2007
Kelly Rogers Racing
Round 6 Thruxton 21st/22nd
July
Thruxton Circuit, 2.356 miles long, 90% flat out with a very tight chicane last corner, the mini's are always a favourite with the crowds here as the racing is always fast, furious and exciting.
This 2 day event saw a 15 minute free practice session for the drivers to set up there cars and get to grips with the circuit once again. Thruxton has always been an omen to Kelly over the years of Miglia racing and has never finished a race here. The free session went well as the weather had stayed dry but cloudy just to test the car after a few changes that were made after the Castle Combe round. The car was strong and Kelly was very happy as he pulled into the paddock to relax before the qualifying in the afternoon.
Qualifying started at 15.35pm, Kelly was out on slicks, the wind had picked up and a black rain cloud was moving in fast. After 3 laps with traffic always in the way, Kelly set about making space to set his qualifying time. The times were coming down and at the start of lap 6 Kelly had a clear track in front of him so was pushing hard then the rain started to fall. Coming out the chicane on slicks with the rain now lashing down was a sight to see as Kelly has the car totally sideways but also under control trying to set a good time. Lap 6 was Kelly's quickest lap with a time of 1:29.829, good enough for 2nd position and only 0.112 of a second off pole. With plenty of time on Sunday morning to check the car over the team set off to there hotel for a relaxing evening.
Sunday morning and the Mini 7 race was at 9 am so everyone arrived at the track early to watch the race, which as normal entertains the whole circuit with fantastic racing. Kelly's race was approximately 3 pm so Kelly's chief engineer Peter Vickers sets about checking the car over from top to bottom.
Over the tannoy came the call for the Miglia's to go to the collecting area, Kelly as normal settles himself into the car, fires up the engine and drives to the collection area. All the Miglia's roll out onto the grid for there green flag lap before sitting there waiting for the red lights to come on. As the lights go out all 16 cars race into Allards and the chase was on for the first out braking moves into Campbell and Cobbs. Kelly got muscled out on the first corner and slotted himself into 3rd position, the pack chased each other around Church heading up the long straight pulling over 8, 000 revs as the engines approached maximum speed. Through the chicane and lap one completed Kelly still lying in 3rd, lap 2 and Kelly makes a move on Hack to push into second position, Lap 3 and Kelly moves into first place with Peacock trying to muscle his way around in this 5 car tug of war. Kelly is trying to push as hard as possible as the slip streaming game is being played, lap 4 and Kelly still holds the lead, Lap 5 and Owens pushes passed Kelly and Peacock in 3rd trying to find away up to the front. The crowds in the Grandstand are gasping at every new lap as the top 5 swap places at every opportunity, Lap 6 and Kelly still in 2nd has Hack back on his tail. Laps 7 to 13 see the lead change another 6 times as they past the start finish line, now lap 14 and the last lap. Hack is leading with Kelly in second and Owens in 3rd as they all go hurtling into Village. Kelly Knows that his car is strong through church and up to the approach to the chicane. Kelly has the inside line just where you need to be to win this corner, Owens trying to go around the outside in a desperate move and Hack watching behind. As all three approach the chicane, Owens moves over onto Kelly forcing his car to mount the kerb and then the scary stuff starts. Kelly's car is bouncing across the track heading for the centre island of the chicane. Those kerbs are high, this is going to hurt! bang as Kelly's car launches itself over the first kerb bouncing once more and landing in the centre of the track still going forward, Kelly hits the throttle hard and manages to sprint across the line with smoke bellowing out of the car. Kelly had crossed the line in 2nd place, with Hack taking the win by cutting across the chicane to avoid the drama unfolding in front of him and Owens 3rd. The slow down lap was a steady pace as Kelly was looking at his gauges as the smoke was still following him. Once back in parc ferme the real extent of the damaged was unveiled, the curb had smashed a hole in the sump and oil was leaking out. Kelly was happy to cross the line as the car was in a sorry state.
