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Getting Faster with Every Lap

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2014 - Mini Challenge Cooper Class Championship

Martin’s Rookie Year of in Senior Car racing, the year was a great experience, with results not showing the effort put in by Martin and the team. Having put his Saxmax car up for sale at the end of 2013, but with little interest we planned for a 2nd year in Saxmax / Junior Saloon Car Championship, whilst building a Mini Cooper for the 2015 Mini Challenge Championship. A late deal during pre-season testing saw a last minute change of plans. With the Saxo sold Martin had 8 weeks to build a new Car. Starting with the purchase of a road going 2003 Mini Cooper. With the help of family and friends (and a little assistance from Coastal Racing) Martin completed his first ever car build in 6 weeks and headed to Oulton Park for a 2 session shake down test of the car.

Round 1 - Donington Park

Unable to test prior to the event, Martin’s went straight into qualifying in only his 3rd ever session in the car. Deciding to treat the event as a test rather than worry results.  Qualifying 2nd would keep Martin out of trouble and able to feel his way into the car. Race 1, started well with Martin gaining 4 places in the first couple of laps and beating his qualifying time by 2 seconds. However a broken throttle pedal brought the race to a premature end. Race 2, also didn’t go well, getting off to a great start Martin was fighting in the back of the pack when inexperience on Cold Slick tyres sent him into the gravel at the end of the 1st lap. The weekend hinged on the final race of the weekend. With threatening weather in the area, Martin opted for caution and when the heavens opened on the parade lap, the caution proved to be correct. His first time out in the Mini in the Wet, and starting from the back Martin decided to concentrate on getting to the finish. A cautious start let the pack get away, but with ever growing confidence Martin picked up a couple of places to secure his first finish of the year.

Round 2 - Brands Hatch (Mini Festival)

Much improved in practice the curse of the quick car build came back again in qualifying, a broken exhaust manifold saw Martin loose 5 seconds over his practice pace and qualify poorly in 10th place on the damp track. A good 1st race saw Martin come home in 7th place and show some of the form he had in 2013. Race 2 again started well, with Martin upto 5th, but a lock up challenging for 4th on fluid dropped by another car saw Martin finish in the Gravel. A terrific 3rd race saw Martin start from last place, and have a tremendous battle through the pack to come home in 8th place, again showing some great promise. A tremendous achievement in front of the 10,000 crowd at he Mini Festival.

Round 3 - Snetterton

With Martin’s first ever visit to Snetterton it was decided some extra practice was needed. Again the shakedown gremlins struck, with Martin shearing 3 wheel bolts on one wheel and saw it part company with the car, cut the practice to 2 sessions. But, at least he now knew the track and due to the changing weather had experienced it in both wet & dry conditions.

The race weekend itself again saw some large crowds, as the Mini Challenge supported the British GT series. Qualifying saw Martin in P10 for the first race. The 1st race ended with Martin in P9, but the car had developed an intermittent electrical fault, that caused a lack of power on acceleration, which probably cost Martin 2 or 3 places.

Race 2 and a great start sees Martin upto P5 at the first corner, but with the return of the electrical fault, this time seeing the engine cut-out completely saw Martin with yet another DNF.

Round 4 - Oulton Park (Mini Festival)

With the car fixed and some extra practice under his belt, Martin went into his home round at one of his favourite tracks with renewed confidence. Again in front of large crowds that confidence proved well placed with Martin qualifying in P5. The first race proved to be one of the most eventful of the year, saw Martin go from 7th to 2nd whilst only overtaking 1 car, and held on til the penultimate lap, but bringing the car home in 3rd place for his first podium in senior racing. Race 2 saw the return of the bad luck, after starting P2 after penalties to others Martin was running in the front pack, when pushed wide whilst defending 4th place, with the Car sustaining radiator & gearbox damage Martin was unable to continue. With a tremendous effort in such a busy race day the team got the car fixed with minutes to spare for Martin to make Race 3, but with a damaged clutch slave cylinder, Martin had gear selection problems with left him stuck on the grid for 15 seconds after the Green Light, but with a determined drive Martin charged through the field to finish 6th, just a second off 5th place a position that would have been his had the faster JCW cars not lapped him on the final lap to cut his race distance by a crucial lap. All in all a tremendous weekend racing.

