. Smith's defence of the race lead soon allowed Astin to get back onto the train fighting over the race win. The lead group would lose Peacock at two-thirds distance when he went off on oil dropped down the Craner Curves. It was now any one of four for the victory, with Aaron Smith, Astin and Jeff Smith all taking turns in front as the race reached its closing stages, Bullen-Brown was still in the mix too, with the group regularly arriving at Redgate three-wide. Aaron Smith led on to the penultimate lap ahead of Bullen-Brown but Astin would pass them both to lead onto the final lap, the group became a trio at this point as Jeff Smith pulled out with a gearbox problem. Astin held off the pair behind to take the win, Bullen-Brown usurped Aaron Smith on the last lap to bag second after a superb race. Josh Evans defeated Julian Proctor for the Libre class win by just under half a second with a late pass after early leader Peter Hills' smoky retirement.
Race Two: The top eight grid reversal for race two placed Lee Roberts on pole position, Mark Sims sharing the front row with him. James Cuthbertson and Shaun King went from the second row, Nick Paddy and Aaron Smith formed the third row with Bullen-Brown and Astin on the fourth row. Race one non-finishers Jeff Smith would go from ninth, a row back from Saturday’s winner Astin, whilst Colin Peacock went from thirteenth and both would be looking to make an impression. Another potential contender, Ashley Davies, should have lined up twelfth but didn’t take the start. Poleman Roberts got away from the line well but contact with Cuthbertson at Redgate sent cars scattering, Cuthbertson, Sims and Astin all rejoined from the gravel but Jeff Smith was out on the spot. The chaotic first corner put Aaron Smith into the lead from Bullen-Brown close behind and the pair were able to make a break from Shaun King and Roberts, whose front bodywork was awry, in third and fourth. As the lead pair stretched away out front, Peacock and the recovering Astin were making rapid progress through the top ten. Astin would reach third during lap six and Peacock moved up to fourth on the seventh tour, Astin having caught and passed the red car a couple of laps earlier. Back at the front, Bullen-Brown was getting very interested in taking the race lead and draughted by Smith on the start/finish straight starting the eighth lap. Bullen-Brown wouldn't hold the position for long as Smith soon retook the lead but Bullen-Brown got top spot back into the Roberts chicane later in the lap. Not to be outdone, Smith fought back straight away into Redgate on lap nine. The pair continued to lap as one into the closing stages when heartbreak struck for Bullen-Brown with three minutes remaining, his great effort nullified by a holed radiator. Smith was away and free to take the win by a comfortable 6.796 seconds from Astin, who was a similar distance ahead of Peacock in third. Nick Paddy prevailed in his race-long tussle with Shaun King for fourth. Josh Evans scored his second victory in the Libre class, besting Steve Baker this time.
Race Two: The top eight grid reversal for race two placed Lee Roberts on pole position, Mark Sims sharing the front row with him. James Cuthbertson and Shaun King went from the second row, Nick Paddy and Aaron Smith formed the third row with Bullen-Brown and Astin on the fourth row. Race one non-finishers Jeff Smith would go from ninth, a row back from Saturday’s winner Astin, whilst Colin Peacock went from thirteenth and both would be looking to make an impression. Another potential contender, Ashley Davies, should have lined up twelfth but didn’t take the start. Poleman Roberts got away from the line well but contact with Cuthbertson at Redgate sent cars scattering, Cuthbertson, Sims and Astin all rejoined from the gravel but Jeff Smith was out on the spot. The chaotic first corner put Aaron Smith into the lead from Bullen-Brown close behind and the pair were able to make a break from Shaun King and Roberts, whose front bodywork was awry, in third and fourth. As the lead pair stretched away out front, Peacock and the recovering Astin were making rapid progress through the top ten. Astin would reach third during lap six and Peacock moved up to fourth on the seventh tour, Astin having caught and passed the red car a couple of laps earlier. Back at the front, Bullen-Brown was getting very interested in taking the race lead and draughted by Smith on the start/finish straight starting the eighth lap. Bullen-Brown wouldn't hold the position for long as Smith soon retook the lead but Bullen-Brown got top spot back into the Roberts chicane later in the lap. Not to be outdone, Smith fought back straight away into Redgate on lap nine. The pair continued to lap as one into the closing stages when heartbreak struck for Bullen-Brown with three minutes remaining, his great effort nullified by a holed radiator. Smith was away and free to take the win by a comfortable 6.796 seconds from Astin, who was a similar distance ahead of Peacock in third. Nick Paddy prevailed in his race-long tussle with Shaun King for fourth. Josh Evans scored his second victory in the Libre class, besting Steve Baker this time.
