Rounds 5 Modified Live - Summer in the Park
After its midsummer, two-day, double-header weekend at Brands Hatch at the end of June, Modified Live - incorporating Time Attack and the Pirelli European Drift Championship - goes back to its familiar one-day, single-round format for this Sunday's meeting at Cadwell Park. And, if last year's debut visit to the Lincolnshire venue is anything to go by, then an exciting day is in store for competitors and spectators.
There's no doubt that the excitement and appeal of Cadwell Park is in no small part down to the track itself. In fact, with its changes in elevation and unique sequence of demanding corners, its nickname of 'Mini Nürburgring' is well deserved.
Whilst the Time Attack runners will use all of the 3.477 km (2.173 mile) circuit, the Pirelli EDC competitors will use the Hall bends, which are situated on what is known as the 'Mountain'. And, while this right-left-right combination poses no problem in terms of its drivability, it's the narrow track and lack of run-off areas that means that concentration and precision will play an even more important part than usual.
Adding to the track action is the appearance of the Mighty Minis and the Super Mighty Minis, with races for each in the afternoon. And, as if that wasn't enough, there's the now infamous invasion of the senses and the usual fun and games of Modified Live, which is situated in the paddock and spectator areas alongside the circuit.
Time Attack
With Gavin Renshaw in his NR Autosport Mitsubishi Evolution IX winning Saturday's round three at Brands Hatch and Marcus Webster in his Nissan Skyline winning Sunday's round four, these two drivers are now opening up a lead in the Pro Class - the category for the series' most powerful cars. Webster goes to Cadwell Park with a seven-point advantage over Renshaw, who is in-turn 46-pointds ahead of third-placed Russ Paton and his Evolution VI.
Two-third places for Mark Pollard and his trusty Metro 6R4 at Brands Hatch was enough to see him develop his Club-Pro Class lead to 44 points, ahead of Walter Morris. The R32 Skyline driver's class win in round four puts him in second and a slender three-points ahead of round-three winner Dave Jackson in his Spec-R Escort Cosworth.
A win and a second place last time out means that Andrew Barbour has extended his lead in the 4WD Club Challenge category, putting his Mitsubishi Evo V 30-points ahead of the Subaru Impreza of second-placed John Mather. In the Club Challenge RWD Class things are far closer, with Jimmy White in his Vauxhall VX220 and Umar Masood in his Mazda RX7 only ten points apart after each recorded a second-in-class at Brands Hatch.
In the FWD Club Challenge, Bo Nielsen is making his intentions for the season quite clear, as he now leads the category in his Forge Motorsport Vauxhall Astra VXR by a significant margin of 63 points in front of Gerry Atkinson and his Seat Leon Cupra Sport.
However, at a circuit like Cadwell Park, things can easily change. Cars that are quick on fast and open circuits are likely not to fair quite so well here, although driver skill and a suspension set-up to complement the controlled Pirelli P-Zero tyres are destined to play a significant part in the overall results.
Pirelli European Drift Championship
Driving the Sumo Power NISMO Competition.com Nissan S15 to two back-to-back victories at Brands Hatch, means that Brett Castle will be the man to beat this weekend. And, if you add his two wins to his second and fourth places in rounds one and two respectively, he now leads the Championship by 300 points from Declan Hicks in his HEL Performance Toyota Cresta.
Currently languishing third in the standings is Paul Conlan. After taking his BC Racing Nissan S15 to victory in rounds one and two, it was all going his way up until Brands Hatch, when mechanical gremlins meant that the best he could deliver was a sixth and seventh. Therefore, a comeback drive is eagerly anticipated this weekend, particularly as the technically demanding nature of the Cadwell Park course is likely to bring out the best of the eight invited Pirelli EDC drivers.
Modified Live
Once again, the UK's leading celebration of modifying and tuning culture will feature individual exhibits, club displays, trade stands, girls and a host of other must-see attractions. There's also the Show 'n' Shine competition, sponsored by Kleers plus, adding even more glamour to the occasion, will be the popular 'model search' contest.
There's even a battle for pulling-power between the car clubs, when some of the members get 'roped-in' to take part in the annual Modified Live Tug-of-War. Add this to a collection of some of the UK's most extraordinary modified and tuned cars, together with all-day entertainment and some of the most powerful competition cars in the country on a track that brings out the best in drivers, it promises to be one of most spectacular events of the year at Cadwell Park.
The gates open at 09.00, with warm-up and practice sessions held throughout the morning. There's a lunch break between 12.35 and 13.30, before the Pirelli EDC final at 14.20 followed by the two Mini races at 15.05 and 15.30 and the Time Attack final at 16.00.
Admission tickets are available in advance at £17.00 per adult. Alternatively they can be purchased at the gate for £22.00, whilst children under 13 go free.
