Mini Magazine - Summer 2018

Motorsport
RACE RESULTS
SE7EN/S-CLASS:
RACE 1
1st - Tom Sanderson
2nd - Darren Thomas
3rd - Max Hunter
6th - Scott Kendall (S-Class)
SE7EN/S-CLASS:
RACE 2
1st - Darren Thomas
2nd - Spencer Wanstall
3rd - Tom Sanderson
5th - Nick Croydon-Fowler (S-Class)
Tom Sanderson had
his first series victory.
THRILLS & SPILLS
Drama aplenty as Minis steal the show at Thruxton 50th Anniversary.
The Mini Se7ens kicked off the race
action with former Metro champion
Tom Sanderson converting pole
position into a first series victory. Having
blown an engine in qualifying, Darren
Thomas’ replacement was a flyer to give him
second ahead of points leader Max Hunter
and quickest-over-a-lap, Daniel Budd in
fourth. Dom Burger took fifth ahead of
S-Class winner Scott Kendall, once initial
leader Nick Croydon-Fowler had dropped
out. Humid conditions caused overheating
issues, but of note James Bull still managed
to set a new S-Class lap record, and Julian
Proctor stormed into the top 10.
A mid-morning Sunday start for the
Miglias opening race was shaping up to be a
belter when yellow flags at the chicane
initiated the first of two accidents. With both
emerging okay, Dave Drew came through to
take a victory ahead of Nick Padmore, Aaron
Smith and Kane Astin, the latter setting a
new lap record from the sixth row. Among
the six Libres to start, Jonathan Lewis took a
class debut win ahead of David Franks.
In the second Se7en encounter, Thomas
established a narrow lead over the jostling
pack when on lap four there was an almighty
commotion over the far side of the circuit and
a car could be seen tumbling over the barriers
24
into a marshals’ post. After a short safety car
period, red flags halted proceedings as rescue
vehicles and ambulances were despatched.
The news filtered through that the two
people taken to the medical centre were up
and walking, a marshal with bruising and cuts
but otherwise ok, and Daniel Budd whose
#47 it was that had gone off. Surveying the
remains of the shell later it is testament to
current build integrity that Dan was
unharmed, if perhaps still in shock. The result
was taken on countback to four laps, giving
Thomas the win ahead of Spencer Wanstall,
Sanderson and Hunter, with Croydon-Fowler
leading the S-Class at the time.
The day’s events were brought to an
uplifting conclusion with a belter of a Miglia
race. Lap after lap the lead changed hands,
with Drew and Smith mostly out front, along
Dave Drew took victory in the Miglias...
MIGLIA/LIBRE:
RACE 1
1st - Dave Drew
2nd - Nick Padmore
3rd - Aaron Smith
7th - Jonathan Lewis (Libre)
MIGLIA/LIBRE:
RACE 2
1st - Aaron Smith
2nd - Dave Drew
3rd - Kane Astin
12th - David Franks (Libre)
Words Richard Williamson Photography Stephen Colbran
with Astin, Peacock, Charlie Budd and, after a
mammoth effort to straighten his car from
the morning off, Deeth. The latter looked to
have pinched it with a couple of laps to go,
but just overcooked it into the chicane which
allowed Drew and Smith to open a tiny gap as
the rest had to lift to avoid the half-spun car. In
a final last lap, Drew went to the outside but
Smith just held the perfect line to squeeze
him out, with Astin, Peacock, Budd and Jason
Porter virtually tied together behind. In the
Libres, newcomer Franks took the win from
Ian Fraser, after early leader Lewis pulled off.
The M7RC now heads off across the North
Sea to Zandvoort in Holland for Rounds 7 and
8, over the 7-8 July weekend.
...and celebrated in style.