Mini battlers put on a sizzling show at Snetterton
SNETTERTON BRSCC 16-17 APRIL
Rupert Deeth and Aaron Smith shared the Mini Miglia spoils after two action-packed races at Snetterton last weekend.
Jeff Smith had much of the early lead in their first encounter, swapping and changing with Deeth, until Aaron Smith joined them. It was still any one from three on the last lap, with Jeff Smith ahead and Deeth retaking Aaron Smith at Agostini.
But it still wasn’t settled – the lead changed again on the Bentley Straight, with Deeth claiming the win from Aaron and Jeff Smith.
Five-abreast into Riches at the start was just a taster of what was to come in race two. It was a three-way fight again, with Kane Astin joining the Smiths. Aaron Smith claimed a last-lap victory, with Jeff back into second exiting Wilson, which left
Astin to settle for a close third.
The Mini Se7ens were equally entertaining with Mike Jordan, Connor O’brien and Joe Thompson battling throughout both races. O’brien had the early advantage in the opener, before he got into constant place swapping with Jordan. Jordan finally clinched it when O’brien locked up into Brundle and ran wide, the gap just 0.402 seconds.
There was another duel in the second race, but it was for second between
Jordan and Thompson, after O’brien made a decisive break in the opening laps. Jordan and Thompson repeatedly outbraked each other into Riches, with Thompson clinching it on the last tour, leaving Jordan to reclaim third from Spencer Wanstall.
No one could stop Fraser Fenwick in the Mk1 Mazda MX-5S as he secured a treble victory. He was shadowed for most of race one by Tom Smith, until they swapped at Brundle a lap from home. But Fenwick wasn’t about to surrender and was back in charge around the outside at Nelson on the final tour, taking the first of the weekend’s
wins over Smith by 0.127s, with Seb Fisher snatching a late third from Jason Greatrex.
Greatrex had the initial lead in race two, before a series of swaps and changes with Fenwick commenced. Fenwick finally made it stick from Wilson on lap seven of nine, with Greatrex followed to the flag by son Callum. Fenwick completed his hat-trick with consummate ease, after Greatrex Sr lost out to an early challenge from Luke Pullen. Mike Comber claimed second, with Pullen just holding off Greatrex for third.
Richard Amos was able to capitalise on a final-lap coming-together between James Cossins and Patrick Fletcher at Brundle to win the first MX-5 Supercup race. Cossins managed to recover to hold onto second.
Adam Bessell opened up an early lead in race two, with Amos and Fletcher heading the pursuit. But there was fluid down at the Bombhole and Bessell was off with Amos almost following, handing Fletcher the advantage. Bessell swiftly recovered to get back ahead on the last lap to win, despite the best efforts of Fletcher.
Colin Bysouth was first on the road in the finale, but was given a penalty for an avoidable collision, handing Amos win number two from Will Blackwell-chambers.
C1 Endurance victory went to Ardcor Modelmakers’ John Ardis and Mike Graham after a strong performance throughout the five-hour race. Oakley Motorsport pair Harry Newman-oakley and Graham Oakley took second from Emax crew James and
Jake Little with Stuart Ratcliffe at Oggies with 20 minutes remaining.