The team made the short trip from Lydden Hill to Brands Hatch to compete in the second meeting of the year in the BARC Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship. The weather was a marked improvement on the season opener with bright sunshine bathing the circuit throughout the meeting.

Qualifying

The Clubman headed out onto the circuit as part of a near capacity grid, the large entry meant that getting a clear lap in qualifying would be crucial as traffic would be a potential problem for all drivers. After building up tyre and brake temperature the Clubman sought out some clear air and put the hammer down, reeling off a succession of quick laps. This early burst of speed paid dividends as the session was further disrupted when an ailing car dropped oil around a large stretch of the circuit. With grip levels having fallen and there being nothing to gain by staying out the Clubman returned to the paddock.

The results of the qualifying session were quite staggering – an epic performance from the Clubman had seen it not only lower its personal best lap time for the Indy circuit but had also given the Clubman an incredible 5th place on the grid! The only cars ahead of the diminutive Clubman were four wheel drive turbo charged Escort Cosworths and a Nissan Skyline.

Race 1

Rolling starts were the order of the day and as the pack approached the start line the lights went out to get the race under way. On the dash to the first corner the Clubman was mugged by a pair of SEATs and a Peugeot 205, the Clubman held on to the tail of this group and successfully fended off the attentions of an Astra for the remainder of the opening lap. Going straight onto the offensive the Clubman began to pressurise the SEAT at the rear of the group ahead, the bigger machines mirrors were briefly full of Mini before the Clubman executed a superb passing move to take the position. The Clubmans next victim was a Nissan Skyline, the Japanese leviathan was suffering from turbo maladies and was a sitting duck for the charging Clubman.

The Clubman soon had an encounter with a second Skyline, only this time the Clubman fell victim to the Class A car recovering through the field after a compromised qualifying session. The relentless pace of the action continued with the Clubman latching onto the tail of the second of the SEATs that had jumped it at the start. Once again the Clubman was soon swarming all over the rear end of the turbo charged car ahead and once again the nimble Mini was able to gain track position over its more powerful adversary. The chequered flag fell to end a hard fought and action packed race, the commentators noting the exceptional performance of the Clubman against some truly monstrous opposition.

Race 2

Starting positions for race two were determined by the finishing positions from the first race so the Clubman would be starting from 6th directly ahead of two Cosworth powered Fords. The run to the first corner again saw the Clubman lose out with a Cosworth powered Mk1 Escort powering past, immediately fighting back the Clubman attempted to retake the place as the cars braked for the Druids hairpin, nosing ahead the Clubman was again out dragged on the run to the next corner and the Mk1 retained the advantage. As the two cars entered Clearways the Clubman once again took edged ahead, the Mini clearly being the superior car through the tighter sections of the circuit, however once onto the Brabham Straight the Cosworths power saw it regain track position.

As the Clubman and Mk1 continued their tussle a Sierra Cosworth joined the fray, again the superior straight line speed of the turbo charged car saw it blast past the Clubman along the main straight, the Mk1 being despatched with similar ease in very short order. With this brief interlude out of the way the Clubman and Mk1 resumed their duel with the Clubman gaining ground and position through the corners whilst the Mk1 struck back along the straights. With the two protagonists slowing each other as they tussled a SEAT latched on to the rear of the battle, once again as the cars entered the main straight the pursuer was able to pass the Clubman and the Mk1 in quick succession as the two continued sparring. As the laps wound down the battle showed no signs of abating as both the Clubman and Mk1 played to their strengths with neither able to make a decisive break. The chequered flag fell with the Mk1 fractions of a second ahead of the Clubman after a superb race long duel fought with great spirit and clean driving on the part of both machines.

The team can be thoroughly satisfied with their days work, the Clubman performed faultlessly throughout the day and the performance in qualifying was truly outstanding – the Clubman being the first car on the grid outside Class A and quickest Mini by over two seconds. The races also yielded great results for the Clubman with two class wins and a further reduction of its own lap record of the Brands Indy circuit.