2007
Kelly Rogers Racing
Rounds 9 & 10 - Pembrey
22-23rd September
The last two rounds to decide the 2007 Miglia Championship, the top three places all with one point between each other, things were going to be good. Kelly travelled up to Pembrey late Thursday evening, a journey which takes approximately 5 hours, for some testing on the Friday as it had been a few years since he had raced here.
Friday morning and the car was rolled off the trailer in readiness for the test session, the weather was dry but cloudy. The car was warmed up as Kelly prepared himself to re-familiarize himself with the Pembrey circuit. Lap one and Kelly was putting some heat into the tyres to access the grip level from the circuit, lap two and Kelly started to wind it up when a loss of drive occurred. Kelly pulled over to a spot off the circuit to access the damage, a drive shaft had broken. Kelly waited for the circuit to bring a tow truck out so he could go back to the paddock to fix the problem. The wait for the tow truck was immense and by the time the car was towed back and Kelly had fixed the problem the track session was over for the day.
Saturday and the morning was bright and sunny, most of the team had set off early to arrive at the circuit for midday as the qualifying session wasn't till late in the afternoon. Kelly went out for the qualifying trying to get the feel of the track, with alot of traffic and some really slow corners traffic was playing a bit part. With only 20 minutes Kelly produced a lap time to put him 4th on the grid, 2nd row for the two races tomorrow.
Sunday and the weather had completely changed with strong winds and a constant drizzle of rain, the car had to be changed to its wet weather settings. Race one and Kelly rolls out onto the grid taking up his position, with two warm up laps due to the rain to try and put some heat into the tyres. The lights go on and then out, all the cars go rushing into the first corner, spray is everywhere in the air as the wet weather tyres disperse the water. Kelly gets bogged down in the gaggle into the first corner trying to push past Saunders, Owens and Hack, the leading pair, had made a run for it and Kelly had to get back in touch. Lap two and Kelly was now in 3rd, trying to close the gap, but with the top three all doing similar lap times the gap was constant and Kelly was in a lonely 3rd spot. Lap after lap the front two were dicing for the lead and Kelly hoped to try and tag on the tail end, the last lap board was shown and Kelly was still pursuing but the gap wasn't coming down, Kelly crossed the finish line in 3rd, more points but alot to do in race two.
The weather had calmed by 4 pm and a dry line was appearing on certain sections of the track but slick tyres were not an option. A few races before the start of the Miglia race oil was spilt on the tight first corner which was making the driving difficult. Kelly still on row two for the 2nd race took his position and was determined to avoid a mix up into the first corner this time. The lights go out and the front three are away like normal, with Hack taking a determined lead with Owens following and Kelly tucked in behind. The race had been cut short due to the time aspect so less laps to hopefully get the job done. The first few laps and it looked like a titanic battle was about to start, Kelly crossed the line after lap 4 but was out of touch with the leaders. Kelly had no grip and was finding it hard to stop the car under steering into all the corners. Lap after lap Kelly pushed hard but was losing places hand over fist. The chequered flag came out and Kelly crossed the line in 7th place, totally bewildered at first until he looked at his front tyres. They had all chunked up and it was like driving on ice, Andy Hack had won the race making him the new Mini Miglia Champion for 2007.
As always Kelly is up beat and congratulates Andy Hack, "always next year "he says in jest then says, "I have been saying that for 5 years now", with a smirk on his face.
Round 9 & 10
Pembrey
