Race Report - Brands Hatch

Looking good, then forced to withdraw!

Having chosen to step up from the Mini Championship to the faster, more keenly competed world of Seat Cupras Rob was full of enthusiasm for this, his first competitive race in his new discipline at one of his favourite tracks.

Qualifying had not been kind to either Rob or team mate Eric Bailey, another to have gained valuable experience last year in a Mini; a broken shock absorber on Rob’s car and gearbox failure for Eric kept the mechanics hard at work right up until the lights went out for the start of round 1!

Starting from the back of the grid in the opening round at first looked ominous for Rob but after the carnage on the first corner with cars spearing off in all directions resembling a display by the Red Arrows, Rob was able to navigate his way through to 6th place where, once the safety car had been withdrawn, he battled bravely with Tim Bevan for 5th missing out narrowly on a couple of occasions to snatch the spot before the line.

Confidence from the first race and a higher grid position for the second all bode well for Rob as he powered off in Round 2 and was well positioned in 5th for the early stages. This time it was Rob’s turn to hold off Bevan and the Romsey man was doing it well until coming into McLaren on Lap 7. Bevan thought he saw half a chance and went for a gap that wasn’t there, only able to skewer Rob sending him onto the grass. When Rob eventually recovered and rejoined the race it was only for one more lap as the impact had not only reshaped the front panelling of his car but also severely damaged the steering.