Contrasts at Croft
Following a combined qualifying session on Saturday morning, the afternoon’s
opening race for Miglias and Libres got off to an unfortunate start when several
cars were involved in a first-corner melée after fluid was spilled on the racing
line. However, the restart soon brought the expected spellbinding action, with
Rupert Deeth claiming overall victory by a length from Aaron Smith and Kane
Astin once Ian Curley had dropped out with an engine problem. Andy Dickinson
took a deserved first Libre win at his ‘local’ circuit ahead of a fast-closing Les
Stanton, with series leader Phil Harvey in 3rd.
In Sunday’s morning encounter, the same leading quartet fought out a riveting
battle before Curley’s attempt to wrest the lead from Deeth at the chicane saw
the latter spun out of contention, leaving the way clear for Smith, Astin and Phil
Bullen-Brown to claim the podium places, and Curley classified down the order.
In the Libre category, Ian Fraser’s bad luck continued when he retired after
leading early on, Stanton taking up the reins to secure a long overdue class
victory despite Dickinson and Julian Proctor chasing him hard throughout.
Both Se7en and S-Class races were scheduled for Sunday, the mid-morning
opener seeing Damien Harrington easing away to a comfortable, in Mini terms,
seventh win of the season, leaving title rivals Ross Billison and Spencer
Wanstall to battle over 2nd spot with Daniel Munro, before Wanstall lost
ground after a clash at the hairpin.
Reigning S-Class champion Matt Ayres was back in the mix after a brief foray into Se7ens at Brands, and almost snatched
the win at the end but for a dogged defence by series leader Olly Birkett, the
margin just 0.186s at the flag, with Patrick McCarthy securing his best result yet
in 3rd once the unlucky Michael Winkworth had picked up a slow puncture.
With the forecast rain arriving later than expected, it was wet tyres all round
for the late-afternoon closer but the track still proved to be very ‘greasy’,
catching out Billison at the start and who ended up in the tyre wall which cued
the safety car, followed shortly after by another for a second beached car in
the first-corner gravel.
Undeterred, points leader Wanstall reveled in the
conditions to slide his way round for a second victory of the year, chased
gamely by Munro who went grasstracking at one point but recovered in front
of Darren Thomas, with Harrington easing home in 4th behind S-Class winner
Ayres who was equally at home on the damp surface. Birkett consolidated his
lead in the standings with a measured 2nd ahead of Joel Wren who climbed up
from the back of the grid following exclusion in race 1 for a flag infringement.
The Goodyear Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares now heads to Castle
Combe on 20-21 September for the Wiltshire venue’s popular Autumn Classic
meeting, and the penultimate rounds 15 & 16 in the 18-round championship.
RESULTS: Croft 6-7 September 2025
Round 13 (Saturday – 11 laps)
1st 23 R Deeth (M)
2nd 0 A Smith (M)
3rd 11 K Astin (M)
7th 179 A Dickinson (L)
Round 13 (Sunday – 12 laps)
1st 29 D Harrington (7)
2nd 2 R Billison (7)
3rd 41 D Munro (7)
6th 746 O Birkett (S)
Round 14 (Sunday – 13 laps)
1st 0 A Smith (M)
2nd 11 K Astin (M)
3rd 7 P Bullen-Brown (M)
7th 133 L Stanton (L)
Round 14 (Sunday – 9 laps)
1st 73 S Wanstall (7)
2nd 41 D Munro (7)
3rd 20 D Thomas (7)
4th 701 M Ayres (S)
Words: Rich Williamson
