official Mazda Brands Hatch Race Report

[clive]

This report was kindly sent to us from Mazda.

[clive]

.MAZDA RX-8 WINS BRANDS DOUBLE

The Mazda endurance race team scored a double victory at Brands Hatch
this weekend in the Production S1 Endurance Series underlying the speed,
handling and reliability of the Mazda RX-8.

The first race held on the Saturday around the Brands Hatch grand prix
circuit was a 100 minute endurance race with two cars entered by the
Mazda team.  Mark Ticehurst and Natasha Firman were behind the wheel of
their regular race car while Auto Express motoring writer and veteran
race driver Owen Mildenhall was joined by motoring journalist and
photographer Gaynor Keating in the media car.

Morning qualifying saw the two cars line up first and second in class on
the grid with Mark and Natasha taking pole position by a narrow margin.

Ticehurst and Mildenhall started the race and ran first and second in
class until Ticehurst pitted an hour into the race to hand over to
Firman having established the fastest lap of the race in class.  Staying
out for just over an hour Mildenhall took the overall race lead shortly
before pitting to hand over to Keating.

Firman showed tremendous race maturity holding off a charging Honda to
take the class win and sixth overall in what was probably her best drive
of the season.  Keating rejoined the race third in class following the
pit stop and put in an outstanding performance to hold on to third in
class in her first ever race.

Sunday saw the Mazda RX-8 of Mark Ticehurst and Natasha Firman line up
on class pole for the second 100 minute race.  A faultless drive by both
drivers brought them the second class victory of the weekend and seventh
place overall including the fastest lap in class.

The Mazda RX-8 endurance racing car is a standard road going car with a
few modifications for the race track; these include uprated suspension,
slick tyres and a roll cage, the engine and gearbox are unchanged from
the road car.

"Another tremendous weekend of racing for the Mazda team," commented
Philip Waring, Managing Director, Mazda Motors UK Ltd.  "It was a great
drive by all four drivers, but especially Gaynor Keating who showed
incredible maturity and talent to keep hold of third place in class
despite the pressure of her first race on Saturday.

"We have established that the Mazda RX-8 is a race winner in what is
almost standard road going configuration. We are proving its outstanding
reliability and handling ability and now we are looking forward to the
final six race meetings of the year and hopefully more trophies for the
cabinet," Waring enthused.

[Ianmcurtis]

I have just been speaking to my local Mazda dealer about a totally different matter and mentioned the Brands meeting. The guy tells me they have heard nothing from Mazda on this - seems Mazda are a bit slow to publicise this to me.