2007
Kelly Rogers Racing
Round 7 Donington Park
4/5th August
This two day event at Donington Park saw one practice session, one qualifying session and the race on Sunday. The free practice session was for 15 minutes Kelly was using his spare last years engine for some set up testing as his full race engine had to be worked on over the break from Thruxton after that Kerb flying leap. After the session was over the decision was made to refit the 2007 spec unit back in as the engine was more suited to this circuit. Kelly and Peter Vickers soon had the old unit out and the new one in, a couple of hours is all it takes nowadays.
Qualifying and the weather was good, a couple of laps into the session and the red flags came out. Oil had been dropped on the circuit and another 2 cars had collided with each other. Kelly drove back to the pits where he sat waiting for the circuit staff to clean up the mess and re-open the circuit. Kelly sat and waited in his car, then the all clear was given to proceed down the pit lane to carry on with this session. Kelly watched carefully as he surveyed the dust covering the oil just to make sure he knew where it was on the circuit before going for a flying lap. With only 8 minutes left of the qualifying session a maximum of 5 laps could be achieved if the traffic was kind to you. Kelly pushed hard but the times weren't coming down enough, Crossing the line at the end of the session saw Kelly in second position only 0.3 off the pole time. Kelly could of pushed harder and cut over the grass to record a quicker time but on the front row is good enough. A few minor checks had to be done before the team packed up for the night and relaxed in the paddock atmosphere.
Sunday and not a cloud in the sky at 9 am, The Miglia race was not until about 3pm so the team went and watched the mini 7 race at 10.30 which was full of entertainment. The sun was relentless and the temperature was just over 27 degrees, keeping yourself and the car as cool as possible was the task before the race.
2.30 pm and the call came for the cars to line up in the assembly area, All 19 miglia's rolled out onto the grid ready for there green flag lap. The red lights are on and then off, neck and neck Kelly and Owens go into Redgate with the remaining 17 cars all fighting for places. Kelly on the outside tucks into 2nd position trying to see a way round the leader, defending his 2nd place from Hack and Peacock whilst trying to attack Owens. Lap 2 and Kelly out breaks Owens into the last corner chicane pushing hard trying to break the tow, Owens repeats the same move on lap 3 to retake the lead. Laps 4 to 11 saw the battle royal once again, with two hard chargers trying to outwit each other. Lap 12 and Kelly noticed his brake pedal was getting long as he approached the last corner and Hack dives up the inside to push Kelly back to 3rd. Kelly chases hard but the laps before had taken there toll on his brakes so survival was now the only game. Lap 13 and Peacock copies Hack and takes third place from Kelly as his brake pedal has now nearly disappeared. Kelly checks in his mirrors but no one else is close so the next 2 laps Kelly nurses home his car to finish 4th, not what he wanted but to get the car over the line with hardly any brakes was a feat on its own.
After the race Kelly as normal was full of smiles and surveys the situation, Kelly said" I could of pushed harder to the end but if my pedal had gone to the floor i would endangered myself and any other driver it wasn't worth the risk".
Round 7
Donington Park
