Production GTi series:

 
Castle Combe. 25th April 2011 (Easter Monday Races)

Awesome weather joined the team at the maiden round of the Production GTi Series.
Combe is without a doubt my favourite UK circuit and it was amazing to see the 8000 strong crowd lining the track.
 
The team welcomed novices Chris Webb and Rick Siffleet for their first ever races as welll as old hands Verity Young, Simon Hill and local man Pat Buss after a years sabatical - all in Saxon prepared machinery.
 
I can't remember ever seeing a closer qualifying session with the first 2 drivers split by 1000th of a second and third man back only 200th adrift - Hill was left searching in 4th 1/2 sec back. Buss and Young and the impressive novice Webb took the next places. Siffleet having never seen the circuit before was 11th.
 
The lights went out on Race 1 and Hill made his customary fast start from the second row taking the lead into the first turn. However Nick Porter; also off the second row; was soon past Hill and lead to the flag. Buss finished 5th, Young 6th and Siffleet 10th. Webb the flying novice was up to 5th until a last lap spin but collected a stunning lap time on the way.
 
Race 2 was an equaly thrilling event, Hill led from pole but Porter fought back and the lead changed several times before Porters car went sick. Hill took the flag a fraction of a second ahead of James Colbourne who had set the new series lap record in race 1. Verity Young was 5th and Chris Webb came home 6th after starting from the back of the grid - a drive that earned him a Driver of the Day Award.

For more reports & photos go to: www.productiongti.com

CSCC Tin Tops & Deutsche Mark series:

 
Snetterton (300). 9th April 2011 (Season Opener)

The team attended the CSCC season opener in glorious weather at the all new Snetterton 300 circuit, a circuit proving to be a technical headache for even some of the best drivers. Ray Grimes and Nick Jarvis qualified in their Mk 2 Golf GTi 16v. James Broad, was on-board in one the Saxon Golf GTi 16v hire cars for his first ever qualifying session. By the end of the 40 minute session his best time was a 2:28 lap.

The first lap of the race saw several incidents in front of the two Golfs who both managed to navigate around the problem areas. Driving on his own, the team opted to bring James Broad in for a compulsory pit stop as soon as the pit lane opened. He the re-entered the track in clear air and was able to get his head down and concentrate on lapping consistently, which he achieved more like a seasoned pro than a complete novice.

Nick Jarvis brought his car in for a driver change at 20 minutes and the experienced front wheel drive expert, Ray Grimes climbed aboard. As Ray re-entered the track he was only a few car lengths ahead of James. James took advantage of being able to follow Ray and followed his lines. This enabled James to achieve a best lap time of 2:26 to Ray’s 2:25! The cars eventually came home with Ray & Nick 3rd in class and James 4th. Both cars were driven without a single fault throughout the race. James was clearly showing some of his father’s DNA, who won the race in his Honda Integra DC5.

The inaugural round of the new Deutsche Mark series was supported by thirteen cars and Saxon fielded Rob Sadler’s BMW E30 325 sport. The car qualified 1st in class with a best lap time of 2:16 and in the first few laps of the race the car was holding its own against a much faster E36 M3 Evo. Eventually its sprint heritage clearly showed in the race as it lost pace in the closing laps as the tyres overheated to finally come in 2nd in class by 0.1 of a second. This new series is clearly one to be watched with a grid of BMW’s & Porsche’s.