Mallory Park Sunday 25th September 2016

A very rare opportunity to witness a Car Meeting at Mallory Park these days saw The Spectator head to rural Leicestershire. The BRSCC were the organisers for a 10 race meeting that saw a triple header for the Toyo Tires Porsche Championship, 2 races for Monoposto Tiedeman Trophy, Toyota MR2Mk1 Series and a trio of races for assorted Nippon Challenge,Deutsche Marques Cup & Tricolore Trophy runners.
A modest entry of 14 cars contested the 3 Porsche races. The Toyo Tires Championship caters for the Boxster plus provides a home for the positively ancient 924 version of the German marque. Despite the relatively small filed, there was some very good racing in all 3 races, all won by Rick Styrin's Boxster but with plenty of action going on behind. Things got a little too lively in Race 3 with an incident at the Hairpin involving James Coleman & Richard Avery bringing out the Safety Car. Post race results saw Coleman excluded plus a 5 place grid penalty for the next round...very harsh! With Coleman continuing on with a damaged front bumper it wasn't difficult to work out who the guilty party was though!
Steve Vince's Track Attack Racing Club portfolio of championship's have for several years provided some excellent racing in a wide variety of machinery and at a reasonable cost. A separate race for the Nippon Challenge/Deutsche Marques Cup saw the rapid Honda Civic of Richard Hockley take the win. With a cloudburst just before the start, a very wet Tricolore Trophy race for all automobiles of a French persuasion saw a fascinating duel between the Peugeot 205 of Andrew Mitchell just overcome the rapidly closing Renault 5 Turbo of David Clark. All three series came together at the end of the day to provide a combined grid of 27 starters. The final outcome was Japan 1st France 2nd Germany 3rd as Hockley's Honda saw off Mitchell's Peugeot with the Opel Corsa of Graig Tomkinson in third.
The other series in Track Attack's armoury is for the venerable Toyota MR2 Mk1. Good to report 18 cars on the grid for a series that caters for those whose budget is more hand to mouth than motorhome! Aaron Pullen winning both races.
Both Monoposto Tiedeman Trophy races weren't exactly the most entertaining of affairs. With 14 cars on the grid for a Trophy series that runs separately from the main Monoposto championship, there was a wide disparity in machinery to be seen. The Dallara F302 of Neil Harrison easily winning race one. An inspired Shane Kelly in the Formula Renault Van Diemen took race two on a wet but drying circuit.
With just 6 car race meetings at Mallory this season, it's always good to visit as one wonders what the future holds for the circuit as it heads into it's 7th decade of operation. Earthworks on the exit of the Esses are still ongoing, it looks like a giant earth barrier is being built to help keep the decibel levels down in the village of Kirkby Mallory. Good to report a level of tidiness to circuit surrounds that I haven't seen for several years which bodes well.
All in all this was a decent days racing.Just like the old days with the BRSCC in charge with a short sharp meeting which was done and dusted by 5.20pm. A very blustery day eventually gave way to one heavy shower but thankfully it was just the one. Admission was £12 and as I had already printed the entry lists off the BRSCC website I didn't need the free racecard handed out on the gate. Thanks again to John for giving me a lift!

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