Round 5 - Castle Coombe

A non-event for Martin, with his engine failing during Thursday practice, a replacement being transported the length of the country on Friday and fitted in time for Saturday Qualifying, The replacement engine then went on to fail after only 7 laps of Qualifying.

Round 6 - Silverstone GP circuit.

Martin’s first time on the GP circuit, with qualifying red flagged after numerous track limits transgressions and Martin unable to put in a hot lap, saw him start race 1 in P11 and come home in P10 after a great 5 car scrap over P8-P12. Race 2 again finish in P10 again with a great mid pack battle.

Race 3 a success in a different measure with a third P10 finish marking the first meeting where Martin had finished all the races.

Round 7 - Brands Hatch GP

Again a new track to Martin, and with no testing available on the GP circuit, saw Martin’s first experience of this historic track coming in Qualifying. With nothing to loose or gain in the Championship the weekend’s priority revolved around learning the circuit and minimising any damage. Qualifying in P10 for Race 1, didn’t end the season of bad luck, up into the main pack at the end of the first lap, saw Martin spin off dramatically into the gravel trap after one of the JCW class cars dropped water all over the final corner. Race 2, passed by with little incident for Martin starting last to come home in P13. Race 3 was cancelled after a huge accident in the JCW class on the opening lap caused a red flag and with time running out on the meeting, the race was left un-run.



Race 2 and a great start sees Martin upto P5 at the first corner, but with the return of the electrical fault, this time seeing the engine cut-out completely saw Martin with yet another DNF.

Round 4 - Oulton Park (Mini Festival)

With the car fixed and some extra practice under his belt, Martin went into his home round at one of his favourite tracks with renewed confidence. Again in front of large crowds that confidence proved well placed with Martin qualifying in P5. The first race proved to be one of the most eventful of the year, saw Martin go from 7th to 2nd whilst only overtaking 1 car, and held on til the penultimate lap, but bringing the car home in 3rd place for his first podium in senior racing. Race 2 saw the return of the bad luck, after starting P2 after penalties to others Martin was running in the front pack, when pushed wide whilst defending 4th place, with the Car sustaining radiator & gearbox damage Martin was unable to continue. With a tremendous effort in such a busy race day the team got the car fixed with minutes to spare for Martin to make Race 3, but with a damaged clutch slave cylinder, Martin had gear selection problems with left him stuck on the grid for 15 seconds after the Green Light, but with a determined drive Martin charged through the field to finish 6th, just a second off 5th place a position that would have been his had the faster JCW cars not lapped him on the final lap to cut his race distance by a crucial lap. All in all a tremendous weekend racing.

Round 5 - Castle Coombe

A non-event for Martin, with his engine failing during Thursday practice, a replacement being transported the length of the country on Friday and fitted in time for Saturday Qualifying, The replacement engine then went on to fail after only 7 laps of Qualifying.

Round 6 - Silverstone GP circuit.

Martin’s first time on the GP circuit, with qualifying red flagged after numerous track limits transgressions and Martin unable to put in a hot lap, saw him start race 1 in P11 and come home in P10 after a great 5 car scrap over P8-P12. Race 2 again finish in P10 again with a great mid pack battle.

Race 3 a success in a different measure with a third P10 finish marking the first meeting where Martin had finished all the races.

Round 7 - Brands Hatch GP

Again a new track to Martin, and with no testing available on the GP circuit, saw Martin’s first experience of this historic track coming in Qualifying. With nothing to loose or gain in the Championship the weekend’s priority revolved around learning the circuit and minimising any damage. Qualifying in P10 for Race 1, didn’t end the season of bad luck, up into the main pack at the end of the first lap, saw Martin spin off dramatically into the gravel trap after one of the JCW class cars dropped water all over the final corner. Race 2, passed by with little incident for Martin starting last to come home in P13. Race 3 was cancelled after a huge accident in the JCW class on the opening lap caused a red flag and with time running out on the meeting, the race was left un-run.



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