Lotus Festival Saturday as it happened
Wolfe snatches Elan pole with late effort
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - CSCC Elan 50th Anniversary Qualifying - Andy Wolfe brought the first day of the Lotus Festival to an end by setting the fastest time in the evening's 50th anniversary Lotus Elan qualifying session.
Wolfe left it late to shine in the session as he set his best time on his final lap, which was good enough to grab pole by 0.137s from Nick Fleming. Al Fleming was three seconds slower in third. A field of 20 cars are due to take part in the race on Sunday.
CSCC Elan 50th Anniversary Qualifying Top 6
1. Andy Wolfe
2. Nick Fleming
3. Al Fleming
4. Peter Shaw
5. Vicky Brooks
6. Andrew Marler
Tester does the double
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - Project Eight Racing Saloons Race Two - Colin Tester was the first driver to complete a double victory at the Lotus Festival with an impressive drive in his Ford Sierra Cosworth.
Tester pushed hard from the outset and it didn't take long for him to move into a comfortable lead. In truth nobody was able to mactnthe pace of the Tester and it was left to Mike Dugdale and Peter Seldon to fill the remaining podium spots. John Willcocks managed to hold off Don Hughes for fourth with Chris Palmer in sixth.
Project Eight Racing Saloons Race Two Top 6
1. Colin Tester
2. Mike Dugdale
3. Peter Seldon
4. John Willcocks
5. Don Hughes
6. Chris Palmer
Dominant Khani secures impressive win on F3 Cup debut
18/08/2012 - F3 Cup Race One - Koroush Khani made no mistakes as he converted his pole position into an impressive race win on debut in the F3 Cup at a scorching Brands Hatch GP circuit.
After making a strong start Khani never looked back and it was only Linton Stutely who could keep the Iranian in sight as he stormed to victory. The battle for third proved to be intense but Gino Ussi managed to hold off Louis Hamilton-Smith for the final spot on the podium. However, the championship battle took an interesting twist with Chris Dittmann suffering a retirement, while title leader Tristan Cliffe came home in fifth.
The scorching conditions experienced in qualifying remained for the race which made it a battle of attrition for the drivers. FIA Formula Two driver Khani made no mistakes at the start and he led the field as they streamed into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time. Stutely maintained his position but an impressive start from Ussi saw him move into third with a great move around the outside of Chris Dittmann at Druids. Hamilton-Smith was fifth with Cliffe all over his rear win in sixth.
There was frantic action behind in the midfield but at the front Khani began open up an advantage from Stutely, as the pair edged away from the rest of the field. Dittmann soon found himself trying to find a way past Ussi for a couple of laps before a mistake from the Tewkesbury racer saw him spin off into retirement at Dingle Dell.
The top six pulled a gap on the rest of the field with Magic Motorsport's Mark Harrison trying to reel the pack in lying in seventh. All eyes soon turned to the battle for eighth with a train of cars behind Robbie Watts. Chris Needham managed to pass the Essex driver on lap six at Druids, but the pair collided at Graham Hill Bend sending Needham to the rear of the field.
Watts recovered but a broken track rod saw him spin out at Clark Curve two laps later. Meanwhile at the front Khani moved into an unassailable lead with Stutely comfortably in second. The scrap for third remained undecided with Hamilton-Smith now piling the pressure on Ussi.
The midfield battle continued to rage with Neil Harrison, Jeremy Timms, James Abbott, Nick Robinson, Stuart Wiltshire, Mark Terry and Prajesh Shah enjoying a great scrap. In the end, nobody could stop Khani as he took the chequered flag from Stutely and Ussi. Hamilton-Smith came home in fourth ahead of Cliffe, M Harrison, Timms, Terry, Robinson and Neil Harrison, who rounded out the top 10.
A delighted race winner Khani said: "It was a great debut and I'm glad to be here. The car has been perfect and I must say thanks to the team for that. I'm feeling confident for race two."
