ClubMINI - MINI Challenge - Wakefield Park - Goulburn 6 April.
The second round of the MINI challenge comes to Wakefield Park on the weekend of 5-6 April. There will be one race on Saturday and two races on Sunday at 9.30 am and 1.45 pm. Of course there are many other support races during the day including the V8 Konica Series.
MINI Australia has offered some special arrangements for clubMINI members see the following advice direct from MINI Australia
"Just to update you on some details relating to Wakefield, the gate staff will be briefed as to where the MINI Parking Area will be and your members should request the MINI Parking Area when purchasing their tickets at the gate. They will then be directed where to go.
We have arranged a special briefing in the Teams Lounge for the Members that wish to attend at the MINI CHALLENGE Pits Facility, which will be located adjacent to turn one. This will be a little way from the Parking Area (which I envisage to be on the back ‘straight’ hill – about a 10-15 min walk). I would see the briefing going for around 20 minutes. It is an opportunity for MINI to introduce MINI CHALLENGE and explain their objectives with the Series and also a discussion on the technical aspects of the car.
The details of the briefing are as follows:
WHEN: Sunday April 6, 2008 TIME: 11am WHERE: MINI CHALLENGE Teams Lounge, adjacent to Turn 1, Wakefield Park WHAT: Special briefing for ClubMINI and MINI ‘convoy’ members by Justin Hocevar – National Manager MINI about the involvement of MINI in MINI CHALLENGE and Rex Keen, Race Engineer, Sherrin Motorsport about the engineering aspects of the MINI CHALLENGE racecar, followed up by a Q&A."
They have not mentioned if there is a pit access fee, or if this will be covered by MA, but I doubt it. Entry fee to Sunday races is $35 per adult.
There is an organised convoy from Rolfe classic in Canberra, I have asked them to clarify the starting time and will let those that register with me know of these details as they come to hand.
For Sydney and environ MINI owners, we will meet at the Service station at Pheasants Nest at 7.15 am for a 7.30 convoy to Wakefield, this will see us arrive around 9am in time to see the 9.30 am race.
If you intend to join the convoy from Sydney or from Canberra or just wish to make your own way there and would like to attend the briefing provided by MINI Australia at 11am could you email me at events@nsw.clubmini.com.au, this is imperative as I have to advise by COB Tuesday how many people will be attending.
Thanks
Vic Widman
Events Coordinator
DecoRug Motorsport pilot, Paul Stokell has claimed pole position for round two of MINI CHALLENGE at Wakefield Park Raceway – near Goulburn – today, setting a time of 1:05.6112, with less than a second separating the top seven competitors.
After setting the fastest time in practice one, Stokell set his qualifying time in the first five minutes of the session and it wasn’t bettered, despite the Brisbane-based driver carrying 15kg of success ballast from round one. Melbourne’s Nathan Geier (Split Image Project Management) finished the session second fastest, 0.1 behind Stokell, the 25-year-old continuing his phenomenal start to MINI CHALLENGE.
Current Series leader, Neil McFadyen (Scope Signs & Graphics) and Seven Network personality, Grant Denyer (DecoRug) traded times throughout the session. McFadyen grabbed the inside run from row two in the dying moments after having a less than perfect qualifying run.
The remainder of the top six was filled with early pace-setter Gary Young (Salta Constructions) – and Paul Fiore, who, with brother Todd, is debuting a new major sponsorship from Shell Helix Ultra on the Brisbane MINI Garage cars – the return of the company to a major sponsorship in Australian motorsport. The younger Fiore finished the session 12th.
Qualifying seventh was an impressive Iain Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals), while UBER-STAR CAR driver, MOTOR Magazine journalist, Shaun Cleary was a sensation of the session. He qualified eighth for his first race meeting. Michael Stillwell (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage) was ninth, with Perth-based Glory Team Racing driver, David Turner rounding out the top 10 after strong performances in practice this morning.
Next was Ricky Occhipinti (Formula Uno Motors Geelong) – who struggled for clear track throughout the 20 minute session and Todd Fiore (Shell Helix Ultra). Damien Flack (Ultimax Chemicals) who is having his first run at Wakefield Park and in a front-wheel drive car, then Kevin Miller (Motorline MINI Garage) – having his first MINI CHALLENGE race and Darren Berry (Clipper Motor Yachts) round out the field.
Paul Stokell: “I set the lap early in the session on green tyres, it was a nice lap. It wasn’t anything special, just nice and the setup was just right. Like any new tyre, they only really have one lap in them so I just went for it. When I saw I was P1, I was happy with that, so thought I’d sit and wait for the rest of the session. It was good enough and I decided to conserve my second set of tyres for later in the weekend. Overall, we’re very happy with how the weekend has started.”
Nathan Geier: “The car was just beautiful to drive. The team worked really hard to get the setup dialed into it and it was quick straight out the box. I was following Denyer for a while and then he had a moment, so I went past and was out on my own, that’s when I set the time. We’re stoked with second and I’m looking forward to starting on the front row tomorrow.”
Neil McFadyen: “We just didn’t nail the setup, that’s all there is to it. Qualifying wasn’t good all round, we didn’t time our runs well. The additional 25kg we are carrying this weekend has affected us for sure. But no excuses though, we’re starting race one tomorrow from third, there’s plenty of time left.”
MINI CHALLENGE Round 2 of 8 – Qualifying Top 5:
1:05.6112 - Paul Stokell
1:05.7646 - Nathan Geier
1:05.8316 - Neil McFadyen
1:05.9097 - Grant Denyer
1:06.4112 - Garry Young
MINI CHALLENGE WAKEFIELD PARK SCHEDULE:
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Race One: 1:15pm
Sunday April 6, 2008
Race Two (reverse top six finishers from race one): 9:30am
Race Three: 1:45pm
When: TOMORROW – Saturday April 5, 2008
Where: The Seven Network
Time: 1:30pm (nationally)
See highlights of the first ever race meeting for the R56 model MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar from Eastern Creek. The high octane action from the event sees Neil McFadyen battle it out with the likes of Grant Denyer, Jason Bargwanna and Paul Stokell. Exciting mid-field battles between many of the stars of MINI CHALLENGE provide highlights, including some stunning in-car footage!
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