Brands Race Report

April 2nd 2006

60 Stock Hatches made their way to Brands Hatch for the opening round of the 2006 season. Terry Roughton qualified fastest with 1:00.14. I put in a 1:02.42, which put me 32nd overall, meaning I had to race in the heat and finish in the top 4 for a place in the final.

Heat race has Lee Scott on pole, beside Tom Molyneux. I'm 4th on the grid beside Alan Hassell.

Race starts, I manage to get behind Molyneux for 2nd place. Scott gives me a tap in Clark, and I control the car but lose the place, only to watch him go straight into the gravel at Paddock Hill bend, bringing out the red flags.

The race is restarted, and I'm running 2nd ahead of Scott, when Hassell tries to dive inside both of us into Druids. The resulting collision puts me back to 4th, and allows Molyneux to pull away. I pass the grasstracking Hassell, but have to settle for 3rd.

The final is headed up by Terry Roughton, Richard Horsey and Darren Wilson. I'm back in 31st.

I make good progress off the line, but get sandwiched between Dan Summers and Jason Nind exiting Druids, and stall the engine in the spin. I am able to restart but the pack is well away. At the sharp end Roughton and Horsey end up in the gravel at Paddock Hill, and the race is won by Maurice Hayden, followed by John Hemming and Pete Morgan. I finish 27th.

Next rounds 14th and 15th April at Snetterton.

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