2011 Race dates
19/20 March – Snetterton 300
2/3 April – Donington Park
30 April/1 May – Brands Hatch Indy
21/22 May – Cadwell Park
4/5 June – Brands Hatch GP
2 July – Oulton Park International
23/24 July – Castle Combe
1 October – Spa
29 October – Donington Park
2010 TOYO TIRE RACING SALOONS
For the 2010 season Mark has decided to go for a change and register and race with Toyo Tire Racing Saloons. After a long association with racing purely against BMW's this season offers mark a chance to try his hand against other makes and models at all the top circuits throughout the UK. The racing car needs very little change to be competitive in class and for a refreshing change needs weight putting in it! Should you be interested in attending any of the races please contact us for times and ticket availability closer to the race.
Silverstone - 16/17 October
Mark took pole in qualifying at the end of season spectacular at Silverstone this weekend, but had to settle for a third overall place as the conditions took their toll. Wet and slippery conditions gave all the drivers a tough time but Mark took the E30 M3 to qualify on pole. Mark had the beating of several Sierra Cosworths and newer BMW’s in the first 15 minute race but a spin at Becketts and contact with the race leader on the final lap produced a yellow flag. From the restart, Mark was not able to regain his second place in the final sprint to the finish line and ended with a very respectable 4thplace.
The slippery conditions suited Mark and the BMW, with many of the more powerful motors battling to stay on the track, resulting in some amazing spins throughout the races.
During Race Two the M3 was pushed to its limit and Mark fought his way back up to gain a podium finish in third, meaning he took another trophy back to Sutton for this valiant efforts.
Oulton Park - 11 September
With some heavy downpours starting the day it was unpredictable just what the track would be like in qualifying. Mark qualified 7th overall but was hoping for a better race result when the M3 had some new brakes fitted.
Race One saw some interesting moves especially with the introduction of the Lotus Elise cars which altered the layout of the grid completely and Mark found himself starting in 9th. By the end of the race he'd climbed up to 7th but the outright straight line speed of the Cosworth made Colin Tester a convincing winner.
In Race Two Mark had a great start but was delayed by the sideways antics of Leigh Franklin in his Sunbeam and rather than plough through the Lotus, Mark backed off and allowed Leigh to regain control of his car; this cost Mark valuable seconds which he was never quite able to regain. However after an epic chase he finished 6th from a fist lap position of 11th.
Cadwell Park - 21 August
After an interesting track day the Wednesday before the race, the day was looking bright and clear. Mark went on to qualify 6th but after a protested start and a spin in Race One his finish at 10th after a 10 second penalty put him back to 16th on the grid for the start of Race Two. The race began in wet conditions and after an extremely slow green flag lap Mark battled his way up to 10th at the end of the race. Hopefully better results will be seen at Oulton - one of Mark's favourite tracks.
Brands Hatch GP Circuit - 22 May
After missing Thruxton due the E30 not being ready and a stunning weekend forecast we were looking forward to seeing the new engine in action. Mark had never been round the GP circuit before so qualifying was interesting but Mark placed 6th out of 43 cars so a good effort all round.
The first race was truly action packed and had some hair raising moments. Andrew Busby stalling his E30 at the start line was just heart stopping but testament to racing standards no-one got hit or hurt and all got off to a clean start. After Tim Sweet had a spin round the hairpin right in front of Mark, racing got underway again. A red flag was issued after more cars went into the gravel at the hairpin. Mark ended the race still in 6th but with his first class win.
Race Two started and after a great get away Mark went into the first hairpin in 2nd. He was soon hunted down by the super powerful Cosworths and after a stunning drive from Leigh Franklin which took him from 15th to 3rd in 7 laps was looking at a second 6th place finish and a 2nd in class. The red flags came out again after a Golf hit the gravel bounced into the tyre wall and did a spectacular roll back onto the track. Thankfully not injured, the driver got out of the car and the race was over.
Thanks to the club for another stunning weekend of racing, close, hard and ferocious at times it is testament to all that no-one was hurt, there was no damage between racers and most cars and drivers went home in one piece.
Silverstone GP Circuit - 17/18 April
What a fabulous weekend. Mark started qualifying well ahead of the other 46 cars so was able to get some good laps in and qualified 7th, losing his 5th place on the grid on the last lap of qualifying to some stunning last minute flying laps. The first race proved to be a real eye opener with so many cars on the grid and only 7 laps in the 15 minute race due to the length of the circuit; however Mark managed to finished 6th overall and 3rd in class.
The second race was a real nail biter with Mark and Leigh Franklin battling for a class win and 4th place overall on the last lap Mark managed to take the lead through Maggots with some defensive moves. However a wrong gear selection and the out and out agility of Leighs' Sunbeam took the class win back. Some nice close racing and again the cars came home in one piece.
Work begins this week on the engine swap so we'll see what difference it makes when we get to Thruxton in May.
Brands Hatch Indy Circuit - 27 March
The first race of the season got us off to the best of possible starts with Mark qualifying fourth on the grid with a good line to take the overall lead. Unfortunately this did not quite work but Mark did end the race with his fourth place. Much was made by the commentators that car 133 (ours) was the most distinctive on the grid. The second race began in greasy and slippery conditions and Mark was fighting to keep his fourth place but unfortunately the straight speed of two other cars and some traffic in the back markers left Mark finishing 8th overall. A good opening weekend and some stunning results. Hopefully by Silverstone the car will have a bigger engine and will hold off competitors in flat out speed on the straight as well as being quick through the corners
