The Mini Festival entertained on both days at Brands Hatch, with more terrific racing, car displays and more.
Spectators enjoyed a 28-strong grid in the MINI CHALLENGE JCW series with a dramatic first race providing plenty entertainment. The opening lap of the race saw Nathan Harrison produce a stunning overtake on pole starter James Gornall whilst further down the pack Matthew Wilson ran wide at Paddock Hill Bend, forcing a local yellow flag. The rest of the race provided plenty of thrills and spills too with a safety car period during lap eleven. A great restart from Harrison helped extend his lead eventually taking the chequered flag with a gap of 2.775s over second place Gornall. Dan Zelos, Ben Palmer and Lewis Brown completed the top five.
There were plenty of extreme machines within the Fastest Mini in the World series with Bill Richards enjoying success in the series’ first race of the day. An early move at Paddock Hill Bend saw Jim Lyons concede first place, with third place Harvey Death battling his way from third to snatch the lead on the fourth lap of the race. There was plenty of action towards the tail end of the grid too as pit lane starter Rupert Death picked his way through the grid, eventually making his way up to third. Overall it was Bill Richards who took the top step of the podium followed by Harvey Death and Rupert Death. Matthew Skidmore and Richard Morris followed suit in fourth and fifth respectively.
The Dunlop Mini Se7en Championship provided plenty of enthralling classic Mini action too with Darren Thomas starting on pole, followed by Jeff Smith, Joe Thompson, Spencer Wanstall and Dom Burger. The five provided plenty of entertainment for spectators with the quintet chopping and changing positions from lights to flag. It was Smith who took the top step of the podium after twenty laps with Thompson and Thomas completing the podium.
Aside from the racing there was plenty of other on-track action including a magnificent 60 Years of the Mini parade, plus two single seater demos, an Italian Job parade and Mini Car Club laps drawing the day to a close. Off the track magnificent Minis of various shapes and sizes filled the venue, plus visitors could enjoy live music, Go Karts, a trade village and much more.
Images courtesy of www.pspimages.co.uk