Round five of the all-action MINI Challenge takes place at Castle Combe on Saturday 3 August where a healthy grid of John Cooper Works and Cooper Class drivers will use Pirellis control tyres to battle it out on one of Britains fastest race tracks.
With only three rounds remaining in this years Pirelli-supported MINI Challenge, the competition is expected to step up a notch at the Wiltshire-based circuit. Eighteen-year-old Shane Stoney currently leads both the overall and the Cooper Class standings, 31 points ahead of Scotsman Hamish Brandon. Third place is currently occupied by Josh Gollin who will be eager to close his two point deficit in order to move up to second.
Leading the turbo-charged JCW Class is 23-year-old Chris Smith who finished runner-last year and is looking to do one better in 2013. Smith will be looking to fend off second-placed Jake Packun who is only 13 points from snatching the JCW lead. Chris Smiley is currently third, six points behind Packun.
Castle Combe is one of the most well-established circuits in the UK and was opened just 18 months after Silverstone in the summer of 1950. In 1999, the circuit was redesigned and nowadays it is synonymous for producing some of the closest circuit racing in British motorsport. Castle Combe will host two 20-minute races on Saturday.
Pirelli UK Motorsport Operations Manager, Matthew Corby, said: Castle Combe is a circuit steeped in history with a host of famous names including Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and David Coulthard all having won here in years gone by. Lee Allen set the fastest lap at this event last year so it will be interesting to see if any of the other drivers can beat that time on Saturday. Long-range weather forecasts show that temperatures will hover around mid twenties so we are expecting Pirellis 225/625-17 DH slick tyre to be the tyre of choice. However, as always, the Pirelli team will be trackside to help all the teams and drivers with any on-event support that they need over the weekend.
MINI Challenge series promoter, Antony Williams, added: Castle Combe always offers excitement, with legendary corners like Quarry following a heart in your mouth moment over Avon Rise and then two high speed chicanes to follow. With good weather we expect big crowds to be watching how it unfolds and well see if the chasing pack can overhaul class leaders Chris Smith and Shane Stoney. If, however, the weather is changeable, as it was in 2012, drivers and teams will be frantically switching between their Pirelli slick and wet tyres to gain the advantage.
Click here for the Castle Combe Circuit web site - designed and built by Racecar