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Dunlop Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares Mini Se7en Qualifying/Race One: Spencer Wanstall sped to pole postion by 0.101 seconds from Ross Billisona and Silverstone opening race winner Mike Jordan lined up third, with 0.245 seconds covering the trio. Darren Thomas, Glen Woodbridge and Silverstone Race Two victor Joe Thompson completed the top six. 2022 champion Connor O’Brien endured a difficult session and didn’t complete a flying lap. In seventh was 2022 S-Class champion Damien Harrington and he set a time just in front of this year’s S-Class contingent. Matthew Ayres topped the S-Class times from championship returnee Michael Winkworth and were split by less than 1/10th of a second. Wanstall made the best of his pole position to hold the lead into Redgate, ahead of Billison and a pressing Jordan. The 2023 opening race winner got up the inside of Billison into the Old Hairpin to take second place but he wouldn't hold the spot for long as Billison was back ahead before the opening lap was complete. Leader Wanstall had threatened to make his escape heading into the second lap but his breakaway was stymied by the appearance of the Safety Car for the retrieval of Connor O'Brien's stranded car, the 2022 champion's trying start to the season not getting any better. The field was released after three laps and Wanstall immediately built his lead again from Billison and Jordan but the Safety Car was called for again straight away. After another two laps behind the BMW, the race got underway once more with a little under nine minutes left. Wanstall worked to rebuild his margin to the squabbling Billison and Jordan, who made a serious attempt to climb into second past the pits completing the lap but is held off into Redgate. Next time around and drama struck race leader Wanstall, who retired pitwards. Now fighting for the race win, the Billison/Jordan pair was being reeled in by Joe Thompson. Inside the last five minutes and Thompson hit the front after the trio arrived at the Roberts chicane three-wide, the in-fighting was bringing Glen Woodbridge ever closer too. They are three abreast again one lap later into Redgate, with Woodbridge now latched onto the group. After more place swapping at the Roberts chicane, Billison took the lead into Redgate for the last time after they passed the pits four-wide! With the scrap getting more serious, Thompson retook the lead at the Old Hairpin and Woodbridge also went by Jordan on the climb to McLeans for third but is repassed on the exit as Jordan cut back inside. Thompson held on to win by 0.425 seconds from Billison in second, Jordan took third from Woodbridge in a frenetic race. Michael Winkworth took a dominant S-Class win in his return to the category, finishing fifth overall to boot.
