MX5’s HEAD TO BRANDS HATCH

BRSCC action returns to Brands Hatch this weekend for our first meeting at the Kent track since June. The 18 race programme will be ably run by the BRSCC South Eastern Centre.

Topping the bill is the massed ranks of Ma5da Racing’s championship for the Mk1 MX5 and the Cup for the Mk3 which between them will field 100 cars for the 7 races. There is a great battle going on at the top of the Mk1 points table between 2009 champion Tom Roche and Adam Gore. Following the Snetterton rounds last month Adam is just six points behind the Welshman, but these two aren’t the only ones in contention as the chasing pack are hard on their heels.

The title fight in the MX5 Cup is equally fraught and features some of the same contenders. Roche, Gore & veteran Paul Sheard all have worthy claims but they will have to get past last year’s Mk1 champion Rob Boston if they are to claim the title.

Saturday’s action is dominated in the afternoon by a three hour FunCup race. The FunCup is enjoying full championship status this year for the first time and it is Team Honeywell’s Neil Plimmer and Geoff Fawcett who top the TDI table with 234 points. The petrol class is headed by the Purple Apple team where drivers Paul Calladine, Mark Hope & Tom Walker have accrued 222 points.

Another product of the JPR stable is the Saker Sportscar Series, which will make its Brands Hatch debut this weekend with 4 races. Last time out at Oulton two weeks ago, Graham Pattle won two races with the other victories going to Paul Rose & Steve Harris.

The two rounds of the Design911.com Porsche Championship should make for interesting viewing. Dave Clark’s stranglehold on the Boxster class was finally broken by Gerry Taylor at Rockingham last month. Unfortunately Gerry won’t be racing this weekend as he is involved in the route planning for the Olympic cycle trials around the Boxhill area of Surrey, but there are plenty of other Boxster drivers ready to take the challenge to Clark. In the 924s Steven Brown is the man in form having overhauled Alfred Piesinger for the championship lead following his Rockingham double win.

As mentioned in the above Oulton preview, Formula Fordsters John Murphy and Chris Middlehurst will be coming down to Brands as soon as business is concluded at Oulton tomorrow for Sunday’s Formula Ford Triple Crown double header. John is looking for points in his quest to be the National champion but Middlehurst is closing in. Meanwhile, the Triple Crown title will be decided on Sunday. Oliver White is the leader but with 42 points up for grabs just about anybody is still in with a chance, but particularly Cormac O’Neill and that man Murphy.

Also making their Brands Hatch debut, at least as a BRSCC series, is the Production GTi Series which has joined the Club portfolio this season. The incredibly close racing in PGTi continues to woo the crowd at every round. With 4 different winners from 6 races this season it’s anybody’s bet who will be at the front. Simon Hill (51) missed the last round at Rockingham but will be back at Brands where he has won races before. John Mawdsley (5) was second at Rockingham and still searches for his elusive first win. Although a winner at Rockingham James Colbourne’s (28) form is unquestionable while Andy Knowlton (53) and Nick Porter (31), already race winners this year, are always consistently quick.