Second placed Stutely revealed he found the conditions quite difficult but was happy to come home in second, he said: "Kourosh is in a different class. It was a good race and I think the key to it was the first lap. Its more difficult on the driver rather than the car in this heat. Its a lot more difficult than when it is cool thats for sure even. If you open the visor it doesn't cool you down."
A return to the podium was just what Ussi was looking for, he said: "In many ways my dry season starts here as I think we have found that setup for the dry conditions. We have been struggling for a set up in these conditions. Today we were on pace with the top guys. It is a lovely feeling to race on the Grand Prix circuit. This is a fabulous circuit and you need such a mixture of skills. I love it."
F3 Cup Brands Hatch GP Race One Results
1. Kourosh Khani, Lanan Racing, Cup 15 laps
2. Linton Stutely, Enigma Motorsport, Trophy, +14.404s
3. Gino Ussi, Grays Motorsport, Cup +18.892s
4. Louis Hamilton-Smith, Cup +23.780s
5. Tristan Cliffe, Omicron Motorsport, Cup +32.156s
6. Mark Harrison, Magic Motorsport, Cup +1min.04.341s
7. Jeremy Timms, Topmarx Racing, Trophy +1min.16.219s
8. Mark Terry, Lanan Racing, Cup, +1min.24.821s
9. Nick Robinson, Mark Bailey Racing, Cup, +1min.26.214s
10. Neil Harrison, Magic Motrorsport, Cup, +1min.27.197s
11. Prajesh Shah, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1min.27.792s
12. James Abbott, Cup, +1min.40.160s
13. Stuart Wiltshire, Mark Bailey Racing, Cup, 1min.43.592s
14. Tony Bishop, Omicron Motorsport, Cup, +1lap
15. Dave Karaskas, Masters, +1lap
16. Chris Needham Cup, +1lap
17. Frank Thomas, Mark Bailey Racing, Cup, +1lap
DNF Philip Austin, Trophy DNF Chris Dittmann, Chris Dittmann
Racing, Trophy
DNF Robbie Watts, Raw Power Motorsport, Cup
DNS Winston Graham, Trophy,
Boston storms to first Lotus win of the festival
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - Lotus Elise Trophy Race One - Reigning Mazda MX5 champion Rob Boston stormed to victory with another dominant performance in the first Lotus race of the festival.
Boston made a clean getaway from the line and from their on he
set his sights on the chequered flag. There was plenty of
squabbling for positions behind but there was nobody who could
catch Boston as he took the flag by 22 seconds. Welshman Craig
Denman came home in second as he just about held off Warren
Scott.
Lotus Elise Trophy Race One Top 6
1. Rob Boston
2. Craig Denman
3. Warren Scott
4. Ken Savage
5. Martin Wills
6. Ed Morris
Clowes claims victory on GP debut
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - St Cross Electronics Monoposto Championship 1800/1600/Moto Mono Race One - A mistake from pole man Dave Connor helped Dan Clowes to victory on his Brands Hatch GP debut.
Connor stalled on the grid which saw him drop to very back of the 33 car field and allow Clowes to take the lead. Dax Ward pushed Clowes hard in a bid to force an error but in the end Clowes managed to build a comfortable lead.
Meanwhile Connor stormed up to sixth in the space of three laps and it wasn't long before he found himself in fourth. A pass on Jason Timms saw him grab third but after running wide on the final corner of the last lap he finished in fourth.
Clowes went on to take the win by five seconds from Ward and Timms. However, Connor was excluded from the race following a stewards decision.
St Cross Electronics Monoposto Championship 1800/1600/Moto Mono Race One Top 6
1. Dan Clowes, Jedi, Moto Mono
2. Dax Ward, Jedi, Moto Mono
3. Jason Timms, Speads, Moto Mono
4. Geoff Fern, JKS, Moto Mono
5. Mike Scott, Speads, Moto Mono
6. John Whitbourn, Ray GRS02, Moto Mono
Witt Chevron storms to GT Cup win
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - GT Cup Championship Race One - Jordan Witt successfully took on the mighty Jim Geddie McLaren to win the first of three GT Cup Championship races at the Lotus Festival.
