Brands Hatch August 24th

The next round of the DMN Championship visits Brands Hatch once again, racing on the Indy circuit.

Weather conditions posed the biggest problems of the day as in the final minutes before qualifying started the decision of what tyres to run the cars on had to be made. Nick decided to run with slick tyres and Cris on intermediate wets. The cars then led out onto the circuit and straight away it seemed that wet tyres was the best decision as Cris was powering ahead and taking the corners nicely, with only 1 car in front of him, Darren Bly in his monstrous Nissan Skyline. Nicks hopes of putting in some quick lap times looked bleak as he was struggling to keep on the track but by roughly lap 7 the track was starting to dry at an incredible rate and the scales were starting to tip in Nicks favour. Qualifying concluded with Nicks’ brilliant 1st in class and 4th on track, Cris on the other hand, a disappointing 17th on track.

Race 1 got underway as the better weather made an appearance, Nicks brilliant starting position stood him in good stead and with a continuous battle with Andy Thompson, a fellow Cupra Cup car driver and Peugeot driver Gareth Porter, the crowds were kept entertained as after a little bumping and rubbing the final lap saw him just pipped to the post by both, but still managing to come home 1st in class.

Cris’ days work was going to be tough and as the start lights went out it was pedal to the metal and he quickly picked off the opposition one by one. By the half way point he had caught a gaggle of Cosworths, Trevor Collars’ extremely modified Saphire was first to be passed, and he soon was, but unfortunately after a couple of laps Collar launched an attack on the back of Cris’ car sending him into a spin at surtees, he kept it on the track but Collar managed to pass. Cris settled with a 3rd in class finish.

Race 2 was approaching fast and as Mark, Dave and Karl inspected the cars, the Grey Seat was found to have a problem with the nearside driveshaft. The driveshaft was changed and the cars were back out on track quicker than a F1 pitstop. Nick started 5th on track and Cris 8th but with an accident at Druids on the first lap which sent 3 cars off, the safety car was diploid, after about 5 laps the race was on again. It saw Guy Bulmer (Sierra Cosworth), Nick and Cris neck and neck on lap 1 and as they approached Druids Nick shot up the inside and passed Bulmer, unfortunately Bulmer wasn’t going to make that mistake again and Cris tustled with him but never managed to pass, unfortunately it wasn’t only Bulmer he had to contend with as Peugeot driver Richard Brent was trying everything to get passed Cris for the rest of the race. The final result was Nick finishing 1st in class and a magnificent 3rd on track and Cris 3rd in class and 6th on track.

Another great day for Team Westlake with superb team work from the guys for keeping both cars in perfect fighting condition. Cris takes title for fasted lap for the class, two 3rd in class trophies and the V.A.G award for making up the most places and with Nick taking two 1st in class trophies the Brands meeting proved to be victorious for the Westlake Team. The Westlake Seats also proved victorious over the other Seat Cupra’s on the circuit and for the second month running Nick and Cris respectively are at the top of the Class ‘B’ Championship. Also the Backdraught Revo V.A.G Championship Nick and Cris are 1st and 2nd, a great position to be in 2/3rds of the way through the season.