PROVISIONAL POINTS after Rds 5+6

PROVISIONAL POINTS after Rds 5+6

Provisional points after Rds 5 + 6

2015 DUNLOP MINI SE7EN & MINI MIGLIA CHALLENGE supported by MINI SPARES
Rounds 7 + 8

BRANDS HATCH ‘Mini Racing Festival - South’ Saturday 27-Sunday 28 June 2015

Marking its 50th season of competition, Mini Se7en racing returns to where it all began in 1966, and today still offers race-goers the purest form of saloon car motorsport found anywhere in the world. Expect nothing but lights-to-flag entertainment from not one but two pint-sized performance-packed formulae, the 1-litre Mini Se7ens and 1.3-litre Mini Miglias.

MINI SE7EN + S-CLASS
Grids for the longer-established Se7ens are in rude health, and the close action this season has so far seen competitors of all ages in with a shout. After six rounds (three double-headers), West Countryman Jabez Dyer holds a slim advantage at the head of the points table, thanks to consistent finishes in the top half-dozen, while Midlander and thrice champion Paul Spark (2010-12) lies second, having scored a pair of victories at Combe and Snetterton. Last time out at Rockingham, 2007 champ’ Max Hunter from Bedfordshire pulled off an Ayrton Senna-like performance by racing through from the back of the grid to lead within the opening lap to add to his victory at Snetterton, and which moved him into a close third overall. Reigning title holder, Andrew Deviny from Lincolnshire, has taken one victory too, at Rockingham, and despite a couple of retirements, has been second three times too. Likewise Darren Thomas will be hoping to add to his season-opening win at Combe, as well as repeating his Mini Festival victory from 2014. Of the chasing pack, young Welsh hotshoe Ashley Davies is a good bet for victory (he won here last year too), while the likes of Ross Billison, Kieren McDonald and Graeme Davis can be expected to challenge for podium places.
In the milder-tuned 1275cc budget S-Class, Ian Deviny holds a commanding series lead but should expect a stronger challenge on what will be a busy old Brands circuit!

Se7en lap record: Darren Thomas Time. 0:59.292 Ave. 73.34 mph set on 21 Sept’ 2013

INFO:
Now in its 50th season, the Mini Se7en Challenge has been providing great motor racing at an affordable price. Much may have changed since the first ever 850cc Formula Mini-7 race at Brands in April 1966, but the now 1-litre Mini Se7ens still provide superb entertainment for driver and spectator alike, and can stick to the tarmac like the proverbial go-kart! The milder-tuned S-Class offers a more standard, budget-tuned introduction too.

TECH SPEC:
Engines: 998cc modified A-Series (S-Class: Std 1275cc, limited mods)
0-60mph: 6.6 seconds (S-Class: 7.5 seconds)
Top speed: 110 mph (S-Class: 105 mph)
Transmission: 4-speed manual, ratios/final drive free (S-Class: 4-speed, standard)
Tyres: Dunlop 500L x 10” CR70 (dries) or
CR65 treaded (wets)
Wheels: 5J x 10” STR 1082 (100+) or
MA 1050 (Minilite) alloys
Fuel: Unleaded or Super Unleaded
Car: from £6000 (S-Class: from £4000)
Costs: from £4600 per season (S-Class: from £3400 per season)

Note: Trophies to top three finishers (trophy to S-Class winner)
Note: (S-Class numbered from #90 - #99)

MINI MIGLIA (+ MINI INVITATION)
Current series leader, Kane Astin from Cambridgeshire, comes to Brands hoping to repeat his Brands victory of 2014, and this season has already chalked up three of them, at Combe and Rockingham (twice), with three further podium visits. A former Se7en champion, Kane is making a strong bid for the Miglia title having been runner-up several times. Nearest challenger is Sam Summerhayes, the young Wiltshire native impressing with a strong second place last time out at Rockingham, while Essex-based Mark Cowan is next up having taken over the ‘reins’ of the multi-title-winning car of Mini legend Peter Baldwin, and Mark proved its pedigree with his debut win at Snetterton in May. Behind the experienced Dan Wheeler in fourth overall, reigning champ Rupert Deeth’s season has been a mix of race-winning speed with a brace of victories, at Combe and Snetterton, but also a couple of mechanical glitches that have reduced his overall tally. Of the rest, Dave Drew, Colin Peacock, Rob Howard and Niv Burge have all run up front, although local ace Aaron Smith will be hoping his 2013/14 Brands form returns , having won five out of the last six Miglia races around the Kent bowl!
Also expected to join the Miglia grid will be a selection of Invitation class Minis which although not running to Challenge specification or for points, are eligible for their own race-within-a-race trophy.

Miglia lap record: Peter Baldwin Time. 0:54.605 Ave. 79.63 mph set on 23 June 2013

INFO:
The Se7ens’ younger but more powerful Mini Miglia siblings first graced UK circuits in 1969/70, and have consistently been providing bang-for-buck tin-top action for decades. Widely regarded by racing afficionados as mini Touring Cars, these once 1-litre machines nowadays run bigger 1.3-litre engines and pack a mean punch. In addition, the Invitational categories allow for classic race Minis or a run-what-yer-brung A-Series Mini pick ‘n’ mix!

TECH SPEC:
Engines: 1293cc modified A-Series
0-60mph: 4.5 seconds
Top speed: 125 mph
Transmission: 4-speed manual, 3.9:1 final drive
Tyres: Dunlop 160/490 x 10” slicks (dries) or treaded (wets)
Wheels: Any 10” diameter x maximum 7” rims
Fuel: Unleaded or Super Unleaded
Car: from £8000
Costs: from £6000 per season

Note: Trophies to top three finishers
Note: Invitation & Mini-7 Classic classes numbered from #100 and above, non-points scoring but trophy to class winners.
Note: The M7RC holds its own award ceremony in the paddock after the races – this is in addition to any post-race podium presentation by the circuit/meeting organisers…

Note: Points are awarded on an incremental basis as follows:
20, 19, 18, 17, etc down to 3 points for 18th position; 2 pts for all other finishers; 1 point for all non-finishers

MINI SEVEN RACING CLUB (M7RC)
Contact:
www.mini7.co.uk
e-mail: mini7membership@yahoo.com

Words by: Richard Williamson