The McLaren started from pole and led the early stages of the race before Geddie ran wide at Graham Haill bend which allowed Witt into the lead. Lap by lap Witt gradually pulled away and he soon built up a healthy lead. Geddie was unable to repsond which left Witt to take the victory from the McLaren and Kevin Riley's Mosler.
GT Cup Championship Race One Top 6
1. Jordan Witt, Chevron
2. Geddie/Geddie, McLaren
3. Kevin Riley, Mosler
4. Chris Randall, Lotus
5. Colin Broster, Porsche
6. David Witt, Chevron
Tester wins Project Eight opener
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - Project Eight Racing Saloons Race One - The Ford Sierra Cosworth of Colin Tester just did enough to hold off Peter Seldon to take victory in a shortened Project Eight Racing Saloons race.
Tester managed to get the jump on polesitter Seldon at the start and they were followed intensely by Matt Seldon and Mike Dugdale. The race was proving to be an intriguing battle of cat and mouse but a multi car incident at Paddock Hill Bend brought out the red flags on lap five. All drivers emerged unscathed from the incident and the victory was given to Tester by just half a second from Peter and Matt Seldon respectively.
Project Eight Racing Saloons Race One Top 6
1. Colin Tester, Ford Sierra Cosworth
2. Peter Seldon, BMW M3
3. Matt Seldon, BMW M3
4. Mike Dugdale, BMW M3
5. John Willcocks, BMW M3
6. Don Hughes, Peugeot 306
Scott reaps rewards from Watts stall
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - St Cross Electronics Monoposto Championship 2000/Classic Race One - Malcolm Scott made the most of a stall for polesitter Robbie Watts to claim victory in the opening race of the Lotus Festival.
Watts was left on the grid when the lights went out and all the field made it safely through. Watts managed to get going but had fallen to the very back of the pack allowing rival Malcolm Scott to the lead of the race. Scott was put under pressure but he coped well and held his nerve to take the flag from Adrian Holey and Russ Giles. Lee Cunningham, who started from third, dropped down to sixth but remained the top runner in the Classic class.
Tony Bishop and Richard Purcell were the big movers as they finished fourth and fifith respeictively. Watts' hopes of a recovery were ended on lap seven when he was forced into retirement.
St Cross Electronics Monoposto Championship 2000/Classic Race One Top 6
1. Malcolm Scott
2. Adrian Holey
3. Russ Giles
4. Richard Purcell
5. Tony Bishop
6. Lee Cunningham
Boston continues to dominate Elise Trophy
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - Lotus Elise Trophy Qualifying - Rob Boston continued his dominance of the Lotus Elise Trophy by securing pole position for today's race.
Boston, who has won the majority of the races this season, secured the all important pole position by eight tenths of a second from Andrew Bentley. Ed Morriss was two seconds back in third just 87 thousandths of a second quicker than Warren Scott in fourth.
Lotus Elise Trophy Qualifying Top 6
1. Rob Boston
2. Andrew Bentley
3. Ed Morris
4. Warren Scott
5. Craig Denman
6. Dan Plant
Winner Winrow to start from PBMW pole
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - Marangoni Tyres Production BMW Championship Qualifying - Championship contender Ben Winrow will start from pole position after an impressive showing in qualifying.
Winrow was a full 1.478s quicker than his arch rival for the title Mike Tovey which was one of the largest margins the pair have had all season. Podium regular Liam Crilly was third ahead of Miles Howard, Harry Goodman and Brands Hatch Indy winner Stuart Waite. A whopping 35 cars took part in qualifying which made finding clear air on track a challenge.
Marangoni Tyres Production BMW Championship Qualifying Top
6
1. Ben Winrow
2. Mike Tovey
3. Liam Crilly
4. Miles Howard
5. Harry Goodman
6. Stuart Waite
Khani holds off Stutely for F3 Cup pole
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - F3 Cup qualifying - Lanan Racing's Kourosh Khani came through an enthralling battle with Linton Stutely to secure pole position on his F3 Cup debut for race one at the Brands Hatch GP circuit.
