A contingent of Kiwis drivers, car owners and technicians enjoyed competing in the historic Super Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch in the UK last weekend.
The ex-Jim Richards 1998 Australian Super Touring Championship Volvo S40 raced to an impressive pole position spot in the hands of experienced historic racer Michael Lyons for the first race of the weekend.
Lyons impressed in the recently rebuilt Volvo, going on to win two out of two races. Its new owner, Kiwi Lindsay O’Donnell driving his ex-Tony Longhurst BMW 318 from the 1993 Australian Super Touring Championship was over the moon with the result even though he wasn’t driving the car!
Qualifying
Other qualifying results saw HSCC Super Touring Car regular Patrick Watts secure second place overall while another newcomer to the series but no stranger to touring cars, Mark Lemmer in a 1996 Honda Accord was third. A mere 2 tenths behind Patrick’s 1997 Peugeot 406.
Neil Smith in his Alfa 156 ST finished fourth quickest ahead of other regulars. Simon Garrad fifth in class returning in his impressive ex ADAC SuperTourenWagen Cup Opel Vectra of Roland Asch and Jason Minshaw’s ex-Rickard Rydell 1998 British Touring Car Championship Volvo S40 sixth fastest.
Last year’s top driver in the series, Stewart Whyte started at the back of the grid, 15 seconds off the pole position time. Only able to complete one lap after a brake problem side-lined the session for him.
Fifth fastest was an impressive Mark Smith in his ex-Steve Soper DTM BMW E30. Mark led a gaggle of M3’s. Nick Whale in his ex- British Touring Car Championship car. Kiwi Roger Townsend in the ex- Jonny Cecotto and Gianfranco Brancatelli car from the 1987 WTCC. Followed by the ex-ETCC and Ex-Japanese Touring Cars of David Ball and Tom Houlbrook.
Darren Fielding was pleased to get the fastest time for the ST2 class in his ex-Stefano Modena Campionato Italiano Superturismo BMW 318i. Second and third fastest were Ric Wood in his Mazda 323 and Keith Butcher running his 1995 Audi A4 in the markings of German Hans Stuck. In his first ever visit to Brands Hatch was Kiwi Lindsay O’Donnell finishing fourth fastest in class in his BMW 318.
The ST3 class was an all Kiwi affair as 10th overall was Scott O’Donnell in his ex-Paul Radisich World Cup winning Mondeo from 1994 and veteran Warren Good in his immaculately presented ex-Tim Harvey 1992 British Touring Car Championship BMW 318 Coupe.
A single Ford Cosworth RS500 made the grid this time out. The ex-Chris Hodgetts Brooklyn sponsored machine of Craig Davies who achieved ninth quickest overall.
Race 1 results
1 Michael Lyons Volvo S40
2 Patrick Watts Peugeot 406
3 Stewart Whyte Honda Accord
4 Neil Smith Alfa Romeo 156
5 Simon Garrad Opel Vectra
6 Mark Smith BMW E30 M3
7 Nick Whale BMW M3
8 Jason Minshaw Volvo S40
9 Keith Butcher Audi A4
10 Darren Fielding BMW E 36 318
11 Scott O’Donnell Ford Mondeo
12 Rick Wood Mazda 323
13 Roger Townsend BMW M3
14 Tom Houlbrook BMW E30 M3
15 Lindsay O’Donnell BMW 318
16 Warren Good BMW 318
NC Mark Lemmer Honda Accord
NC David Ball BMW M3 E30
Race 2
1 Michael Lyons Volvo S40
2 Stewart Whyte Honda Accord
3 Neil Smith Alfa Romeo 156
4 Patrick Watts Peugeot 406
5 Mark Lemmer Honda Accord
6 Mark Smith BMW E30 M3
7 Jason Minshaw Volvo S40
8 Mark Wright Ford Escort Mk2
9 Keith Butcher Audi A4
10 Darren Fielding BMW E 36 318
11 Roger Townsend BMW M3
12 Tom Houlbrook BMW E30 M3
13 Rick Wood Mazda 323
14 David Ball BMW M3 E30
15 Lindsay O’Donnell BMW 318
16 Warren Good BMW 318
NC Scott O’Donnell Ford Mondeo
NC Simon Garrad Opel Vectra
Entry List
1, Stewart Whyte, 2000 Honda Accord
6, Paul Smith, 1997 BMW 320i
8, Darren Fielding, 1993 BMW 318i
9, Jason Minshaw, 1998 Volvo S40
12, Patrick Watts, 1998 Peugeot 406
15, Craig Davies, 1988 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
17, Mark Smith, 1989 BMW M3
25, Lindsay O’Donnell, 1993 BMW 318i
31, Scott O’Donnell, 1994 Ford Mondeo
36, Keith Butcher, 1995 Audi quattro
37, Simon Garrad, 1998 Opel Vectra
40, Michael Lyons, 1997 Volvo S40
72, Roger Townsend, 1987 BMW M3
60, Mark Wright, 1988 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
61, Tom Houlbrook, 1990 BMW M3
64, Paul Whight, !996 Honda Accord
67, Tony Absolom, 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier
66, Nick Whale, 1991 BMW M3
88, Warren Good, 1992 BMW 318is
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