2006
Kelly Rogers Racing
Rounds 7 & 8 Brands Hatch 16th July
This double header one day advent with 2 long races will be tough on both driver and machinery, the weather was glorious with temperatures reaching nearly 30°c.
Qualifying as normal was a 15 minute session, with new tyres on the front the first few laps was to scrub these in and then without heating them up too much push for a good lap time. After 4 laps Kelly decided to come in check tyre pressures and let the tyres cool down so he could then test the ability of the car with the new rubber bedded in. The track temperature was very hot already and the tyres were not giving Kelly as much grip as he wanted. Pushing hard but also conserving tyre damage and wear Kelly posted a time of 55.439 to place him 4th on the grid for race one. Kelly's 2nd quickest time set would place him 3rd on the grid for race 2, so all to play for.
Race one and all the cars lined up on the grid, the sun was at its highest point, both cars and drivers will suffer in this 20 lap race. The red lights go on and then out in 5 seconds, all 17 cars accelerate into Paddock Hill bend, Kelly tucking into 4th as they rush up to Druids. Kelly tries to put a move on the outside of druids to take a position into Graham Hill bend but to no avail. Lap one completed and the four front runners are line a stern, Sollis, Sims, Hall and Kelly. Kelly was keeping a watching brief at the three ahead of him, getting clean air into the car but not letting them get away. Laps 2 to 8 saw the same freight train at every corner, Hall and Sims were fighting behind Sollis which was letting the pack spread out. Lap 9 and Kelly could see Sims struggling, so for the next few laps Kelly kept in close contact until the time was right to take advantage and sail by. Lap 12 and Sollis was still leading, slowing the train down at each corner to take full affect of his lead. Kelly sat in third position trying to out drag Hall in a few places but with everyone keeping tight lines the mission was impossible. Kelly crossed the line after 20 gruelling laps in a comfortable third spot, with both the driver and car very hot.
4 pm and the time for race 2, Kelly 3rd on the grid this time, Kelly had made a few minor changes to the car in the 2½ hour gap between races. Once again the lights go red and then out very quickly, Kelly makes sure he holds his position into Paddock Hill bend. Sollis Leads, Sims 2nd, Kelly 3rd and Hall 4th as they exit Clearways for the first time. Crossing the line Sims tries to take the long route around Sollis but it doesn't work, Kelly and Hall are at arms length watching to see how this 15 lap race starts to unfold. Lap after lap the cars bunch up into the corners and try to accelerate away from each other on the straights, these top 4 runners all seem to have equal power and equal handling so the racing is always entertaining. Lap 9 and Kelly has conserved enough tyre wear and strength to push Sims enough to force him wide to gain a position. Kelly now in 2nd and Sims and Hall fighting for 3rd behind him, Kelly sets off to chase Sollis down. Only 5 laps left and there is about a second to find to close the gap between himself and Sollis. With the hammer down Kelly starts to creep up on Sollis, showing him his nose once or twice into Paddock. Last lap and Sollis has had his wake up call and was defending his line into every corner, Kelly was trying to find away round but to no avail as they crossed the line 0.149 seconds apart.
Round 7 & 8
Brands Hatch
Round 12
Donington Park