The Iranian driver, who races in the FIA Formula Two Championship, showed his class setting the initial pace in the session. However, Khani was unable to relax with Enigma Motorsport's Linton Stutely topping the timing screens. The pair traded places before Khani grabbed the pole position from Stutely and title contender Chris Dittmann.
With clear skies and hot sunshine above, the track conditions were perfect for qualifying and the 21 car field and the drivers were quick to take advantage of the opportunity. Unfortunately Benjamin Harvey, Matt Payne and James Cross were unable to take part in the session.
Double winner from Snetterton Stutely resumed where he left off at the Norfolk circuit by setting the initial pace on his first flying lap,but a problem with his transponder soon forced him into the pits. Khani soon found his rhythm and it wasn't long beofre he lit up the timing screens while Dittmann and championship leader Tristan Cliffe moved into provisional second and third. Ditmann was gathering pace in his Trophy Class Dallara and he posted an impressive time to grab pole by 21 thousandths of a second only for Khani to beat it seconds later.
Another driver growing in confidence was Grays Motorsport's Gino Ussi. The Italian, who last raced on the Brands Hatch GP circuit 11 years ago, showed no signs of being rusty by moving into third. Silverstone winner Louis Hamiton-Smith and Mark Harrison broke into the top six pushing Cliffe further down the order.
The battle for the midfield spots proved to be extremely close with Robbie Watts heading the pack from James Abbott, Jeremy Timms, Chris Needham, Neil Harrison and the returning Mark Terry. Nick Robinson was the fastest of the Mark Bailey Racing runners just edging team mate Stuart Wiltshire. Prajesh Shah and Tony Bishop continued to improve throughout the session resulting in 16th and 17th spot respectively.
At the front Stutely set a handful of blistering laps which were cpaable of chalelgning Khani and for a breif momet he held the provisional pole. However in the end Khani proved to be too strong and an effort on lap 11 was enough to grab pole by seven tenths of a second from Stutely and Dittmann. Ussi was the best of the rest in fourth ahead of Hamilton-Smith, Cliffe, Mark Harrison, Watts, Abbott and Timms which completed the top 10.
The first race of weekend begins at 16:55pm today (Saturday).
F3 Cup Brands Hatch GP Qualifying Results
1. Kourosh Khani, Lanan Racing, Cup 1.22.918s
2. Linton Stutely, Enigma Motorsport, Trophy, +0.717s
3. Chris Dittmann, Chris Dittmann Racing, Trophy +1.754s
4. Gino Ussi, Grays Motorsport, Cup, +1.780s
5. Louis Hamilton-Smith, Cup, +1.945s
6. Tristan Cliffe, Omicron Motorsport, Cup +2.927s
Super Seldon secures Project Eight pole
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - Project Eight Racing Saloons Qualifying - A capacity 38 cars took part in qualifying for the Project Eight Saloons which resulted in Peter Seldon securing pole position.
Seldon was six tenths of a second quicker than the Ford Sierra of Colin Tester with Matt Seldon in third. Oulton Park race winner Dugdale was fourth just ahead of Tom Murphy and Stephen Pearson.
Project Eight Racing Saloons Qualifying Top 6
1. Peter Seldon, BMW M3
2. Colin Tester, Ford Sierra Cosworth
3. Matt Seldon, BMW M3
4. Mike Dugdale, BMW M3
5. Tom Murphy, Ford Sierra Cosworth
6. Stephen Pearson, BMW M3
Geddie McLaren remains the car to beat in GT Cup
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - GT Cup Championship Qualifying - The stunning McLaren of Jim Geddie was the class of the field in qualifying as it surged to pole by almost three seconds.
