With four races completed in the 7-round Winter Mini Challenge, this weekend’s grand finale looks set to be a nail-biting climax as a multitude of drivers are all in with a chance of winning overall series honours plus the separate ‘0-Plate’ trophies for the three races across Saturday and Sunday, not to mention the Mini 7 Racing Club’s long-standing Sevenoaks Cups for all points tallied at Brands Hatch in a season.

So with all four Mini classes running together off the same grid the on-track permutations will certainly keep the lap charters and calculators busy!

MINI MIGLIA

In the performance-packed 1293cc Miglia category, the top six in the standings are all former class champions, with former BTCC titleist Andrew Jordan atop the entry by just 1 point from Rupert Deeth and Aaron Smith, with the likes of Jeff Smith, Kane Astin and Colin Peacock all in with a shout too. Either way, expect nothing less than dizzying pace from these frontrunning Mini masters.

MINI LIBRE

Dan Lewis and Huw Thomas head the invitation Libre cars, their respective 8-port and 16-valve A-Series variations having been at home on the longer straights of Silverstone, although around the tighter, undulating Brands bowl expect to see the 5-porters closer to the pace, Richard Colburn having already secured the main National title in his example.

MINI SE7EN

For the longest-established Se7ens which originally started out as 850cc in 1966, it might seem that a 20 point advantage for recent ‘National’ title winner Connor O’Brien will be insurmountable, but with only 5 of the 7 rounds to count then that gap could easily be closed if others in the now 1.0-litre ‘Heritage’ class can score the big points.

Mike Jordan for one will be aiming to leapfrog the series leader having lost out overall to O’Brien in the main Challenge, while the likes of Joe Thompson, Glen Woodbridge, Spencer Wanstall and newcomer Tom Mills all have the potential to upset the rankings.

MINI-7 S-CLASS

Entries in the 1275cc feeder S-Class have rocketed in recent times, so expect a strong line-up here too.

Last year’s ‘National’ champion Michael Winkworth starts as favourite and holds a narrow advantage over Damien Harrington, the latter having taken the main 2022 Challenge title, while last season’s Winter champion Ryan Taylor will be hoping to defend his crown but faces the likes of Matt Ayres, Fraser Hack and Chris Prior who have all been on top form this season.

LAP RECORDS (1.2079-mile ‘Indy’ circuit)

Miglia:             Endaf Owens               0:54.221          80.20 mph       22 August 2021

Libre:               David Franks               0:54.800          79.35 mph       25 August 2018

Se7en:             Jeff Smith                    0:58.727          74.04 mph       13 November 2021

S-Class:            Damien Harrington     0:59.597          72.96 mph       7 August 2022

As the dust settles from the championship finale at Silverstone in October, when three titles went down to the very last race, plans are already in place for 2023.

Next year will see club racers contest 17-rounds of the Mini Spares-supported National championship, from March to October, plus seven Winter rounds, four of which form part of the main season.

Within the club there are four individual classes to suit different budgets and experience, and entry numbers traditionally hover around 50-60 drivers, occasionally even more for the most popular events.

On 18-19 March, the season will kick off to the sound of straight-cut gears and Weber carbs at Silverstone on the full GP Circuit. For rounds three and four, 15-16 April, the club will head to Donington Park for the popular National Circuit layout.

Next up will be the Snetterton 300 Circuit on 13-14 May, before the Minis set to thrill their largest crowds of the year, in support of the BTCC at Thruxton on 3-4 June.

A hop across the channel will follow on 14-16 July, as the M7RC’s first visit to Zandvoort since the circuit was completely upgraded in 2021. 5-6 August will see the Minis take centre stage at the popular annual Brands Hatch Mini Festival for rounds 12-13.

Moving to 16-17 September, the club will head north east to Croft, where action is always guaranteed, before rounding off the National season at Silverstone on 7-8 October. A second visit to the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on the weekend of 21-22 October will complete rounds five, six and seven of the Winter series.

The Mini 7 Racing Club is proudly supported by Mini Spares, Dunlop, Piper Cams, Spax and Curley Specialised Mouldings. See www.mini7.co.uk for more information.

We head to Cadwell Park this weekend (21-22nd May) for rounds five and six. The Lincolnshire venue always brings out the best from the Mini 7 Racing Club roadshow, with non-stop lights-to-flag action, set against a captivating backdrop.

