Open Season
The 2026 Mini 7 Racing Club season kicked off at Donington Park on 11-12 April, and in changeable conditions fans were treated to four different overall race winners.
First Mini appearance of the weekend saw the Miglias and Libres out on Saturday afternoon, and despite an arctic breeze and dropped oil the action was still of the highest order, with Aaron Smith opening his winning account after a close duel with Ian Curley, Jeff Smith leading in the rest after a mid-race sort-out, and Kane Astin breaking the existing lap record by nearly half a second.
Huw Turner came from the back of the grid to take Libre spoils once early leader Richard Colburn had slid off, Julian Proctor and Phil Harvey completing their podium.
A slightly warmer climate greeted Sunday’s late-morning encounter, reigning champion Rupert Deeth taking an early lead before a clash with Jeff Smith put both out of contention and allowed Sam Summerhayes to take up the running, holding on a for a narrow win ahead of Kane Astin, with Phil Bullen-Brown heading the rest of the chasing pack.
In Libres, Colburn made up for the previous day’s slip to come home in front, closest challenger Turner in 2nd ahead of Harvey and Proctor.
Despite an early red flag and for opening lap offs, Sunday morning’s race for the Se7en and S-Class formulae produced a long-overdue and popular main National victory for Glen Woodbridge, biding his time for the right moment to pounce, which he duly executed when the leading duo of Spencer Wanstall and Daniel Munro ran wide a couple of laps from the end, Ross Billison also grabbing the opportunity to nip past into the runner-up spot.
Michael Winkworth soon established a comfortable S-Class lead, rising to 6th overall in a drive his late father ‘Lal’ would have rightly been proud, also clocking a new lap record to underline an accomplished performance. George Welch ran well to 2nd having taken the class pole, with Patrick McCarthy in 3rd.
Ominous rain clouds had rolled in before the second race, and a downpour had the cars scurrying back from the assembly area to change onto wet tyres. A further delay to bring forward the circuit lunch period only heightened the tension, the early laps interrupted by a safety car for stranded cars off course in the soaking conditions, thereafter Munro and Wanstall making up for their earlier slips to take the top spots, this time Woodbridge settling for 3rd after Billison joined an S-Class in the gravel to curtail the race with a red flag.
In the wet or dry, Winkworth proved the S-Class standout with a second win of the day, closest challenger McCarthy keeping him within his sights, and Welch completing the top trio.
Next up on the M7RC calendar is the shorter Snetterton 200 circuit in Norfolk on the 9-10 May, rounds 3 & 4 in the Goodyear Mini Challenges supported by Mini Spares.
Results: Donington Park GP 11-12 April
Miglia & Libre - Round 1
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Aaron Smith |
| 2 | 2 | Ian Curley |
| 3 | 46 | Jeff Smith |
| 19 | 123 | Huw Turner (L) |
Miglia & Libre - Round 2
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85 | Sam Summerhayes |
| 2 | 11 | Kane Astin |
| 3 | 5 | Phil Bullen-Brown |
| 16 | 219 | Richard Colburn (L) |
Se7en & S-Class - Round 1
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Glen Woodbridge |
| 2 | 0 | Ross Billison |
| 3 | 73 | Spencer Wanstall |
| 6 | 796 | Michael Winkworth (S) |
Se7en & S-Class - Round 2
| Position | Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Glen Woodbridge |
| 2 | 41 | Daniel Munro |
| 3 | 73 | Spencer Wanstall |
| 5 | 796 | Michael Winkworth (S) |
New lap records for Donington Park GP circuit - 2.4873 mile
| Class | Driver | Time | Average Speed | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miglia | Kane Astin | 1:47.469 | 83.32 mph | 11 April 2026 |
| S-Class | Michael Winkworth | 2:00:001 | 74.61 mph | 12 April 2026 |
Words: Rich Williamson