MX-5 SUPER SERIES SHAPES UP FOR COASTAL JOURNEY TO ANGLESEY
We’ve had some incredible racing so far this season in the BRSCC Mazda MX-5 Super Series and this weekend we’re set to get even more as the drivers head to the Welsh coast, as we reach the half way point in the 2019 campaign. This time, we’re off to Anglesey in North Wales where the Super Series runners will share a grid for the first time with the identical cars from the MX-5 SuperCup, meaning both series will be racing on track together.
The most successful driver so far this year has been Brian Chandler with five wins to his name from Pembrey and last time out at Cadwell Park. However, at the time of writing Brian isn’t scheduled to be racing on this occasion as we’re sure he’ll be plenty busy spannering his fleet of BC Cars Motorsport drivers all weekend! So with him out of the picture on this occasion, who can we look to as favourites to take victory this time?
One man will certainly be James Kell, who started the season with a win in the first race at Brands Hatch before his weekend was ended prematurely with an accident. In contrast, the next meeting at Pembrey saw him caught up in an incident in Race 1, struggling round with a spare car in Race 2 and eventually winding up 2nd in the final race to salvage a solid result. Now he returns to the grid after missing Cadwell as he continues to dovetail his main campaign in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup with sporadic Super Series appearances. He appears to get quicker and quicker each time we see him, so be sure to count on him to be near the front of the Series contenders.
Two more names who will also be bidding to be best of the Super Series entry are Simon Fleet and Joe Marshall. Simon is yet to win a race so far, but three very strong podium places at Brands Hatch were personal bests. Pembrey didn’t favour his fortunes, however, as incidents and mechanical problems ensured he wouldn’t finish a race. Cadwell was better as three finishes in the top 5 certainly put him back where he belonged towards the front, and now Anglesey will be a great chance for him to rediscover his early season form. As for Marshall, he began 2019 strong too as a win in the second Brands Hatch race was backed up by a string of subsequent podium places. One has to wonder that were the Super Series drivers scoring points, he would probably be somewhere at the top of the table! Joe is a brilliant young talent to watch develop and he’s certainly found his feet very quickly in an MX-5 since he debuted last year.
Xavier Brooke should be able to show more of his steady progress this weekend with the hope of reaching the top 5 placings at least once, while promising young karting graduate Declan Lee will just be hoping for a drama free weekend after unfortunate incidents have hampered his first two Super Series meetings at Brands Hatch and Pembrey. Matt Pickford has also shown a brilliant turn of pace at points this year, especially Pembrey when he was in with a shout of possible race victory chasing down Chandler and Alex Miller. Clive Powles, Russ Lindsay, Liz Walton and Darren Kell are all familiar names on the entry list by now, while Chris Lindley and David O’Reilly are welcome returns, as is MX-5 stalwart Simon Orange. It’s great to see Simon back in the paddock once more and in typical fashion, he’ll be doing double duty in the Mk1 MX-5 Championship too!
Plus, we’re delighted to welcome a new name to the grid here at Anglesey this weekend. After signing up before the beginning of the season, Natalie Brookes makes her long awaited Super Series debut after several test sessions to get to grips with her new car. Natalie can boast plenty of experience in karting, hot hatches and also as one of the test drivers for the Praga R1 sports prototype race car. We know that Natalie is very excited to join the grid, so best of luck!
Scott Woodwiss