MINI MIGLIA

Three-time National champion Aaron Smith heads the points standings after four rounds, and comes to Cadwell with a win and three runner-up slots already chalked up in the 1.3-litre performance-packed class.

However, a brace of victories from twice champion Rupert Deeth reveals a mere 3-point margin, so with 20 for a win plus 1 point for fastest lap there is still loads to play for in the 16-round calendar. In third overall, former BTCC race winner Jeff Smith has moved up in formulae after three back-to-back National Se7en titles and has so far been on the pace with a brace of podium finishes.

Another former BTCC star, and the 2021 Miglia champion, Andrew Jordan scored a win in the opening Silverstone meet in March, although with Historic and Rallycross commitments as well his entry here had yet to be confirmed. Of the rest pencilled in, 2015 champion Kane Astin can be expected to challenge the leaders, as might Ashley Davies, Ben Colburn and Lewis Selby.

Mini Libre

A double-maximum score at Snetterton last month gives Richard Colburn a clear lead in the eclectic A-Series category, his 5-porter so far proving reliable over some of the larger capacity variations.

Of these, Phil Harvey usually runs a 1380cc capacity 5-porter, indeed having won the class title on in 2018/19 seasons, while Peter Hills’ 16-valve can be quick but reliability is less certain, likewise Craig Cox’ 8-port example despite a Silverstone victory.

MINI SE7EN

Margins are even closer in the M7RC’s 1.0-litre ‘Heritage’ formula – the original 850cc formula having begun as long ago as 1966! – and here it is former GT and TVR frontrunner and now leading Historic prep expert Mike Jordan who holds court by a single point over rising star Connor O’Brien, the pair dominating the podiums so far, with Jordan holding a 3-to-1 win ratio.

Spencer Wanstall and Joe Thompson are their chief rivals for overall honours, but both have recorded a DNF apiece, the former rolling spectacularly out of the lead at Silverstone in Round 2, thankfully emerging unharmed.

Despite engine gremlins early in the season, Glen Woodbridge showed at Snetterton last time out that he is another potential frontrunner with a pair of battling runs into 4th, while Jo Polley has also produced her best form to date and could well pick up another podium if those ahead falter. Look out to for Darren Thomas and Lee Roberts who could be dark horses for a high score at flagfall.

Mini-7 S-Class

Dominating the 1275cc ‘Introductory’ category is Michael Winkworth, the 2021 champ’ continuing his pole position fastest lap victory sequence with metronomic consistency.

Last season’s runner-up Damien Harrington also maintains his dogged pursuit to peg the gap to 9 points, having denied Winkworth  a clean sweep by scooping a fastest lap at Silverstone.

Battling in their wake are the likes of novice Frazer Hack with a pair of 2nds last time out, along with Bens Seyfried and Butler, plus Matts Ayres and Page who are all agonisingly close to upsetting the form book. Either way, take up in the limited-tuning Scholarship formula has seen phenomenal growth in recent seasons, with a stand-alone grid scheduled for the Mini Festival meeting in August.

LAP RECORDS (2.1869-mile circuit)

Miglia:                 Andrew Jordan                  1:39.223              79.34 mph           11 July 2021

Libre:                    Phil Harvey                        1:45.054              74.94 mph           31 August 2019

Se7en:                  Jeff Smith                           1:47.722              73.08 mph           11 July 2021      

S-Class:                Michael Winkworth         1:50.319              71.36 mph           11 July 2021

Two weeks on from the opening event of the 2022 season, the British Automobile Racing Club is back at Silverstone for another action-packed weekend – this time around the International layout of the Northamptonshire venue.

We’ll be joining the Classic Touring Car Racing Club with four high octane Mini races, rounds one and two of the 2022 championship. Tickets are available from £16 and can be purchased in advance from the Silverstone tickets store.

Schedule

Saturday will feature qualifying for the Mini Se7ens, S-Class, Mini Miglia and Libre. Sunday will see two races for the Miglia/Libre field and two for the Se7ens and S-Class.

We’ll be based in the outside paddock adjacent to the spectator parking, so please pop over and say hi.

Live streaming

We will once again be going live on Facebook and Youtube. Make sure to follow the BARC on Facebook and keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook page for pics and updates as the weekend progresses.

Since the announcement of the forthcoming annual end-of-season Awards evening in the last issue of Pit & Paddock, sales of tickets have been rapidly taking off.

