2006
Kelly Rogers Racing
Saturday morning and the weather was dry and sometimes sunny, with qualifying not until 3.45 pm things were nice and relaxed. The car had been totally checked over from the last race and all the repairs had been carried out. Brands Hatch being the closest circuit to Kelly's home he is always expected to do well here and 9 times out of 10 he is always in the top 3.
The 15 minute qualifying session was slightly delayed due to the red flags from earlier in the day. Kelly was keen to stamp his authority on this session and put himself on pole position. The qualifying field was quite bunched up on this 1.2262 mile circuit and getting a clear lap to post your best time was not an easy feat. The first five laps were getting to grips with the car and finding the limits of each part of the track, Kelly completed 12 laps and posted a time of 54.747 putting him on pole position for tomorrows race.
Sunday, Race day, the rain had been belting down all Saturday night but as the paddock awoke the sun was trying to burn through the clouds. Just after lunch the Mini Miglia's were all told to report to the assembly area, then all the cars rolled out onto the track to take up there grid positions. The track was perfectly dry and the sun was blazing down on the Kent circuit. With one green flag lap all 18 cars sat on the grid waiting for the red lights to go on. Then, Out, Kelly got a flying start up to Paddock Hill bend, with all the bunch all fighting for there positions. At Druids behind the top 5 cars there were a few incidents which left some cars in a dangerous place. Lap 2 and Kelly seemed to have total control with 2 car lengths gap between himself and the chasing group. Lap 3 and the chasing group were squabbling for positions which let Kelly settle down into a nice rhythm. Lap 4 and the red lights came on so the race had to be stopped.
All the cars lined up on the grid for the re-start of the race, only 10 laps now, Kelly had his starts down to a tee and leapt away for the second time leading the cars into paddock and up to druids. Lap 1 now completed and the group of 5 had broke the tow from the remaining group, Kelly leading as Hack, Hall and Sollis all trying to make a bid for the lead. Lap 2 and 3 saw the order stay the same with a few late braking manoeuvres tried along the way. Lap 4 and crossing the start/finish line Kelly had a gap of 0.34 of a second, around Druids and accelerate hard going down the hill onto the approach to Cooper straight. The car all of a sudden broke loose at the rear as Kelly fought to keep it all in a straight line, over the kerbs and up onto the grass, as the chasing pack all broke and saw the oil patch left by another vehicle. Kelly had collected his thoughts and joined the track but now in 3rd position, Chasing Hack and Hall. Going into Paddock Kelly was loosing ground with drive coming out of the corner, Still battling hard to catch the leaders and keep Sollis and Sims off his back. The car didn't feel the same after the excursion at about 70 mph onto the grass and over all them humps and divots. Laps 6, 7 and 8 were just as exciting as the first 5 with no room for error and bumper to bumper racing for the complete lap of the track. Sollis had been able to push pass Kelly as the last lap flag came out, Kelly was driving at 110% just to keep the car in touch with the others. Kelly crossed the line keeping his fourth position from a battling Tim Sims in fifth.
Once the car was checked over back at the awning the steering geometry was so far out from the normal race settings that is why Kelly was struggling with fast cornering.
Off to Castle Combe next, Round 3 of the 2006 Mini Miglia Championship.
Round 2
Brands Hatch
Round 12
Donington Park
