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Old 17 Apr 2011, 21:15 (Ref:2865315)   #1
Jonathan F
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Jonathan F should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Nippon Challenge: Rounds 1 & 2

Silverstone “National”: April 10th 2011 (Rounds 1&2 of Nippon Challenge)


Race Day:


With a full grid turnout for this pre-season “friendly”, it highlighted that the support of the Nippon Challenge is showing no signs of slowing down.

Now into its 4th year, the series is set to race at some of the UK’s top circuits, with Brands Hatch being the next event on the 1st of May.

Due to numerous reasons, some of last season’s prominent racers were absent, but the news is that most of these will be making appearances throughout the season as time and funds permit.

With a mixture of new drivers, and fresh cars on the grid, the results were anything but a forgone conclusion.

With 6 of the newly launched “Civic Cup” Honda’s on the grid, it promised to provide close racing within the “BCCC” and alongside the GT200/GT250 drivers. Paul Cowland from Banzai magazine was making his first appearance behind the wheel of his Civic at Silverstone with a last minute entry from the series founder Paul Hughes taking up the last seat in car number 9.


The GT200 Celica of Ross Stoner, resplendent in the famous Castrol colours, looked like it was capable of holding it’s own against the Honda’s, but only time would tell.

2008 series regular Jim Bridge made a welcome return in his silver 350z, so it was a pity Steve Burke was unable to provide him with another 350z to battle against.

Tengudo Motorsport Team Principal, Martin White handed over the keys of his number 29 Subaru Impreza to “Autosport’s” Ben Anderson for the event.

Now running in the GT300 class, the car’s development from a Subaru Cup car can be seen throughout as the team have some of the best components at their disposal.


Qualifying:

An early session saw the whole grid take to the circuit for the first time and proceed to settle down and produce their fastest laps.

It wasn’t long for the first casualties to fall, as the MR2 Richard Avery had barely made it past the pit lane exit when it coasted to a halt.

The long awaited GT300 Nissan Pulsar of Adam Lockwood didn’t fair much better as smoke was soon seen pouring from the exhaust, and the unwelcome sight of a compression test underway in the paddock looked to be the nail in it’s debut coffin.

Jason West looked to be having a great start to the season, setting some quick laps from the off, and looking like being one to watch.

Also looking to be finding his feet very quickly, and on a par with Jason was new driver Jason Sharpe, in what looked like Piers Hulford’s old Subaru Cup car.

Andy McLennan and his throttle bodied Suzuki Swift was using all of his available 8000rpm to squeeze every last drop out in an attempt to secure pole. With a DNF in the last round of 2010, Andy was showing no signs of dwelling on the past. With all new drive shafts in place, hopefully there would be no repeat performance of the incident that cost him the race at Brands.


Anderson and the Tengudo Motorsport Impreza were having huge problems with their brakes, as often “Maggotts” resembled the set of “Stars In Their Eyes” with the amount of smoke from the lock ups!

Lee Bennett-Neil in his lime green Integra showed he hadn’t lost any of his pace during the winter season, and continued to lap with consistency.


Jason West took his first pole in the Nippon Challenge with a 1:06.702, which was on a par with the Clio Cup cars from the Euro Saloon event.

Andy McLennan took a fantastic second place, with Ben Anderson and Jason Sharpe in the Subaru’s taking 3rd and 4th respectively.


Race 1:

With the lights out, and in the words of legend Murray Walker, it was “go go go!” However with the Nissan of West bogging down on the line, it was the Swift of McLennan and the Subaru of Anderson who capitalised and led the pack into “Copse” for the 1st time.

Making a startling recover, the “Braille Battery” sponsored 200SX romped back up to take 1st place from the ex-touring car legend McLennan and continued to pull out what appeared to be an unbeatable lead. (more on that later)

The Subaru’s of Anderson and Sharpe were left to battle between themselves for the 3rd and 4th spots respectively, with the Mk2 MR2 of Reed and the Integra of Bennett-Neil closing out the top six.


Paul Hughes in the spare BCCC Honda, drove the wheels of the GT200 Civic to come from the last slot on the grid to place 8th overall after several laps battling with fellow BCCC driver Paul Cowland.


With a cliff hanger finale, worthy of a remake of “Days of Thunder” began when West’s perfect race fell apart:

The Nissan which had been leading from the beginning dropped a cylinder and began to limp around the last couple of laps. Sensing the blood of its prey, like a tiger stalking a wounded gazelle, the Swift of McLennan pounced and reeled in the stricken SX. On the last lap, yards from the finish line, Andy snatched victory and recorded his first race win since 1972!

A sterling effort from Andy, who took pleasure in pointing out to Jason that he’d just been beaten by a pensioner!


1st Andy Mclennan SGT
2nd Jason West GT300
3rd Ben Anderson GT300
4th Jason Sharpe GT300
5th Nick Reed GT250
6th Lee Bennett-Neil GT250

Fastest lap: Jason West 1:07.572 sec


Race 2:

With Jason unable to repair the Nissan before race two, Andy would be again up against the strong starting 4wd Impreza’s.

It was the Impreza of Anderson which lead Sharpe from the start as McLennan dropped back to 5th from and was passed by Reed in the turbo’d GT250 MR2 and class mate Bennett-Neil in his DC2 Integra.

With a shaky start behind him, McLennan began his fight back and by lap 3 he was back up to 2nd place and closing in on the silver and red Subaru. On lap 5 the red Swift took the lead, and held the Impreza at bay for a couple of laps before being passed again on lap 7. Unfortunately for Ben, his lead was short lived as the Subaru was soon sidelined with a broken driveshaft.

Having pulled a lead out over the chasing pack, the Swift continued to run on pace, and lead to the flag.


Again the fresh faced Civic’s provided their own source of entertainment, with some cue’s taken from the heyday of touring car racing.

Novice Richard Hockley in car number 90 showed the more accomplished drivers in the BCCC that he was a quick learner, and was up for the challenge against team mates Hughes and Cowland.

Lap after lap all three took turns to lead their own mini race and the GT200 class.


With the flag out, it was Hughes who came through the victor, closely followed by Hockley and Cowland.

All in all a great start to the season, with few casualties. Good honest racing across the board, with plenty more to come.

1st Andy Mclennan SGT
2nd Jason Sharpe GT300
3rd Nick Reed GT250
4th Lee Bennett-Neil GT250
5th Paul Hughes GT200
6th Richard Hockley GT200

Fastest lap: Andy McLennan 1:08.861 sec
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Old 24 Apr 2011, 21:31 (Ref:2869278)   #2
Stratton Mackay
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Stratton Mackay should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
This event is running at brands next week?? How can you get involved and whats the regs like, what tyres especially?? Slicks allowed?
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Old 25 Apr 2011, 22:42 (Ref:2869790)   #3
snowen250
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snowen250 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
More info here Stratton http://www.reddragonraceandtrackclub.com/

They have a forum and stuff, dont quote me but slicks and big power cars like yours used to be allowed but i have a feeling the series went more production based, with slicks now being banned, tyres need to be list 1a or b

Simon
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Old 26 Apr 2011, 17:43 (Ref:2870130)   #4
Stratton Mackay
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Stratton Mackay should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Thanks Simon,

will look up a couple of the guys over the weekend, looks interesting.....
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Old 28 Apr 2011, 11:21 (Ref:2871118)   #5
Jonathan F
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Jonathan F should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Slicks have never been allowed.

List 1b for dry, but full wets are allowed.

Now capped at 400 brake in Super GT, but no weight limit.
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