Race Two: For race two, the Race One top eight finishing order would be reversed to form the grid and would place Graeme Davis on pole position. Novice Andrew King joined Davis on the front row. Damien Harrington and Tom Mills sat on row two, just ahead of the Race One combatants Glen Woodbridge, Ross Billison and Joe Thompson. 2022 champion Connor O’Brien would go from fourteenth and hoped that his troubled start to the season got better very soon. Early Race One pacesetter Spencer Wanstall was due to start from eleventh but non-started, whilst Race One podium finisher Mike Jordan was also missing from the Se7en entry for Race Two due to being on Goodwood Members Meeting duty. When the lights went out, a great start from the second row launched Mills into the lead by Redgate, with Woodbridge, Billison and Thompson up to second, third and fourth by the Old Hairpin. Also making hay on the opening lap was O'Brien, reaching the Old Hairpin just behind polesitter Davis and side-by-side with Jordan Sims for sixth. The 2022 champion would be fifth by the end of the lap and in the fight for the lead. Woodbridge would relieve Mills of the lead starting the second tour before O'Brien's brilliant charge took him to the front into the Roberts chicane at the end of the lap. Next time around and it would be Billison's turn to take up the cudgels, with Thompson applying the pressure just behind. The Race One winner had a go at taking the race lead into Redgate for the fourth time before making a move stick going into lap five. Meanwhile, after his meteoric start, O'Brien started to fall down the order with a worsening misfire which would send him into retirement a lap later. A temporary ceasefire was issued to the Thompson, Billison and Woodbridge scrap when the Safety Car was called for, after father and son S-Class protagonists Andrew and Frazer Hack came together with Race One victor Michael Winkworth at the Roberts chicane. After three laps under caution, the race went green again with a little under five minutes remaining and the lead trio were straight back into the fight. Billison decisively hit the front into Redgate for the eleventh time, after the three arrive abreast. Next time around would be the penultimate lap, which saw Thompson and Woodbridge running side-by-side down the Craner Curves but the Race One winner held onto the place at the Old Hairpin. The trio closed up again heading into the last lap and Thompson was virtually pushing Billison towards Redgate but the leader defended stoutly. Thompson was in his slipstream again heading to the Roberts chicane but Billison was the last of the late brakers to hang on for the race win by 0.430 seconds. Second and third crossed the line side-by-side, with Thompson getting the verdict by 0.052 seconds from Woodbridge after another barnstorming encounter.
The next rounds for the Mini Se7ens and Miglias will be on the 300 circuit at Snetterton on the 13th and 14th of May.
Race Two: For race two, the Race One top eight finishing order would be reversed to form the grid and would place Graeme Davis on pole position. Novice Andrew King joined Davis on the front row. Damien Harrington and Tom Mills sat on row two, just ahead of the Race One combatants Glen Woodbridge, Ross Billison and Joe Thompson. 2022 champion Connor O’Brien would go from fourteenth and hoped that his troubled start to the season got better very soon. Early Race One pacesetter Spencer Wanstall was due to start from eleventh but non-started, whilst Race One podium finisher Mike Jordan was also missing from the Se7en entry for Race Two due to being on Goodwood Members Meeting duty. When the lights went out, a great start from the second row launched Mills into the lead by Redgate, with Woodbridge, Billison and Thompson up to second, third and fourth by the Old Hairpin. Also making hay on the opening lap was O'Brien, reaching the Old Hairpin just behind polesitter Davis and side-by-side with Jordan Sims for sixth. The 2022 champion would be fifth by the end of the lap and in the fight for the lead. Woodbridge would relieve Mills of the lead starting the second tour before O'Brien's brilliant charge took him to the front into the Roberts chicane at the end of the lap. Next time around and it would be Billison's turn to take up the cudgels, with Thompson applying the pressure just behind. The Race One winner had a go at taking the race lead into Redgate for the fourth time before making a move stick going into lap five. Meanwhile, after his meteoric start, O'Brien started to fall down the order with a worsening misfire which would send him into retirement a lap later. A temporary ceasefire was issued to the Thompson, Billison and Woodbridge scrap when the Safety Car was called for, after father and son S-Class protagonists Andrew and Frazer Hack came together with Race One victor Michael Winkworth at the Roberts chicane. After three laps under caution, the race went green again with a little under five minutes remaining and the lead trio were straight back into the fight. Billison decisively hit the front into Redgate for the eleventh time, after the three arrive abreast. Next time around would be the penultimate lap, which saw Thompson and Woodbridge running side-by-side down the Craner Curves but the Race One winner held onto the place at the Old Hairpin. The trio closed up again heading into the last lap and Thompson was virtually pushing Billison towards Redgate but the leader defended stoutly. Thompson was in his slipstream again heading to the Roberts chicane but Billison was the last of the late brakers to hang on for the race win by 0.430 seconds. Second and third crossed the line side-by-side, with Thompson getting the verdict by 0.052 seconds from Woodbridge after another barnstorming encounter.
The next rounds for the Mini Se7ens and Miglias will be on the 300 circuit at Snetterton on the 13th and 14th of May.