With the cancellation of the end-of-season 2020 event that was due to be held back in January this year, there is a clear sense that this time around the Club and its members have a lot of socialising to catch up on!

Be sure to book your place at the dinner table and a room for the night as soon as possible, as the evening is sure to be a highlight of the new year!

Ticket booking is available from Mark Sims via mss@clearsons.co.uk, and cost £55 each.

To book your room at the hotel, call 01676 522335 and quote the code U77 for a special discounted rate of £106.

VENUE:
Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club Maxstoke Lane
Meriden
CV7 HR

DATE:
Saturday 22nd January 2022

AFTER A BREAK IN 2020 THE CLASSIC MINI 7 CHALLENGES RETURN TO CADWELL AND BRING A HUGE ENTRY TO ONE OF THEIR FAVOURITE CIRCUITS ON THE CALENDAR, SO EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN ACTION-PACKED RACING FROM FOUR DISTINCT CLASSES

MINI MIGLIA

With four different winners in six races, and several others who have taken turns in the lead, the top-tier Mini category continues to put on sparkling entertainment for the fans. After the trip to Silverstone on the GP circuit last month, heading the standings is former BTCC champion Andrew Jordan whose best scores came with a double-victory at Snetterton in May.

However he has been pegged back by reigning triple Miglia champion Aaron Smith, a winner last time out and only once not in the podium positions at the chequered flag this season.

Third lies Ben Colburn who has switched across from Clios along with brother James, the Westbourne team still running Renaults but various historic cars too, while twice former champion Rupert Deeth isn’t far behind either despite a couple of DNFs.

Look out too for Kane Astin, Sam Summerhayes and Colin Peacock to be on the leaderboard, and for former Se7en champ Ashley Davies who is set to make his Miglia debut. Other race winners in 2021 include Endaf Owens and Nick Padmore although neither are down to race at Cadwell this time around.

Mini Libre

Despite running perhaps the least powerful engine set-up in this category, Les Stanton’s consistency in racking up finishes, including a couple of second places, sees him atop the points, although closest challenger Richard Colburn is due to return this weekend having been racing in historics at Thruxton last month when the Libres were at Silverstone.

Former double class champion Phil Harvey will also be good bet for top honours having hopefully cured an early season misfire.

MINI SE7EN

Just 2 points separate former BTTC race winner Jeff Smith and Mini veteran Jonathan Lewis at the top of UK’s oldest one-make saloon car championship. Smith has won twice, at Snetterton, while Lewis took an emotional victory last time out at Silverstone, as it was 41 years ago that he took the overall title.

Nick Croydon-Fowler is next up and although a winner in the S-Class has yet to reach the top spot in Se7ens but don’t rule that out this weekend. Three Silverstone victories mark out Joe Thompson as a title contender also, along with Andrew Deviny who has won the National title three times in the past, and Spencer Wanstall, twice a runner-up.

Of the rest in an ultra-competitive line-up, Connor O’Brien is the reigning S-Class champ and has also won in other Mini categories, and Darren Thomas is a proven race winner in the category, along with Ross Billison and Graeme Davis. Of special interest too will be the series debut of former BTCC/GT frontrunner, and now leading historic preparation team owner Mike Jordan, also dad of Miglia points leader Andrew Jordan!

Mini-7 S-Class

Quite unlike the other three Mini categories, the ‘Scholarship’ class has seen a near whitewash to date, with newcomer Michael Winkworth – a former autograsser – having cleaned up in all six races held, including extra points for five fastest laps.

However, it won’t be for want of trying by his rivals to narrow the gap, and leading the chase is Matt Ayres who has a trio of third places to his credit, with the likes of Damien Harrington, Ryan Taylor and Darren Cox also running Winkworth the closest.

LAP RECORDS (Cadwell Park 2.1869-mile circuit)

Class                     Driver                                  Time                     Ave Speed           Set

Miglia:                 Bill Sollis                             1:39.628              79.02 mph           15 May 2016     

Se7en:                  Andrew Deviny                 1:49.168              72.12 mph           15 May 2016

S-Class:                Scott Kendall                     1:50.680              71.13 mph           9 September 2018              

Libre:                    Phil Harvey                        1:45.054              74.94 mph           31 August 2019

21_POINTS National Rds 1+2_Silv Int v2

21_POINTS Winter Rds 1+2_Silv Int v2