Brands Hatch 23-24 March 2008

Round 1 of the 2008 Elise Trophy held at Brands Hatch 23rd-24th March 2008.

For the opening round in our second season we were looking forward to returning to Brands Hatch to race at MSVR’s Lotus Celebration and supporting the Easter Monday Truck Superprix. With over 60 entries we were going to start 2008 with our biggest entry list yet, allowing us to run 2 separate grids, one for the class A (production) cars and one for the class B (modified) and C (super modified) cars. One of the main talking points at last year's Lotus Celebration at Brands was the temperature, this year it looked like we were going to get the same again, but with the added bonus of snow! Come Sunday morning, the forecasters were proved unpredictably accurate, as temperatures plummeted and the snow started to fall. It wasn't just the 17 new drivers who looked understandably nervous.

Sunday 23rd - Qualifying

Qualifying in the snow was a new experience for most of us, making conditions very slippery indeed and times were typically 8-9 seconds off those in the dry. In the class A qualifying session BJ Chong took pole with a time of 1:03.780, closely followed by Paul Quinn and newcomer Marcus Jewell. In the class B/C session ex Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly took overall pole in his class B 2-Eleven with a 1:00.239. Steve Williams and Gavin Kirby took the next 2 class B slots with 4th and 6th on the grid respectively. Andrew Walsh and Chris Randall looked set to continue their class C battle from last year, with 2nd and 3rd on the grid. New driver Guy Wolpe put his class B car an excellent 7th on the grid.

Race 1 Class A

Race summary – 31 starters, 27 finished.

Race 1 Class B/C

By the time the class B/C cars lined up on Sunday the skies had cleared and the sun even made a brief appearance. More importantly the track was now dry and Class C cars were soon able to stretch their legs as Walsh took an early lead. This was not to last as his front splitter collapsed and he retired on lap 3. Randall took the lead and pulled out a useful gap to second placed Donnelly. However, the focus of attention was on the battle for third as Class B debutant Gavin Kirby, in another 2-Eleven, was being hounded by last year's Class B standard-bearer Williams. Halfway through the race Williams made a daring manoeuvre into Druids, however Kirby stuck it out and when Williams ran wide at Graham Hill, the pressure was off. Only for a couple of laps though, as Williams came back with a similar move but this time on the outside. Again the two sat side by side through the corner, however this time Williams spun on the exit of the hairpin and was collected by the barrier, ending his race.

Randall took overall and class C victory, followed home in class C by Andrew Kell and Nick Kaye in 6th and 8th overall. Donnelly took class B honours, with Kirby 2nd (3rd overall) and Chris Pearson 3rd (4th overall). Four class B cars in the top 5 (with Anthony Clark in 5th) was an excellent result for the lower powered cars.

Race summary – 30 starters, 24 finished.

Monday 24th Race 2 Class A

Race summary – 30 starters, 26 finished.

Race 2 Class B/C

In the second class B/C race Donnelly got off the line quicker than Walsh. Kirby ran wide at Graham Hill, followed by Nick Kaye, who went even wider losing control as he came back onto the circuit hitting Williams, both then hitting the barrier and out of the race. Whilst Walsh soon passed Donnelly's class B for the lead, Randall wasn't far behind and on lap 9 he got past and into the lead. They both pulled clear of Donnelly in 3rd. Behind the top 3 a good battle developed between Kirby, Kell, Pearson and Sean Bicknell. Kell got to within 0.2s of Kirby and looked keen to get past, but he was soon getting some close attention from Bicknell, who overcooked it into paddock on lap 8 and put his class C car into the gravel. Kirby's respite continued as Kell then came under pressure from Pearson. Randall held on to take class C and overall victory, with Walsh and Kell 2nd and 3rd in class C. Donnelly once again won class B, with Kirby and Pearson 2nd and 3rd.

Race summary – 26 starters, 22 finished.

Conclusion

Despite the arctic conditions, the season opener was a great success, with over 60 drivers taking part. Congratulations to Paul Quinn, Martin Donnelly and Chris Randall, who took 2 class victories apiece. With all drivers braving conditions that ranged from blizzards to low sunshine, there were great drives throughout the field in all four races.

Look out for television coverage of Elise Trophy races on Motors TV. For further details of our television coverage and to see a short promo, please check out the Race Television web site.

For round 2 we're off to Donington Park on 12th-13th April, let's hope for some decent Spring weather!

Race Results in Full

Download the official TSL results & times

Official photos courtesy of TSU Photographic

Simon Deacon's S1 Elise during qualifying	BJ Chong, class A pole sitter	Joanna Hoddinott	Martin Donnelly's 2-Eleven
Gavin Kirby	Andrew Walsh, Chris Randall & Donnelly do their bit for TV	Jon Townsend, followed by Tess Howell	Stu Malt along Cooper straight
Paul Quinn, class A winner	Sean Bicknell, followed by Chris Pearson	Randall, class C winner	Donnelly and Kirby battle it out in their 2-Elevens
Guy Trust's class D Elise	Mark Gooday's 340R	Randall	Randall
Chong	Ian Berry & Marcus Jewell	Race 2 class A podium: Chong, Paul Harding & Quinn	Chris Headlam
Martin Johnston & David Alexander	David Alexander	Kirby	Nick Kaye surveys yet more damage to his S1 Elise
David Harvey	Trust	Safety car	Class A grid
Class A mid field battle	Martin Roberts dives up the inside of Marcus Jewell into Paddock	Formation racing?	Class B/C grid
Class B/C race	Kirby	Race 1 class B/C podium: Donnelly, Randall & Kirby	Some last minute preparation
GP paddock - a winter wonderland	Quinn	Harding	Marcus Jewell & Tess Howell
Which one of these is the odd one out?	Guy Thatcher must have some grip on one of his tyres	Steve Wentzell crashes out from 2nd	Quinn & Chong
Donnelly leads off the line in the 2nd class B/C race	Guy Wolpe explores the gravel	Race 2 class B/C

• Lotus Celebration - runners & riders