Geddie, who piloted the car to three victories last time out at Oulton Park, dominated the session and eased to pole position. There was drama involving the second placed Porsche of Chamberlain as a oil leak saw the car burst into flames. The incident was quickly dealt with by the marshals and Chamberlain exited unscathed. Jordan Witt was third fastest in the new Chevron ahead of Chris Randall's Lotus and Kevin Riley's Mosler.
GT Cup CHampionship Qualifying Top 6
1. Geddie/Geddie, McLaren MP4 12C
2. Richard Chamberlain, Porsche 935
3. Jordan Witt, Chevron
4. Chris Randall, Lotus Europa
5. Kevin Riley, Mosler
6. Seldon/Seldon, BMW
Connor just edges Clowes and Ward for Mono pole
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - St Cross Electronics Monoposto Champiosnhip 1800/1600/Moto Mono Qualifying - Less than two tenths of a second separated the top three in an incredibly close qualifying session which saw Dave Connor snatch pole position.
Connor was pushed hard by Dan Clowes and Dax Ward but in the end Connor just about did enough with his lap of 1.30.582s. Clowes was just 0.102s back with Ward third a mere 35 thousandths slower. John Whitbourn was the top 1800 runner in ninth overall with the Moto Mono cars dominating the session. The Formula Vauxhall Junior of Mat Jordan climed the top honours in 1600 class in 17th overall.
St Cross Electronics Monoposto Champiosnhip 1800/1600/Moto Mono Qualifying Top 6
1. Dave Connor, Jedi, Moto Mono
2. Dan Clowes, Jedi, Moto Mono
3. Dax Ward, Jedi, Moto Mono
4. Jason Timms, Speads RM07, Moto Mono
5. Adrian Wright, GEM, Moto Mono
6. Marc Fortune, Jedi, Moto Mono
Watts powers to Mono pole
18/08/2012 - Lotus Festival - St Cross Electronics Monoposto Champiosnhip 2000/Classic Qualifying- Robbie Watts kicked off the action at the MSVR-run Lotus Festival by guiding his Lola to pole position in the morning's qualifying session.
Watts proved to be imperious on the 2.3 mile Grand Prix circuit clocking a best time of 1.31.493s, which was almost nine tenths of a second quicker than Malcolm Scott. Lee Cunningham produced an impressive effort in his Van Diemen to finish the session as the top Classic runner and third overall.
With a bumper 26 cars taking part there was plenty of action and it was Russ Giles, who was the best of the rest joining Cunningham on the second row. Jim Blockley was the next best classic runner in sixth just a tenth of a second slower than Adrian Holey. In form driver Tony Bishop, who won at Oulton and Snetterton previously, could only manage to post the ninth quickest time.
St Cross Electronics Monoposto Champiosnhip 2000/Classic Qualifying Top 6
1. Robbie Watts
2. Malcolm Scott
3. Lee Cunningham
4. Russ Giles
5. Adrian Holey
6. Jim Blockley
18/08/2012 - More than 300 cars will be doing battle around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit for this weekend's (August 18/19) MSVR run Lotus Festival which celebrates the famous British sportscar marque.
The famous Kent circuit will celebrate all things Lotus with racing from the Lotus Cup UK, Lotus Elise Trophy and a special race for Lotus Elans to honours its 50th birthday. Alongside the Lotus racing there will be parades for Lotus owners and demonstrations from iconic Formula One cars from the marques illustrious motorsport history. There will also be demonstrations from the latest range of Lotus Motorsport sportscars and some sideways action can be had on the Brands Hatch Rally stage. For people still recovering from Olympic fever, Chris Boardman's Lotus inspired gold medal winning pursuit bike from 1992 Barcelona Olympics is also on display.
While Lotus dominates the weekend there will be some fascinating racing produced by the super cars of the GT Cup, competitive single seaters of the F3 Cup, Project Eight Racing Saloons, Marangoni Tyres Production BMW Championship, St Cross Electronics Monoposto Championship and the Champion of Brands Formula Fords.
For more information on the Lotus Festival, please CLICK HERE.
