Brands Hatch for the Mini Festival

From the Super-fast circuit of Thruxton the Super Might Minis Championship moved on to Brands Hatch for the Mini Festival
and the mid-point of the season.



Amid the beating sun of the fine summer’s weather, qualifying for rounds 7 & 8 was soon under way. The number 41 Mini Spares car,
piloted by Alex Comis, was looking good, especially though Paddock Hill bend; one of the most feared corners in the world.


At the end of the session, Comis was only quick enough for 10th place:

“I clipped a kerb early on and I think that upset the tracking which may have had something to do with the lack of pace”. Explained Comis
at the end of the session. “The car seems unsettled into Clearways, too, which I think is affecting the speed down the straight. We’ll make some set-up changes and the car
should be better for race 1”.



With the glorious weather continuing, eyes turned from the Spitfire flying circuits overhead to the lights and the start of round 7. Comis
got a flying start and made some crucial places in to Paddock Hill. On the exit of Druids, however, Comis was squeezed out and lost the ground made up. By lap 5, Comis’ tyers
seemed to be coming in to their own and he was soon picking off places. A text-book switch-back though Graham Hill bend followed by an error from Steve Rideout saw Comis make
up 2 places in 2 corners. Now at Mid-point, Comis was on the hunt of the top 5 cars. Comis was making up clear ground until he slowed along the main straight coming up to
Paddock Hill. Now coasting, Comis was clearly in trouble and pulling off the track, seemingly to retire. Moments later, life! The car seemed to be running and back on track though
now in last place. At the flag, Comis brought home valuable points in 12th place.


Back in the Paddock, a pragmatic Comis filled us in on the issues:

“The start was great and the changes made after qualy worked fantastically. In the closing stages, I just lost all ignition. Massively frustrating
but at least I got the car to the finish and bagged some points.

Race 2 took place on the Sunday in equally hot, humid, sunny weather. Comis made another flying start from the back of the grid. Going from last to
8th place, Comis was looking good though the race was soon neutralised as the Safety Car was deployed while the Marshals recovered a damage car. With the race back underway
on lap 10, it would be a sprint for further positions. On the decent to Graham Hill, contact was made between Dave Kirkpatrick and Josh Young right in front of Comis. Having to
take evasive action as the two cars fired across the nose of the Mini Spares car, Comis lost 2 places to following cars. With Steve Rideout now ahead, Comis was swarming all
over his bumper piling on the pressure. Though Paddock, Comis looked supreme and was clearly the faster car. Alas Rideout, in the Octane Racing, car was resisting all attempts.
Out of Clearways for the last time and Comis had the tow as they went flat out to the flag. At the line, Comis finished in a storming 7th place and missed out on
passing Rideout by one-and-a-half tenths of a second.

“That ended up being a cracking race.” Said Comis. “The incident towards the end of the race really didn’t help me and it could have been a 5th place.
Full credit to Steve [Rideout]; I threw everything at him to try and get past but I can’t really complain at 7th all things considered.




Rounds 9 and 10 move on to the epic track of Donnington Park on the 22nd and 23rd July. Having won at Donnington twice before, Comis will no doubt be looking
to add to his winning tally.


(Photos courtesy of John Creech & Mighty Minis Racing) Importation rules regarding vehicles are very specific: Only those over 25 years in age may be brought in to the USA without compilance to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).