With three rounds to go in the Dunlop Mini 7 Racing Club championships, supported by Mini Spares, there’s still three titles to be decided this weekend at Silverstone, 12-13th October.
In the Mini Miglia Challenge, packed grids and headline-grabbing coverage have been a highlight over recent seasons, and a quick glance down the entry list reveals a galaxy of not only former Mini champions but also drivers who have excelled in the upper echelons of touring cars.
Former BTCC frontrunner Jeff Smith heads the standings and looks favourite to take the 1.3-litre Miglia main prize having secured the 1-litre Se7en crown twice before, although four-time class champ’ Aaron Smith in 2nd spot will be aiming for a fifth title, likewise 3rd-placed Kane Astin who has won both Miglia and Se7en formulae in the past.
However, all three will face Andrew Jordan, and despite not being in overall contention the former BTCC titleist and 2021 Mig champ’ has won five out of his six starts in the category this season. The back-to-back 1998/99 champ’ Ian Curley (not to mention the Se7en crown too some 30 years ago!) has made a strong return this season and lies 4th in the standings, whilst Rupert Deeth and Endaf Owens are two further title winners who are sure to be in the mix as well.
Look out too for Phil Bullen-Brown, Ben Colburn, Martin Wager and Colin Peacock who have all run regularly among the leading pack.
A run of strong performances and points-on-the-board have elevated Josh Evans to the head of the Libre class in his 8-port car, as longtime series leader Peter Hills suffered a major mechanical gremlin in his 16v example when leading last time out at Combe, and which may preclude an entry this weekend.
Last season’s runner-up Julian Proctor has steadily racked up the finishes to now lie 2nd in the standings but may find his 5-porter less suited around Silverstone to out-pace Evans’ machine, although the similar set-up of reigning class champion Richard Colburn has won here before. Huw Turner’s 8-port/16v went well here last season so could be an outside bet for victory too.
MINI SE7EN & S-CLASS
Whoever triumphs overall in this season’s Mini Se7en title chase will have earned it the hard way. A waterlogged Cadwell Park circuit back in April precluded any racing for the lesser powered classes, only one of the two postponed races then being run a month later at what then became a Snetterton treble-header to leave the other ‘paused’ race being shoehorned into this weekend’s timetable.
As it stands, Ross Billison tops the charts with a solid campaign of two wins and regular podiums elsewhere, and although his main rival Joe Thompson lies 10 points adrift has come into form at the right time with five wins to date, which may become a crucial tie-breaker.
On paper the latter currently has less points to drop too which will see calculators on overtime as the permutations unravel after each leg, although don’t rule out twice-winner Damien Harrington who could surpass the both of them if results go his way.
These three may be the main focus but look out too for the likes of Darren Thomas who ran strongly last month at Combe, whilst reigning class champion Mike Jordan has won three times in only four starts, and Kane Astin is having a guest appearance having won the title back in 2009.
Half-a-dozen victories and only one score outside the top three enabled Matt Ayres to finally wrap up the milder-tuned 1275cc category a meeting early, his provisional tally of 266 points unassailable on paper.
That said, the battle to claim the overall runner-up spot will be no less competitive, as former class champion Michael Winkworth will be a strong contender, along with newcomer Callum Perfect and drivers’ rep Arnold Duncan, whilst although further down the table ‘old hand’ Andy Hack could well upset the form book in son Frazer’s car.
The Page brothers, Jonathon and Matthew, are likely to be up front too, the former having won last season’s title, with Phil Anning and Joel Wren looking to repeat their impressive debut performances in the category at Brands Hatch in August.
LAP RECORDS (1.8508-mile International circuit)
Miglia: Andrew Jordan 1:16.374 87.24 mph 27 March 2022
Libre: Dan Lewis 1:16.506 87.09 mph 16 October 2022
Se7en: Mike Jordan 1:24.063 79.26 mph 15 October 2022
S-Class: Michael Winkworth 1:25.009 78.38 mph 16 October 2022