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Matty Cobb - VW Beetle-Radical/Northern Saloon & Sports Car Championship
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The Darlington & District Motor Club’s varied Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship field also took to the Leicestershire circuit. The Radical SR8-chassised VW Beetle silhouette driven by Matty Cobb was a star entry, a creation of former Donington GT racer Jeff Wilson. Wilson wanted to build “something fun” and was inspired by Mick Hill’s famous Trojan F5000-based VW Beetle-Chevrolet Super Saloon from the 1970s, a car Wilson owned himself in the early 1980s before building his own Ford GAA V6-powered BMW M1 and Jade-underpinned Lotus Elise clones (see below). Cobb qualified the car in fifth place on a drying track for race one, behind Jon Woolfit's Spire GTR, Paul Rankin's Westfield Aero and two BMW M3s, the E46 of David Fielder and the E36 of Mike Cutt. His second fastest time in the session put him seventh on the grid for race two. The Beetle soon climbed to third place in race one but the lead pair had raced into an insurmountable lead so that was where the device finished, behind Woolfit’s victorious Spire and the Rankin Westfield. The tables were turned in race two when the Beetle was victorious. After climbing up to third on the opening lap, Cobb looked set for a second podium finish as Woolfit and Rankin had pulled a gap on the silhouette. During the second half of the race the leading Spire’s pace began to wane and brought the VW back into contention, Cobb passing the leading pair late in the race to take the spoils.
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Other Highlights
The three Toyo Tyres Caterham 420R races had a different winner of each, Gary Smith holding off Jonathan Mitchell for the Race One win before Mitchell reversed their positions in race two. Stephen Lyall, the son of Alistair Lyall - who was the maiden race winner when Donington Park reopened in 1977, took the reversed grid race three, having had a busy race two after starting from 25th and finishing third. Ben Winrow won the first two 1600 division bouts before Stephen Clark scampered to an un-Caterham-like 13.262-second victory in the third, Winrow finished down the order after contact with Max Haynes at McLeans whilst arguing over second place. The Luke's Garage Snetterton Saloons had an away-day race fought out over 45 minutes and would feature a close tussle between three BMW M3s. Jasver Sapra led early on before retiring his E36 after ten minutes, which left Bryan Bransom and Kevin Clarke to fight it out for the win in their E46s. Bransom would lead up to the pitstops but Clarke would jump into the lead when the orange M3 emerged. The two BMs couldn't be separated to the end, passing and repassing as they went, with Clarke getting the verdict by a slender 0.298 seconds, Mark Smith's Cupra TCR took third. The Benjafields Bentley Challenge for Bentleys of 1920s vintage produced a double race win for David Little's Supersports, leading home polesitter Louisa Getley in race one and Peter Little in race two.
The three Toyo Tyres Caterham 420R races had a different winner of each, Gary Smith holding off Jonathan Mitchell for the Race One win before Mitchell reversed their positions in race two. Stephen Lyall, the son of Alistair Lyall - who was the maiden race winner when Donington Park reopened in 1977, took the reversed grid race three, having had a busy race two after starting from 25th and finishing third. Ben Winrow won the first two 1600 division bouts before Stephen Clark scampered to an un-Caterham-like 13.262-second victory in the third, Winrow finished down the order after contact with Max Haynes at McLeans whilst arguing over second place. The Luke's Garage Snetterton Saloons had an away-day race fought out over 45 minutes and would feature a close tussle between three BMW M3s. Jasver Sapra led early on before retiring his E36 after ten minutes, which left Bryan Bransom and Kevin Clarke to fight it out for the win in their E46s. Bransom would lead up to the pitstops but Clarke would jump into the lead when the orange M3 emerged. The two BMs couldn't be separated to the end, passing and repassing as they went, with Clarke getting the verdict by a slender 0.298 seconds, Mark Smith's Cupra TCR took third. The Benjafields Bentley Challenge for Bentleys of 1920s vintage produced a double race win for David Little's Supersports, leading home polesitter Louisa Getley in race one and Peter Little in race two.
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