VTEC does Brands


Jonathan F

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Brands Hatch: September 6th/7th 2014 (Rounds 11 and 12 of BARC’s VTEC Challenge)



For rounds 11 and 12 of the VTEC Challenge the series headed to Kent and the famous circuit of Brands Hatch.


Entrants:


04 – Luke Biel – Civic – Invitational

07 – Simon Jessop – DC2 Integra – Super Tuner

08 – Andy Poole – S2000 – Production

14 - Daz Smee – DC2 - Production

31 – Phil Wright – Accord Type R – Super Tuner

39 – Rob Burkinshaw – Integra (DC5) – Tuner

42 – Dawn Boyd – EP3 Civic Type R - Production

66 – Paula Webb – EP3 Civic Type R – Production

67 – Marc Kemp - EP3 Civic Type R - Production

85 – Stew Hutchinson – DC2 Integra – Invitational

88 – Chris Boon – EP3 Type R – Tuner

139 – Andy Smith – Accord Type R – Super Tuner


With this being the final round of the calendar on British soil, it was great to see so many of this seasons regular drivers on track, as well as a couple of fresh faces.


It was a pleasure to welcome Luke Biel and Andy Poole to the series in their Civic and S2000 respectively. The series is still pulling in the new drivers and hopefully they will return for the 2015 season along with those still building their track cars.


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It was also a welcome back to Chris Boon and his “Tuner” EP3 as well as Stewart Hutchinson who has been taking a year out in 2014, but couldn’t resist the lure of Brands!


Qualifying:


The VTC entries where only the second lot of cars on track Saturday morning, so progress on track would be tentative to start with as tyres and motor got up to temperature.


After a couple of laps to familiarise themselves with the circuit layout, the drivers got down to the task in hand and work on setting their quick times.


Out of the blocks and it was trouble for Rob Burkinshaw whose DC5 decided to dispose of 4 of its 6 gears, leaving him with just 3rd and 5th! Having to drive around the issue, Rob was unable to deliver 100%, but even handicapped he still managed to take 2nd place on the grid.


Rob wasn’t the only driver to suffer from gremlins in qualifying, however for Andy Smith of “VTEC Direct” the resulting damage from a dropped valve meant the Accord would take no more part in the weekend’s events. Such a sad end to the season.


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Struggling with understeer, Chris Boon’s Civic was into the 55’s but unable to better the Accord of Wright or a fellow EP3 Civic of Kemp in 3rd.


Setting the pace was Stew Hutchinson in his Race DNA prepared DC2 Integra. Running on tyres that where past their prime, the company director from Manchester showed he still had the knack, even after an almost 12 month sabbatical from racing.


With both new novices putting in a decent session, along with the rest of the grid, everyone returned safely to the paddock.


Pole: Stew Hutchinson

2nd: Rob Burkinshaw

3rd: Marc Kemp


Back in the paddock and Rob Burkinshaw tended to the gearbox on his DC5, but was unsure as to whether or not the fix would stand up to the pressures of the race.


Chris Boon set to tweaking the suspension of his Civic in an attempt to improve the understeer.



Race 1:


Shortly after lunch and the drivers where called to the assembly area in preparation for the race. From here, all drivers made their way onto the circuit and took up position on the grid.


With one short green flag lap, getting heat into the tyres would be key to a good start. Following the lap the drivers re-took their positions and waited for the off.


With the 5 second board shown and the red lights on, everyone began the count down.


Lights off and it was go go go…………..!


As Stew struggled for traction off the line, Burkinshaw and Wright seized the opportunity with the DC5 leading the way and the Accord sat tight on Rob’s nearside.


Both Jessop and Smee in their DC2 Integra’s managed to improve on their grid slots by getting ahead of Chris and his Civic at turn 1, however with Boon and Boyd on the inside line Smee had to relinquish his position and slot into 8th.


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With everyone safely around the fearsome “Paddock Hill Bend” it was a short uphill sprint to “Druids”.


