Even with red flag stoppages and safety car interludes, the action seemed non-stop over two full days of Mini racing, with wide-eyed fans going home with plenty to talk and smile about!
Following a somewhat dis-jointed qualifying session on Saturday morning, the Miglias and Libres opened proceedings just after lunch, a titanic 5-way battle coming to a head when a 3-into-1 moment at Surtees would eventually lead to Ian Curley’s retirement with a puncture, thereafter Kane Astin easing in front to win from Aaron Smith as Rupert Deeth recovered lost ground to edge Sam Summerhayes for 3rd.
Deeth would miss Sunday morning’s chapter when a driveshaft failed before the off leaving the rest to battle it out, this time Curley in front at the chequered flag as Summerhayes nabbed 2nd from Astin and Smith.
The third instalment saw Curley depart after 3 laps but this one produced the closest finish yet as half-a-dozen cars formed a queue behind Smith, led by Astin from Deeth, Summerhayes, Elliot Stafford and Phil Bullen-Brown, the unlucky Josh Canning spinning out when up to 5th.
A large and competitive Libre entry saw Peter Hills back in the fray and taking the opening spoils on Saturday, FMitW competitor Richard Billingham joining the ranks and taking 2nd ahead of Huw Turner once James Lindridge had spun off.
The latter made up for that on Sunday with a pair of victories, the first ahead of Hills and Billingham although was gracious to acknowledge the second would have gone to Hills but for the latter’s very late retirement when out in front. Thus Billingham and Turner again collected trophies, whilst despite running str
ongly in the races Ian Fraser’s luck was out, a treble DNF following a qualifying shunt.
Damien Harrington appears to be the one on form in the Se7ens as he gradually climbs back into championship contention, a win on each day sandwiching that of Spencer Wanstall who was clearly ecstatic to secure his first top step in a couple of seasons, and which helped keep him atop this year’s standings.
Harrington though had initially looked out of contention in the finale after sliding off into the Paddock Bend gravel, only to somehow recover and with a little help from a full restart found a way to the front by the chequer! Ross Billison looked likely to add to his winning total but in the end had to settle for strong top-3 finishes to keep him within 4 points of Wanstall’s total. Bradley Jordan was the final podium interloper with a 3rd on Saturday whilst Glen Woodbridge, Darren Thomas and Matt Ayres also ran among the leaders.
In S-Class, former champion Michael Winkworth was back out for the first time since Snetterton in April, but was immediately on the pace to lead in all three runs, winning the first two and only losing out to Olly Birkett in the finale by a mere 0.145s. The latter had already secured a runner-up placing on Saturday and a 3rd on Sunday morning to go top in the standings, with brother Louis also nabbing a 2nd, whilst Callum Perfect and Bertie Woollard too claimed podium prizes after determined drives. Previous championship leader Joel Wren salvaged a best of 4th.
Croft in North Yorkshire plays host to the next instalment in the 2025 Goodyear Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares, rounds 13 and 14 over the weekend of 6-7 September. Ay up, it’ll be reight proper like!
RESULTS:
BRANDS HATCH 2-3 August 2025 Round 10, 11 & 12
MIGLIA / LIBRE
Race 1 (20 laps)
1 11 K Astin M
2 0 A Smith M
3 23 R Deeth M
10 126 P Hills L
12 121 R Billingham L
13 123 H Turner L
Race 2 (22 laps)
1 5 I Curley M
2 85 S Summerhayes M
3 11 K Astin M
12 107 J Lindridge L
13 126 P Hills L
14 121 R Billingham L
Race 3 (20 laps)
1 0 A Smith M
2 11 K Astin M
3 23 R Deeth M
11 107 J Lindridge L
12 121 R Billingham L
13 123 H Turner L
SE7EN / S-CLASS
Race 1 (10 laps – restart)
1 29 D Harrington 7
2 2 R Billison 7
3 77 B Jordan 7
10 796 M Winkworth S
11 746 O Birkett S
12 765 C Perfect S
Race 2 (19 laps)
1 73 S Wanstall 7
2 29 D Harrington 7
3 2 R Billison 7
7 796 M Winkworth S
8 745 L Birkett S
10 746 O Birkett S
Race 3 (12 laps – restart)
1 29 D Harrington 7
2 2 R Billison 7
3 73 S Wanstall 7
7 746 O Birkett S
8 796 M Winkworth S
9 736 B Woollard S
