2006
Kelly Rogers Racing
Round 9 Croft 9/10th September
Round 9 of the Mini Miglia Championship took us to Croft, a circuit with some very fast corners and some extremely slow ones too. The journey time to this idyllic circuit was just over 5 hours, the weekend format was free practice and qualifying on Saturday and the race Sunday Afternoon.
Free practice gave you time to familiarise yourself with the circuit as the Mini 7 club last came here in 2003. Kelly was happy with the performance of the car but lacked traction coming out of the slower corners, things would have to be changed before qualifying.
The 15 minute qualifying session started at 4 pm the weather had been warm all day and the sun was just starting to lower in the sky. Kelly started with a few laps to get to grips with the minor changes that had been made before a few quick laps to hopefully set a good time. The pit board was not showing any times for the first few laps and Kelly couldn't seem to push any harder. After the session ended Kelly found out that his transponder was not working so the few laps that were timed manually placed him in fourth position. With much deliberation with the team Kelly decided to fully alter the car as the minor adjustments weren't giving Kelly the right feedback he needed from the car to push harder.
Sunday morning, with the car already sorted for the race later this afternoon Kelly and the team relaxed watched the mini 7's race and then geared up for there race. The cars all pulled up into the collecting area at 3.30 pm, tension was high as the Championship was drawing to a close and everyone was trying to get as many points in these last four races. All the cars streamed out onto the circuit, Kelly as always is totally focused on the job in hand. Lined up on the grid, red lights come on wait 5 seconds and then out, the drag to the first corner is always a sight to see with 15 mini's bearing down onto a small piece of tarmac with a bend at the end. All safely through, Kelly kept his grid position into the first corner but already the leaders were getting away and Kelly was being held up. Lap 2, Sollis and Hall had made a three car gap between Peacock and Kelly, Kelly was trying to find away round Peacock as he couldn't let the leaders get away. The pressure at the front was immense, Hall trying all he could to push past Sollis but so far to no avail. Kelly dropped back slightly from Peacock on lap three as he knew that he was being slowed into the fast corners so he could make his move. Coming into the slow twisty sections of the circuit Kelly had loomed large in the mirrors of Peacock and a slight lapse of concentration let Kelly up the inside into the 1st gear hairpin. Kelly was now allowed to chase the leaders who were also swapping paint at every opportunity but were still on a quick pace. Lap 4 and Kelly was very slowly reeling them in, digging deep and total adrenalin pumping pace Kelly was now tapping on the back door of Hall. The front two were not looking in there mirrors but were soon forced to realise a third member had joined there club. Kelly could just get in striking distance when things in front of him were hotting up, with insight he stayed at a safe distance as things can go horribly wrong as Kelly had experienced in Spa. They all crossed the line starting the final lap, Kelly was hoping for a mistake from the leaders so he could pounce at any time, the front three cars are all so well matched in ability, speed and handling so taking the long way round was not an option. The chequered flag was poised as the front three crossed the line with under a second between them, Sollis first, Hall second and Kelly third. After the race Kelly had obtained the fastest lap time on lap 7 with a time of 1:37.0055.
The Final race result was changed after a stewards enquiry as one or two costly mistakes out on track had cost Sollis the win so the final and corrected results are; Hall 1st, Sollis 2nd and Rogers 3rd.
Round 9
Croft
Round 12
Donington Park
