Round 1 on the  April 1-2 at Snetterton

A typically windy weekend at Snetterton, but the Norfolk track managed to stay dry for qualifying for the opening race of the season.  Twenty eight cars took to the track with Andrew Deviny, Max Hunter and Paul Thompson each setting the fastest times through out the session. Deviny finally claimed pole position with a 1m30.208s, followed by Max Hunter in the number two spot with a 1m30.312s and Paul Thompson with a 1m30.417s.  The top three rows were completed by Kane Astin, Niven Burge and Paul Clarke, with Graeme Davis and Geoff Letts filling row four and Andy Burge and Peter Bonas completing the top ten.Race

Twenty Seven cars make the first grid after Andrew Ruthven failed to make the start.  At the green light it is all action as the 27 Mini Se7ens tear towards Riches with everybody getting a good start.  Andrew Deviny, Max Hunter, Paul Thompson, Kane Astin and Niven Burge all fight to get through with Max Hunter get the jump on the pole sitter to take the lead at the end of lap 1.

It wasn’t a good start to the year for the reigning novice champion Lee Jones as he pulled his car off the track on the first lap with a wheel problem.  

The lead changes from lap to lap as Hunter and Deviny battle for the lead, with Paul Thompson adding to the mix.  Burge and Astin are having their own battle just behind the leading pair.

Further back down the field Geoff Letts in biding his time and on lap 4 seems to find some extra pace that propels him to the front at the Esses and takes the lead, however in typical Mini Se7en fashion it’s all change again by the time the pack comes through on lap 5 with Andrew Deviny in the lead with Max Hunter and Geoff Letts on his bumper, followed closely by Paul Thompson,Kane Astin and Niven Burge. 

On lap 6 the spectators at the Esses know they are watching a ‘classic’ and are fully focused on all the intense action as they come round again, this time with Paul Thompson in the lead as they fight into lap 8.

Max Hunter is closely following the leader and retakes the lead, but Deviny gets a tow down Revett Straight and takes the lead again going into the Esses, with Paul Thompson and Geoff Letts exchanging paint on their way through.

Niven Burge is now in fifth fighting hard with Kane Astin . New driver Anthony Towey is battling away with Paul Spark with Anthony Towey getting it all sideways into the Esses and losing momentum. 

New ‘S’ Class driver Tristen Knight puts in a good performance battling with Ricky Horne and finally getting past him on the last lap.

Max Hunter battles on to take the lead and win on the final lap from Andrew Deviny followed by Paul Thompson, Geoff Letts, Niven Burge and Kane Astin with just 4.709 seconds between the top six finishers.

Behind them battling away Paul Clarke, Damon Astin, Graeme Davis and Peter Bonas complete the order for the top ten.  Niven Burge set the fastest lap of the race on lap 12 with a 1m30.054s

The Snetterton crowd applauded, knowing they have just witnessed the best race of the day – a typical showing from the Mini Se7en in what is a fantastic start to their 40th birthday year.