MINI Challenge Report
DAY TWO AT TIMARU - SUNDAY 11 JANUARY.
Day 2 of Round 4 of the MINI Challenge Series at Timaru's Levels International Raceway today.
MINI Challenge's Race Co-ordinator Martin Collins said "The reward system of weight ballast has been re-drafted which now means that if you finish outside top 3 you are able to shed weight. This has been brought about by the smaller fields."
Race 2 was at 9.45am. Weather was similar to yesterday morning - overcast and cool. From the start they fell into the same rhythm as per Saturday and there was none of the dramas we have seen at earlier rounds. Innes hounded Collins and tried everything to get past but to no avail. Gary Johnstone was very lucky to finish after light contact with Gavin Yortt. Yortt had to stop for a wheel change which dropped him down a lap.
At the flag it was Brent Collins by 0.137 seconds to Craig Innes and another 5.689 to Simon McLennan. 7.878 seconds back in 4th was Gary Johnstone with Mark Maddren back another 0.567.
Race 3 was reverse grid which is always exciting. MINI Challenge Rookie Joel Thrupp pulled off the track after Turn 1 when after light contact with Gavin Yortt he suffered a deflated tyre.
At Lap 1 McLennan was in 4th and by Lap 2 had picked up another two placings. Lap 3 he was in the lead and that's where he stayed.
Innes was also moving through the field - from 6th to 5th for three laps, then 4th for another three laps. He was then into 3rd for two laps and into 2nd in the last lap.
Collins picked up three places on the first lap and was in 2nd for the last six laps but Innes got past him. They too had light contact and Collins came off second best being slowed by suspected steering damage - he was 3rd at the flag.
At the flag it was Simon McLennan by 3.272 seconds to Craig Innes and another 0.488 to Brent Collins. 4.339 back in 4th was Gary Johnstone with Mark Maddren back another 0.393 - his third 5th for the weekend.
The Timaru podium was: 1st Brent Collins with a total of 210 points, 2nd Craig Innes with 201 and 3rd Simon McLennan with 177.
At the end of today's Round 4 the MINI Challenge Championship the top of the standings has closed up. Simon McLennan (Wellington) was 54 points clear of Craig Innes (Taupo) but that gap has now closed to 30 points.
Round 5 next weekend at Teretonga Park near Invercargill.
TIMARU'S DAY ONE.
Round 4 of the MINI Challenge Series started off at Timaru's Levels International Raceway today.
Levels is a circuit the drivers look forward to - it's a special place. 2.4 klms long and spectators are close to the action atop the embankments that surround the circuit. The South Canterbury Car Club does an excellent job and the circuit is very well presented.
At the end of Round 3 at Ruapuna the top 5 MINI Challenge standings were: 1st Simon McLennan (Wellington) 520 points, 2nd Craig Innes (Taupo) 466, 3rd Gavin Yortt (Hawke's Bay) 430, 4th Mark Maddren (Auckland) 351, and 5th Brent Melhop (Wellington) 334.
For the Timaru Round we are looking at the return of Timaru's 'favourite son' Brent Collins, MINI Challenge Champion in 2007/2008, whose car is pictured in the above header.
Auckland's Joel Thrupp, is another new entry. This 52 kg 16 (or is it 17?) year old is also competing in the Production Class. The Thrupp's purchased their car off Clarke Hopkins.
Qualifying was at 10.05am and as it was overcast, the air was cool, which is just right for the supercharged MINI engine. Add to that good grip and wind assistance on the big straight and we're looking at a lap record.
Brent Collins went out and immediately put in a fast one on new front tyres. The pro that he is, decided to sit out the remaining laps and see what develops. Craig Innes and Simon McLennan went faster and then with just six minutes to go Collins went out again and set the fastest qualifying lap.
In fact Collins and Innes were under the track record. 3rd was Gary Johnstone (Rolleston), 4th Gavin Yortt (Hawkes Bay) and 5th Mark Maddren (Auckland). The first 6 were actually within 1.3 of a second of each other.
Race 1 was away at 2.23pm and Simon McLennan, on the front row of the grid, was immediately in trouble with a gear selection problem from 1st to 2nd.
Whilst there was few changes in the race order the entire field were contained within the length of the back straight.
At the flag it was Brent Collins by 1.378 seconds to Craig Innes and another 9.255 to Gary Johnstone, 0.898 to Gavin Yortt and 3.326 to Mark Maddren.
MINI Challenge Rookie, Joel Thrupp, did well to hang onto Maddren and finished less than half a second behind him.
Remembering that under the reward system of weight ballast Brent Collins and Joel Thrupp, as new entrants, carry no weight penalty. Simon McLennan gets a new gearbox overnight. Tomorrow is another day - a two race day.
