2007
Kelly Rogers Racing
Round 3 Oulton Park
26/28th May
Bank Holiday weekend at Oulton Park, this event is held over 2 days, one being Saturday with race day on Monday. Kelly has always been a fan of the country Park style circuit and has held the Mini Miglia Lap record here for a few years now.
Saturday practice session saw the rain coming in fast as this 15 minute session was really to familiarize yourself with the circuit again and just make sure the car has no issues after travelling on the trailer for nearly 5 hours. Kelly had slicks on as the rain kept falling but was happy to drift gently around corners to see how the car handled as the weather forecast was not good for the weekend and every eventuality had to be considered.
Saturday afternoon and the weather was overcast but dry, the qualifying session had began and Kelly new that a good time had to be set to obtain pole position. Kelly done 3 laps making sure the right rear tyre was up to temperature as with only one left handed corner the optimum lap needed everything to be just right. Traffic was playing apart in some reasonable times but not what Kelly expected from himself, it took the final lap to produce his fastest lap and clinch pole position.
With a day off Sunday the mood was calm and relaxed, with the rain lashing down outside feet up watching the F1 Grand Prix was a must.
Sunday morning and Kelly's race was not until the afternoon, arrived at the circuit at 9 am and leisurely checked over the car making sure all was correct. The weather was surprisingly good, the weather forecast was for rain like yesterday. Lunch break was over and the time had come to warm up the engine and be in the collecting bay for 2.05 pm. With one sighting lap and one green flag warm up lap Kelly sat on Pole position waiting for the lights to go out. Red, out and go, Kelly was able to out drag the rest of the field to the first corner, planting himself perfectly on the apex to avoid any chance of a overtaking move. Lap one and the "Famous Five" were bumper to bumper as they crossed the line. Lap 2 and the 4 behind Kelly were trying to mix it up and each one of them was trying to gain positions to try and snap at Kelly's heels. Lap 3 and Hack Tried to go round the outside into turn one but broke too late and got himself all crossed losing a few places. Kelly had the bit between his teeth and was slowly pulling a couple of tenths per lap on the chasing pack. Lap 7 saw Kelly having nearly a 3.5 second gap on Sollis, as Kelly approached turn one waved yellow flags were in abundance, Gordon Pococks car was stuck only 10 feet away from this very fast corner. Safety Car!!, All that hard work had just gone out the window as the safety car bunched everything up again. For 2 laps the remaining cars trundled around the circuit when finally the flashing lights went out and as they crossed the start/finish line racing commenced. Sollis was trying to upset the apple cart with some flying lunges at every corner, Kelly was still holding his own and wouldn't be out witted in any situation, last lap board and Kelly was in control, with this final lap Kelly knew exactly what to do crossing the line 0.317 of a second in front of a frustrated Sollis.
Kelly smiled as he reached parc ferme, 2 wins on the trot and some superb racing from all the drivers and a brilliant race for the spectators.
Round 3
Oulton Park
Round 4 & 5
Castle Combe
