BRCA Clubmans Rd5 Stafford – Report
Round 5 of the BRCA Clubmans saw the racers return to one of the real favourites on the calendar, Stafford RCMCC. A huge amount of work has been done to improve the facilities, including a brand-new rostrum with a roof, hopefully to keep the sun off of us. Disabled access is also now an option with a stair lift. The usual great comfort food was on site all weekend and they even sold fresh doughnut’s, how popular were these. Onto the racing and going into this round we were past the half way point of the Championship with top three places to play for in the three classes. The Frontie Class Championship still being up for grabs. 17.5 was looking good for Andy Murray. In Formula One for Luke Lee had already wrapped up the Championship but still in attendance for more track time. Stafford could see the remaining two Championship winners all being decided.
11am on Saturday and practice began. We had a brilliant sunny day ahead with Sundays forecast the same, so no wet cars in sight for this weekend. We had a fairly good turnout for practice with a few no shows and late arrivals throughout the day. The track was very well turned out and towards the end of the session the grip had come up considerably and the drivers were all now putting in some very fast times, so the track records were all looking beatable this weekend.
Sunday qualifying
Sunny again for race day which saw many happy racers in the pits. One round of practice followed the usual half hour practice slot for those not being able to make the Saturday practice session. We then had a short drivers briefing and then into four rounds of qualifying.
In the Frontie Class David Hall was on the pace right from round one and took the pole position for the Finals, also taking the track record on the way with TQ in every round just ahead of his son and young rising star Jamie Hall who took three second places. Championship leader Craig Nutting lined up in third so we were on for a guess who will win final with it being so close all day.
17.5 Blinky saw Andy Murray out in front again. With his first three runs all being TQ’s he secured pole for the A Finals so used the fourth round to scrub tyres in. This gave Liam Brooks the round win and placed him second in front of a very quick Daniel Robins who rounded out the top three.
Formula One and Andy Murray was a busy man racing in two classes. After taking wins in the first two rounds Andy took the tactical decision to sit out the last two. Luckily it paid off as Luke Lee had no answer to Andy’s new track record runs, but the two were now joint on points. James Greener finished second in the last two rounds to line up third on the A Final grid.
Frontie A Finals
After some great racing in both legs Jamie ran out the clear winner taking both leg wins in front of Dad David much to his surprise but at the same time very proud, this meant Craig had to settle for third against the father and son lockout. But with only 2 rounds of the series remaining Craig Nutting has now sown up the Frontie Class and is the BRCA Frontie Champion 2021.
Frontie A Final top 3:
1. Jamie Hall
2. David Hall
3. Craig Nutting
17.5 Blinky A finals
Leg 1 was a perfect run for pole sitter Andy who led from tone to tone. Meanwhile behind the chasing pack were mixing it up. Liam had a spin on lap four and could not make the time up as it was ultra-quick at the front, with many drivers now on new tyres. As Andy crossed the finish line, we had a gaggle of seven cars split by 5 seconds. Daniel was second across the line with Chris Parrott taking third a mere four tenths off Daniles bumper.
Leg 2 and Andy was away again but would have to fight until the last lap to hold off Liam who was the only real challenger all weekend to Andy. The pair were inseparable for the whole race matching their lap times throughout the race, both being in a league of their own. As the finish tone sounded Andy crossed the line one second ahead of Liam. Mark Trinder had a great run from sixth on the grid to finish third two tenths ahead of Daniel.
17.5 Blinky A Final top 3:
1. Andy Murray
2. Daniel Robin’s
3. Mark Trinder
Formula One A Finals
The Formula One grid saw ten cars line up for the finals. Some very striking designs and the hard core F1 racers with their favourite designs from the full-sized cars looked fantastic on Stafford’s track.
Leg 1.
Andy really had his work cut out for him in both finals, in leg one Andy’s consistency proved too much for Luke in the end, but Luke kept him honest all the way to the finish line, the two split by one second and Michael getting the better of James to take third.
Leg 2.
With Luke almost matching Andy’s fastest laps the tension was building, but on the last lap Andy got through the extra lap and went on to do a victory last lap to take the win.
Formula One A Final top 3:
1. Andy Murray
2. Luke Lee
3. Michael Lee
The usual meticulous clockwork run meeting at Stafford by John Robson and the crew, excellent scrutineering from the club officials and a very well-presented track, overall, a perfect weekend and a nice early finish at 4pm.
Round 6 is at Aldershot on the 19th of September, the club has had a great resurgence over the past year and many improvements have been made. Having one of the longest straights in the Southern part of the series and a banked sweeper at the end the speeds are sure to be high. The locals are very fast at this track so the racing will be spectacular without a doubt.
Thanks to Mark Young for the report.