With Burkinshaw out in front, Wright and Hutchinson battled for 2nd place honours. However luck would not be on the side of the Accords this weekend as on lap 5 when the pair exited “Graham Hill Bend” to begin the run along the lower “Cooper Straight” the Accord lost power and there was no other option but to retire.


Now in 2nd place, Hutchinson began to chase down lead man Burkinshaw and although setting the fastest lap of the race was unable to overhaul the driver from Sheffield.


Jessop and his Integra was creating trouble for Kemp and his EP3 Civic. With greater power on the straights, Kemp needed to be aggressive on the corners.


Working hard to stay ahead Kemp was able to use the benefits of the lighter Civic to his advantage and despite a last minute lunge into “Druids” by Jessop was able to hold onto the final podium position.

Boon was comfortably able to hold 5th place ahead of Boyd, who in turn had been able to put some distance between herself and Smee.


Luke Biel was having a great 1st race, putting his Civic through its paces and mixing it up in the top half of the grid.


Paula Webb and her Civic was having a wail of a time as all her hard work began to pay off and lap times fell as she fought her way through the pack,


Climbing his way through the grid, Andy Poole and his S2000 picked off the slower Pre 2005 cars as he found his rhythm and caught up with Paula for the closing laps.



1st Rob Burkinshaw

2nd Stew Hutchinson

3rd Marc Kemp


Class wins were awarded to:


(P) – Marc Kemp

(T) – Rob Burkinshaw

(ST) – Simon Jessop

(INV) – Stew Hutchinson


Fastest lap: Stew Hutchinson 54.540 lap 8 of 17



Race 2:


From the start of the green flag lap it was trouble for front running “Production” class driver Marc Kemp, as the Civic went into limp mode with an unknown ecu issue. Pulling into the pits in order to try and rectify the fault, the car then refused to restart thus ending the race for Marc there and then.


The remaining car’s regrouped on the grid and prepared to get underway.


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On pole, Burkinshaw got clean away to keep the lead as those behind battled for 2nd place. Hutchinson retained his position, despite a strong challenge from Boon who had come through from 5th place to pass Jessop into turn one. Up onto the inside of the Integra, Boon decided discretion was the better option and backed out to follow the lead pair up to “Druids”.


Smee got ahead of Boyd through PHB, but Dawn was soon to retake the position she held on the grid and continued to hold station for the remainder of the race.


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On a charge after a successful race 1, Biel, Webb and Poole where all increasing their pace and lapping well whilst dealing with traffic.


Webb and Poole would have a race long battle, both posting their fastest lap times towards the end of the session, with Paula taking 3rd in the “Production” class as a reward for her efforts.


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The top 5 runners fought through traffic as the race unfolded, leading to some frantic blue flag waving from the marshalls!


Burkinshaw remained untroubled at the front of the pack to take the chequered flag for the second time.


Suffering from fuelling issues, Jessop found himself unable to challenge Boon for 3rd place and had to settle for 4th place, but still taking the “Super Tuner” class win.


1st Rob Burkinshaw

2nd Stew Hutchinson

3rd Chris Boon


Class wins were awarded to:


(P) – Dawn Boyd

(T) – Rob Burkinshaw

(ST) – Simon Jessop

(INV) – Stew Hutchinson


Fastest lap: Rob Burkinshaw 54.730 lap 13 of 17



Summary:


Thankfully we were blessed with two dry races and fantastic racing. The short circuit led to some close racing and leaving the spectators with plenty to look at.


Thanks to the series sponsors: Toyo Tires, Ultra Racing, Performance Autoworks, Finsport, Honda Tuner, R-Motion and MOTORV8 MEDIA for their continuing support.


The Honda VTEC Challenge now heads to its final event of the season at Spa on the 4th and 5th of October.


For those unable to attend, I must thank each and every one of the drivers, teams, sponsors and general friends of the series for their support over the year.



Words: Jonathan Fletcher

Pictures: Lindsey Fletcher & Jonathan Fletcher
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