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MINI Challenge UK at Snetterton

The UK-based 2006 MINI Challenge kicked off at Snetterton Circuit in the Norfolk Countryside on the 1st of April. Amongst the grid of 32 cars, no such fools included Freddy NordstrÒ¶m (#44) and Carl Bradley (#4) in the S-Class, who took pole positions for Rounds 1 and 2 respectively.

The following day saw the 15 minute race take place on a damp but drying track with ominous grey clouds overhead. A first lap incident at ‘Riches corner’ saw pole man NordstrҶm take to the bumpy and grass covered run-off area causing considerable damage to his front bumper grill and radiator and dropping him from first to tenth place by the end of lap one.

Defending S-Class champion Arthur Forster (#1) took the lead but was passed first by Bradley on lap six who then took control of the race and led until the chequered flag to take the win on his championship debut in the Coastal Racing prepared car. Simon Baker (#7) and Forster both of who drive Forster Motorsport prepared cars took the other S-Class podium positions.

In the 130bhp Club-Class, favourite Rob Austin (#24) was spun around before even reaching the start finish line on the first lap with damage causing him to retire. Eric Bailey (#36) won the class by a comfortable margin with a very close three-car fight for second behind him headed up by Gary Kounnis (#47) making for a good day in the Forster Motorsport camp.

Round 2 saw a ‘lights to flag’ win by Bradley to make it two wins out of two races. NordstrҶm’s repaired Works MINI Cooper S made it to second place with student David Shepherd (#22) who graduated from last seasons Club-Class also reached the S-Class podium.

Gareth Nixon (#3) in his striking “chequered flag” livery MINI Cooper won the Club-Class in comfortable style, 9 seconds ahead of Bailey and Tim Crighton (#99), who had suffered considerable front right damage in Round 1 soldiered his Advent Motorsport car to third.

Oxford Associate Race Team driver Gavin Bristow (#51) finished as the top Novice driver, eighth in both races, in his first ever circuit races. He’d previously only competed in British National Rallying and was thrilled at the result and beating proven circuit racing drivers.

The next rounds of the MINI Challenge will take place at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on the 29th and 30th April, as part of the second weekend of Dunlop’s Great & British Motorsport Festival.

(Photos courtesy of ‘Steve Hyde Photography’ the official championship photographer)

Written By: Glen




20 Comments

Aaron Apr 4th, 2006 Link

I’d love to see the driver’s view of the side-view mirror in that first photo… Nothing but MINI grill!

ReplyReply
xBoXlOvEr Apr 4th, 2006 Link

Thanks for the news… Do you have the high qualitu photos?? Thank you!!

ReplyReply
LukeK Apr 4th, 2006 Link

Wow, that blue mini is hottttttttt.

ReplyReply
Glen Apr 4th, 2006 Link

The official pictures can be found on Steve Hyde’s website:

MINI Challenge, Round 1

I actually pictured the MCS in the wet so if you want that then just reply here.

Glen

ReplyReply
LTZMTOR Apr 4th, 2006 Link

NICE…Thanks

ReplyReply
tony T Apr 4th, 2006 Link

How annoying must it have been for that guy that got spun out before the actual start line….??!?!? he must have been real pissed orf. :-)

ReplyReply
Siddhartha Apr 4th, 2006 Link

dayam! I wanna go to UK and compete!

ReplyReply
DB Apr 4th, 2006 Link

Now to bring the club class here….that would be sweet! Totally to bad about the spin on the first lap…I’d be pretty upset

ReplyReply
O(=^=)O Capn Apr 5th, 2006 Link

Sid, you can do it here and if you win, they will take you to the UK! You could do it!

ReplyReply
Ted S. Apr 5th, 2006 Link

Dose anyone know if these races are going to be aired on television in the U.S.?

ReplyReply
gokartride Apr 5th, 2006 Link

Thanks for the coverage. As one who has followed the series from the beginning, it’s great to see race reports and pics here!!

ReplyReply
xBoXlOvEr Apr 5th, 2006 Link

Thank you very much Glen for the link ;)

Regards from Spain!

ReplyReply
Thameth Apr 6th, 2006 Link

Does anybody know if these races are televised in Europe at all? If they are i can find someone to record them for us.

ReplyReply
xBoXlOvEr Apr 6th, 2006 Link

Yes… I was wondering something like that… Could anyone tv-rip those races and upload somewhere like megaupload or something like that!!

ReplyReply
Brian@webbmotorsports Apr 6th, 2006 Link

Hopefully one of us from Webb will be fighting with them in October. It would be fun to have that many cars to play with.

-Brian

ReplyReply
Steve Apr 7th, 2006 Link

Thameth – Not sure to what extent Sky Sports is available through Europe but the Mini Challenge will be shown on at the following (UK) times:

12 Apr 06 21:00 Sky Sports Xtra 13 Apr 06 01:00 Sky Sports 3 13 Apr 06 09:00 Sky Sports 3 13 Apr 06 15:00 Sky Sports 3 13 Apr 06 17:00 Sky Sports Xtra 15 Apr 06 02:30 Sky Sports Xtra

-Steve Hyde

ReplyReply
Tony Apr 7th, 2006 Link

Have a look at Mini Challenge the times for the TV Coverage are on there.

We’ve got a car for hire in the championship if anybody want’s a go Minis-on-Track

Tony

ReplyReply
Thameth Apr 7th, 2006 Link

Steve HUGE thanx! Hopefully i’ll be able to get something and i’ll post info here once i get it!

ReplyReply
Tony Apr 7th, 2006 Link

there are a load more pictures posted on the MINI Challenge website now if you are interested.

See the Photo Gallery for 2006 on MINI Challenge

Tony

ReplyReply
Thameth Apr 14th, 2006 Link

If anybody is still checking and interested i got video highlights of Round 1. Its 100mb and 9 min long. Best way to contact me is through e-mail.

Teamfocaljet@gmail.com

ReplyReply
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