BRCA Clubman Series 2014 Rd1 – Report
West London kicked off the start of the BRCA Clubman Series 2014 last weekend. 140 drivers booked into the first round which since the series has started is the biggest ever showing and was fully booked. Practice on the Saturday showed tricky setup conditions of wind, sun and overcast for those drivers who wanted to dial in their cars ready for the meeting on Sunday.
Round 1 seemed the best time and the fastest time where the track was at its optimum as the track was always changing as the sun came out, heating the track up and the grip coming up also. Dominic Skinner taking TQ was almost the first 17.5 racer to make 19 laps followed by the winner of West London last year Malc Hall which is known to be very fast round this track. Looking over to the 13.5 class, Chris Grainger made an appearance at the southern track to take time to practice two weeks before the BRCA National event. Chris taking TQ and doing the first 20 lap run of the day followed by Ashley Wiffen also doing 20 laps and just behind Chris by 4 seconds.
Round 2 came around with track temps soaring into the mid 30s and the track slowing down. Both Malc Hall and Dominic Skinner made the first of the 17.5 racers into the 19 laps even with the track slowing down however Malc now holds TQ and also track record. In the 13.5 class, Chris still has TQ with no improvement followed by Ashley.
Round 3 the final round of qualifying saw no changes to the pole sitters in both 17.5 and the 13.5 class as the track slows down even more due to the heat. However in both classes positions were changing all the time for who was going to make the A final in this fantastic booked out event.
13.5 Open qualifying result:
Chris Grainger – 20/309.07
Ashley Wiffen – 20/313.73
Liam Brooks – 19/300.32
Spencer Jones – 19/300.44
Mark Wallace – 19/301.21
Tony Broad – 19/302.28
Damain Giddins – 19/302.94
Phillip Ferreria – 19/304.25
Jamie Vassallo – 19/304.45
Chris Gunter – 19/304.70
17.5 Blinky qualifying result:
1. Malc Hall – 19/316.04
2. Dominic Skinner – 19/316.61
3. Gavin Clinch – 18/304.39
4. Nicky Yarranton – 18/304.52
5. Jason Butterfield – 18/304.61
6. Mark Young – 18/304.93
7. Darren Tickner – 18/305.47
8. Mark Trinder – 18/306.98
9. David Hough – 18/307.02
10. Mark Passingham – 18/307.26
In the A final of the 13.5 class showed exactly the same as in qualifying and with those amazing pace Chris Grainger and Ashley Wiffen took 1st and 2nd place but it was the others racers who was going to take 3rd place and in the end Chris Gunter battled through the pack to gain those vital points.
13.5 Open A-final top 3:
1. Chris Grainger
2. Ashley Wiffen
3. Chris Gunter
In the A final of the 17.5 class, the track showed how unforgiving it is with the huge bumps around the corners and if you hit them they will just flip the cars over. Malc Hall in both finals made an easy win for himself by winning both finals however Dominic looking so mighty in qualifying made mistakes and got caught up in a few accidents and fell down to 6th overall. Darren Tickner and Nicky Yarrington took 2nd and 3rd place behind Malc in the end.
17.5 Blinky A-final top 3:
1. Malc Hall
2. Darren Tickner
3. Nicky Yarrington
Thanks to Jordan Norwood for sending the report.
