2007
Kelly Rogers Racing
Round 4 & 5 Castle
Combe 23rd June
This one day event with Qualify and 2 races was a busy event, Travelling up the day before to get set up was a must. Signing on and Scruitineering was all done before 10 am, the car was given the once over before the start of the qualifying session.
Castle Combe is a very fast but also bumpy track which can catch you out at any given time, Kelly enjoys this circuit as you have to be committed into every corner. The 15 minute session saw Kelly complete 11 laps and on lap 6 produced his best time of a 1:17.442 to put him 2nd on the grid, but also produced his second quickest lap to put him on pole position for Race 2.
The first race was programmed to start at 2.45 pm, the weather had been forecasted to rain but the sun was glorious. The call came to line up in the assembly area so Kelly kitted up and sat quietly ready for the start of the race. The green flag was waved for the warm up lap as Kelly pulled away trying to generate some heat into the tyres. All back waiting on the line as the red lights come on and go out, Kelly gets a good start pulling across the front of Sollis going into quarry. Lap one and the four car battle raged on, Kelly, Sollis, Owens and Hack were all pushing hard for positions as the rollercoaster ride had began. The long drag from camp corner to quarry see the cars trying to go 3 wide all trying to power past each other and then the bravest to break last into quarry corner. Lap 3 and Owens had dragged past Kelly, Hack and Sollis had lost touch slightly has the first 2 swapped and dummied each other into every corner. Lap after lap saw Kelly and Owens side by side around most corners with some superb driving, Lap 10 and the final lap. Kelly was still lying in 2nd position but was trying to regain the lead at every corner, Owens driving a very fast but defensive line to cross the line 0.3 seconds ahead of Kelly to take his first Miglia win. Kelly was as normal in good spirit and congratulated Owens on his win, whilst Kelly had smashed the lap record by over 0.5 of a second whilst battling with Owens in the race.
Race 2, due to a few red flags the race start had been put back a little to 6.10 pm, This was going to make it a long day. The sun was still shining as the cars rolled out for the last race of the day. Kelly on pole this time and all to play for, Green flag lap over just sitting on the grid waiting for the lights to go on. Then off, Kelly pulls away from the grid leading the pack once again into turn 1, once again with Owens, Sollis and Hack all chasing. Lap one completed and Kelly still holds the lead as Owens tries all the tricks in the book to push past. Lap 3 and Hack pulls off with a sick engine, Sollis slips backwards as his clutch fluid disappears, its all left down to the front 2 now to battle it out. Lap after lap the swapping of places and paint gets more intense as both drivers try to out smart each other to take or re-take the lead. Rogers has a last ditch attempt going into bobbies corner but Owens is so out of control Kelly lifts off to avoid any serious contact which allows Owens a slight gap. Kelly chases him down into the final corner, camp, but once again Owens crosses the line first.
A good weekends racing and only a small bit of damage to Kelly's car, so now with 5 races completed Kelly has had two wins and three 2nd places, a very good start to the first half of the season, Can't wait to see the final 5 races!!
Round 4 & 5
Castle Combe
