Normal for Norfolk
SNETTERTON 200
BRSCC club meeting
Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 May 2026
GOODYEAR MINI CHALLENGES supported by MINI SPARES
The eccentric entertainment of M7RC racing was in full swing at Snetterton over the 9-10 May weekend, summer sun mixed with a breezy chill over both days creating new fast lap times and last-gasp outcomes around the traditional 200 circuit…
Under near-mediterranean skies on Saturday, the opening Se7en and S-Class race started the fun, a three-car breakaway eventually going the way of reigning Se7en champion Damien Harrington ahead of Darren Thomas and Daniel Munro, with Ross Billison taking 4th from Glen Woodbridge after Spencer Wanstall dropped out. In the S-Class category, James May converted pole position into maximum points, but only after a ding-dong battle with Michael Winkworth and Patrick McCarthy was decided on the last lap, with Lee Poolman heading the closely chasing pack.
The following day’s sequel was equally frenetic, but despite a safety car which bunched the field for a 1-lap shootout to the chequered flag, Harrington was able to re-assert his lead for a double-maximum score, Woodbridge getting the jump on Thomas on the run to the line for 2nd and opening up his lead in the points standings. Wanstall salvaged a 4th after his earlier DNF, with Billison recovering to 6th after a spin, behind impressive novice Ian Penn. The same lead trio again fought over S-Class honours, May securing a well-judged double victory but this time McCarthy edging Winkworth for the runner-up spot out of the last corner, and Bertie Woollard nosing ahead of Poolman for 4th.
It was coats and bobble hats at the ready by the time the Miglia and Libre runners appeared on Sunday morning for their first race, unfortunately two red flag stoppages reducing the final result to a 10-minute run. Nonetheless, Ian Curley appeared to have the upper hand, despite a late surge from Jeff Smith into 2nd ahead of a train of place-swapping cars comprising Aaron Smith, Sam Summerhayes, Kane Astin, Phil Bullen-Brown, Colin Peacock, Rupert Deeth and Elliot Stafford. Sadly, the Libre entry lost the lead cars of Peter Hills and Andy Hack in race-stopping shunts, the latter rolling into the gravel after clipping the unpopular ‘sausage’ kerb at Murrays (formerly Russell) chicane, Steve Baker then heading the restart to win on his ‘home’ circuit ahead of Huw Turner and Julian Proctor.
By mid-afternoon the sun was peeping through the cloud for the second runout, Curley seemingly on course for a clean sweep before encountering dropped oil into the last corner and which hampered a clean exit, enabling Astin to pre-empt a tighter line and ease past the erstwhile leader to win by 0.281s at the flag! Aaron Smith collected his second podium of the day just ahead of namesake Jeff, and the ever-shadowing Bullen-Brown. In Libres, Baker mirrored his last visit in 2024 with two-from-two, Turner again in 2nd to consolidate his class points lead, ahead of an absorbing dice for 3rd between Proctor and Phil Harvey, the latter taking the position when his rival’s engine expired a couple of laps from the end.
The Silverstone National circuit on 13-14 June is the venue for the next instalment of the 2026 Goodyear Mini Challenges supported by Mini Spares. With the M7RC on track, it will be anything but ‘normal’ in Northamptonshire!
Results: Donington Park GP 11-12 April
Se7en & S-Class - Round 3
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | D Harrington |
| 2 | 20 | D Thomas |
| 3 | 41 | D Munro |
| 7 | 750 | J May (S) |
Se7en & S-Class - Round 4
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | D Harrington |
| 2 | 5 | G Woodbridg |
| 3 | 20 | D Thomas |
| 8 | 750 | J May (S) |
Miglia & Libre - Round 3
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | I Curley |
| 2 | 46 | J Smith |
| 3 | 21 | A Smith |
| 15 | 115 | S Baker (L) |
Miglia & Libre - Round 4
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | K Astin |
| 2 | 2 | I Curley |
| 3 | 21 | A Smith |
| 14 | 115 | S Baker (L) |
New lap records for Snetterton 200 circuit - 1.9840 miles
| Class | Driver | Time | Average Speed | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miglia | Jeff Smith | 1:23.741 | 85.29 mph | 10 May 2026 |
| Libre | Steve Baker | 1:28.181 | 82.34 mph | 10 May 2026 |
| Se7en | Daniel Munro | 1:31.501 | 78.05 mph | 10 May 2026 |
| S-Class | Lee Poolman | 1:32:916 | 76.87 mph | 10 May 2026 |
Words: Rich Williamson