Saturday afternoon saw 30 Minis battle it out over 45 minutes with the added jeopardy of a driver change thrown into the mix. This wasn’t a club race though.
Star drivers included Romain Dumas, André Lotterer, Karun Chandhok and father, son combo; Martin and Alex Brundle. As the drivers lined up for the start of the John Whitmore Trophy, it was British Touring Car star Andrew Jordan who put his Swiftune Mini on pole, sharing the car with Mini legend Nick Swift.
Nick Swift always steals the show in the Members’ Meeting Gerry Marshall Trophy, battling with the American giants, and for the all-star Mini race Nick had built most of the engines on the grid.
In the first half of the race, Nick set the pace in their car that featured a livery designed by competition winner, Stanley, aged 8! Nick didn’t have it easy up front, with pressure from Andy Huggins leading to an amazing slip stream move down the Lavant straight.
As the pit window opened British Touring Car legend Matt Neal assumed the lead before being reeled in by Jordan who would gradually pull out a small lead to head home a pole-to-pole victory.
Further down the field the action continued with amazing saves and slides in the Minis, rule of thumb is to always keep your foot planted on the throttle and for Le Mans legend Roman Dumas it paid off as he passed Neal to take second place in the closing stages of the race. Would we like the Minis back for 2022? Oh yes! But, can we have go?
Photos: Huck Mountain for Classic Driver © 2021