SMITH THE CENTRE OF MINI DRAMA
There was entertainment aplenty at the 10th anniversary Mini Festival last weekend and former British touring car star Jeff Smith was at the centre of the drama.
Smith won a thrilling opening Mini Miglia race after he came out on top in a six-way battle for honours. Aaron Smith came through to claim second ahead of Andrew Jordan, but not before Endaf Owens had spun out of the leading group after clipping the back of tailender Richard Bartlett at Graham Hill Bend. Reigning category champion columnist Jordan charged back from being forced off-track at Druids on lap one to win the second encounter from Ashley Davies, while Rupert Deeth brought his damaged car home third after Jeff Smith had clattered into him at McLaren while dicing for the lead earlier.
Smith battled with namesake Aaron Smith again in the opening Pre-’66 Mini contest as the duo fought for second with fellow Miglia racer Chris Morgan.
Victory in the race was taken by Joe Ferguson following a dominant performance from pole. Ferguson was a frustrated second in two, as Jeff Smith battled his way through to claim the win.
The first ever standalone races for the Mini Se7en S-Class were full of excitement. Series leader Matt Ayres won the opening encounter after jostling with Damien Harrington, Michael Winkworth and Frazer Hack for much of the 19-lap race. Hack and Winkworth were both forced to retire from the second contest with accident damage, helping Harrington to claim his first win of the year from Ayres and Ben Seyfried.
Mike Jordan took his tally of Mini Se7en wins to seven after claiming victory in both races, his win in race two coming off the back of a rapid start from the fourth row. Ross Billison held off Glen Woodbridge to claim second in the first encounter before Joe Thompson beat Woodbridge to the runner-up spot in race two after Woodbridge was hampered by a late misfire.
Jordan Dempsey was one of the non-Mini racers to claim a double success over the weekend, stepping up his preparations for the upcoming National FF1600 races at Brands by winning both United Formula Ford/Champion of Brands races aboard his Spectrum 011C ahead of Colin Queen’s Ray GR18.