In early September the Mini 7 Racing Club paid a long-overdue inaugural visit to the wonderfully scenic Trac Môn circuit, nestled on Anglesey off of North Wales, and once there produced some epic performances during the penultimate National rounds
Series leader in the 1.3-litre Miglias going into the Welsh weekend, Rupert Deeth maintained his points advantage despite Andrew Jordan twice heading him past the chequered flag, light rain beginning to fall towards the end of Saturday’s opener making track conditions very tricky, while Sunday morning’s rerun played out under near Mediterranean skies and stunning backdrop of Irish Sea and Snowdonia mountains. Behind the leading pair, Kane Astin and Ben Colburn took a 3rd place apiece in the respective Saturday/Sunday encounters.
It was ‘honours even’ in the 1.0-litre Mini Se7ens, Jordan’s father Mike sharing the spoils with title rival Connor O’Brien, the latter benefitting from leader Joe Thompson’s hairpin over-shoot to inherit Saturday’s wet encounter, with Jordan in the final podium spot ahead of Lee ‘rainmaster’ Roberts. Jordan finished two places higher on Sunday, clawing back O’Connor’s early advantage to take the series lead, followed by Ross Billison who held off Glen Woodbridge and Thompson for the final podium trophy (special commemorative awards, crafted from Welsh slate incidentally!)
In the 1275cc S-Class, Chris Prior triumphed on ‘home’ soil in the first race, dukeing it out with fellow novice Frazer Hack to win by a narrow margin after a terrific dice. Hack reversed the score the following day but only after Prior had to pit with a misfire, and Saturday’s 3rd-place class finisher Arnold Duncan had lost ground with a brief ‘off’, recovering to 4th behind Dave Rees, with overall class points leader Damien Harrington in the runner-up slot.
Credit is due to the Libre category too, with all five starters battling – and finishing – closely together throughout both races, with Richard Colburn securing the class title thanks to another double victory, although Les Stanton came the closest yet to a debut win in the slippery opener, following that up with a near-dead-heat with Phil Harvey for 2nd on Sunday – excellent entertainment fully appreciated by spectators and marshals alike.
Next up, a return to Silverstone International which plays host to the championship finals on 15-16 October for, ironically, Rounds 15 & 16 in the Dunlop Mini Challenges supported by Mini Spares, as well as the continuation of the 0-Plate Winter Challenge. With three ‘National’ titles to be decided, it is a weekend not to be missed!
RESULTS: Trac Môn/Ty Croes, Anglesey 3-4 September 2022
Round 13 Miglia / Libre 16 laps
1st 1 A Jordan
2nd 23 R Deeth
3rd 11 K Astin
9th 219 R Colburn – L
Round 13 Se7en / S-Class 13 laps
1st 87 C O’Brien
2nd 80 J Thompson
3rd 88 M Jordan
7th 714 C Prior – S
Round 14 Miglia / Libre 16 laps
1st 1 A Jordan
2nd 23 R Deeth
3rd 55 B Colburn
11th 219 R Colburn – L
Round 14 Se7en / S-Class 15 laps
1st 88 M Jordan
2nd 87 C O’Brien
3rd 49 R Billison
9th 725 F Hack – S
Fastest laps established for 1.5500-mile ‘Coastal’ circuit:
Miglia R Deeth 1:17.787 – 71.73 mph
Libre R Colburn 1:20.840 – 69.02 mph
Se7en M Jordan 1:24.685 – 65.89 mph
S-Class F Hack 1:26.712 – 64.35 mph
Words: Rich Williamson
