04/10/2024
Corvalan nails a perfect score at Small Car Cup round 5.
With the Thompson Nissan missinā for round 5 it gave everyone a chance to catch up on lost points.
Qualifying was a mixed bag due to the drying conditions on track.
Carlos took pole with a time of 67.14 with the Ford of Brad Bassett alongside 67.45 and Marc Keys in the 2nd of the Miniās was third 67.59. Roger Ranftl was left searching for some speed out of the Honda and could only nail a 68 flat for 4th place.
The 3rd row was the Mazda of Paul Ormerod 68.71 & Reece Gardener debuting his part Cammo N15 Pulsar 68.77 just marginally quicker than Mick Jones 68.86. You could throw a blanket over the Mirages if you could see them with Mark Wilson subbing for the injured Ken Albery quickest of the Mirages 69 flat closely followed by Harry Lockyer and Paul Lockyer 69.10 and 69.44 respectfully.
The Final row was Mansell in the ā85 model Corolla who matched Paul Lockyer with a 69.44 and last place with some work to do was Pat Honer in the 323 ProtĆ©gĆ© 69.73.
RACE 1 saw Mansell race off to the workshop to get some brakes that worked and Gardener took to the grass and with the camouflage paint scheme this Nissan was also missinā.
A bit of chaos followed while the officials decided what colour flag to put out but once underway again the battle heated up. 3 wide across the strike and Jones, Paul Lockyer and Keys decided to have a group cuddle and they all went spinning up into turn 1. Lockyer was the quickest to react and was first away. Keys limped the damage Mini to safe spot and went for an early shower.
Corvalan taking race 1 ahead of Bassett, Ranftl, Ormerod, Honer who found some speed ahead of the Mirage brigade of Paul Lockyer with Harry and Wilson side by side across the line clear of Jones and Gardener.
RACE 2 and Corvalan was hauling the mail up front with Ranftl hot on his heals back in the pack, Ormerod had a moment and dropped to the back while the other Paul also had a moment and suddenly found himself at the back of a 6 car conga line.
The final order being Carlos from Ranftl and Bassett with a gap back to Honer leading a line of cars Harry, Jones, Wilson, Gardener on his way back through the field followed by the 2 Pauls.
RACE 3 just to mix it up more this race was reverse grid of qualifying. Suddenly Honer wasnāt upset by his poor qualifying as he lead from pole with Mansell now back with some brakes (Thanks to Ken Alberyās quick work). Carlos was off 12th place with a lot to do.
Honer got the jump and Mansell trying to bed brakes in at speed was falling back had Harry not far behind. About lap 4 Paul Lockyer decided the Mirage had 2 many gears and a broken selector shaft limited him to a choice of 1 gear dropping down the field. Ranftl popped a deflating tyre off the rim and Carlos was passing cars like he was knocking down dominoās
At the flag it was Honer 2 seconds clear of Mansell with a hard charging Corvalan 14 seconds adrift, a short gap to Harry and Wilson and a further gap to Ormerod, Bassett and Gardener followed by Jones and a distant gearless Paul Lockyer, Ranftl taking a DNF.
RACE 4 was back to the original qualifying order. One lap down and itās Corvalan from Bassett Gardener who had a blinder of a start now 3rd with Ranftl behind. A decent start from Honer saw him move up the field and the back half of the grid was running 2 and 3 wide all the way around the track with no one giving an inch and there was no contact between cars.
Ranftl and Ormerod soon put slipped past Gardeners 3rd place but the Nui Dat team driver was showing that he is definitely one to be watched in the future. Wilson was chasing hard with a gap back to Honer who couldnāt blink as he had a freight train of cars right behind and ready to pounce.
At the flag it was Carlos again ahead of Bassett, Ormerod and Ranftl on borrowed tyres. Gardener with Wilson in tow and gap to Honer who was holding up the Conga line of Jones, Harry L, Mansell and Paul L all covered by 1.5 seconds
RACE 5 was the Carlos show again but the drama behind was yet to unfold. A good clean start from everyone with Ormerod getting the jump on Ranftl and Bassett was next on his list and Ormerod was up to 2nd. As if it hadnāt been a tough enough day, Ranftl must have walked under a ladder with a black cat as his clutch started slipping and Gardener soon put the Nissan up to 4th. Wilson passed the slowing Ranftl 2 laps later for 5th and Ranftlās day was getting worse. Back in the pack, Honer was on a charge was Mansell in the Corolla. Honer now up to 5th by mid race but being pressured by Jones while Mansell from the back of the field up to 8th and past Ranftl.
Corvalan took another win to keep his great day going ahead of Ormerod, Bassett and Gardener. A gap to Honer, Jones, Wilson and Mansell all covered by 1.8 seconds with Harry, Paul still in one gear ahead of Ranftl who was banking championship points.
RACE 6 reverse grid again and Honer got the jump to lead by 3 seconds the end of lap 1 but Mansell was just warming up. Corvalan was again doing a burn from the stern while Ranftl kept the car circulating. By lap 3 Honerās mirrors were full of red Corolla as Mansell was pressing him all the way. The Mirages were locked in a battle and Paul L, still with a broken selector was locked in 2nd and holding down 3rd ahead of Harry and Mark Wilson. Corvalan was now picking them off one by one. Lap 9 Honer ran wide out of turn 3 and Mansell put the Corolla alongside into 4 and took his line for turn 5 and Honer was now 2nd.
At the line it was Mansell, Honer and gap to Corvalan, Wilson who had been up and down followed by Ormerod, Paul still in 2nd gear, Jones, Harry, Gardener, Bassett and Ranftl.
This was another super fun round with lots of close racing. Although we did have one accident in race 1, this was only the 3rd accident in our 6 years of Small Car Cup. Congratulations to all who raced for a fantastic day.
See you all at round 6. Date will be published soon.
