VTEC Challenge does Silverstone


Jonathan F

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Nov 29, 2010
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Silverstone: October 13th 2013 (Rounds 13 and 14 of BARC’s VTEC Challenge)


For rounds 13 and 14 of the VTEC Challenge (and the final event of 2013), the series headed to what is arguably the home of British Motor Sport and the circuit of Silverstone in Northamptonshire.

With the weather dominating proceedings this would be the first wet race in 3 years of the series, but it looked as though we would have 3 year’s worth of rain in one day to make up for it!

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Entrants:

01 – Andy Smith – Invitational – Accord Type R
03 – Tim Blowers – Production – Integra (DC5)
04 – Mark Bennett – Invitational – S2000
10 – Matt Walker –Super Tuner – Civic (EK9)
11 – Gareth Broadbent – Tuner - CRX
14 – Matthew Le – Production – Integra (DC2)
31 – Phil Wright – Invitational – Accord Type R
39 – Rob Burkinshaw – Invitational – Integra (DC5)
64 - Richard Chilton – Production - Integra (DC2)
70 – Hamish Smart – Super Tuner – Integra (DC2)

Following a near 2 year absence due to a new family and other life commitments, we were pleased to welcome back to the fold Gareth Broadbent and his “Tuner” class CRX.

Having only recently gotten around to having the car re-commissioned at “TGM Sport”, Gareth was keen to get behind the wheel and see how he faired against the rest of the grid.

Following a couple of outings early on in the season, Matt Walker was back out to wrap up his season in his immaculately prepared K20 engined EK9 Civic.

Although a familiar car to the grid, the DC2 Integra belonging to Richard Voaden of “Performance Autoworks” was being handed over to friend and race instructor Hamish Smart for the day’s proceedings.

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Running alongside the Dunlop “Production Touring Car Championship” we had been joined by 4 drivers from the “Playstation Academy” in their RJN prepared 370z’s, so it would bring an added dimension to the day.


Qualifying:

Following a full night of rain and being out on track first thing, the circuit would hold very little in the way of grip. With cold temperatures and the rain continuing to fall, all of the drivers made their tentative first steps onto the hallowed tarmac at Silverstone. It wasn’t long before the poor conditions began to truly make themselves known, with huge rivers of standing water on just about every part of the track.

Initially struggling to get to “grips” with the Civic, Matt Walker (who was running on borrowed wheels and tyres from Stu King for this event) found himself unable to get the car turned in through “Maggotts” and had to take to the run off before safely re-joining.

Testing a new tyre for the 2014 season, Rob Burkinshaw and his DC5 looked to have the car well set up in spite of the conditions, and was well planted through the corners, chasing down the full wet shod Nissan’s.

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Unfortunately the session was ended early do to a problem at “Copse” where Matt Le, Matthew Walker and Hamish Smart all decided to pay the gravel trap a visit after being caught out by the river that was flowing across the pit straight. With the exception of a damaged splitter on the Integra driven by Hamish, the drivers returned to the paddock unscathed although in need of a change in underwear!

With the times released, it was the Nissan driver Stanisley Aksimov in the GT3 spec 370z who had taken pole position, but more remarkably it was Burkinshaw who had took second in his DC5 showing the assembled crowds his skills. With Phil Wright in his Accord and Hamish Smart rounding out the VTEC top 3, it would be a great race for sure.

Pole: Rob Burkinshaw
2nd: Phil Wright
3rd: Hamish Smart

Back in the paddock and Rich Voaden began carrying out repairs on the Integra’s damaged front bodywork, whilst the rest of the drivers sought refuge from the elements.


Race 1:

Starting on pole (which for Silverstone was on the outside of the track) was Aksimov in the 370z, but Burkinshaw had the inside line for Copse and would be on a charge to get ahead at the first opportunity. Although the rain had eased the surface water on the track was still going to make things tricky and impair visibility with the spray.

The drivers drove from the assembly area and carried out the mandatory green flag lap to line up on the grid.

With the lights out the charge began and the spray clouds erupted! The Nissan held station at the front of the pack, with Rob in contention from the off.

Everyone safely rounded “Copse” and through the murk to begin their fight down towards “Maggotts”.

Mark Bennett in his S2000 got a great start and made up several places as the pack began to accelerate its way down the pit straight.

Following up behind Burkinshaw was the Accord of Phil Wright, which was revelling in the conditions and began to pull away from the rest of the grid.

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Making the biggest climb through the pack was Gareth Broadbent, who having started in 14th place was up to 7th by the end of the race and showing no loss of skill in his two year absence.

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Andy Smith in the second ATR was also making great progress and was kept company by the ever improving Matt Le in his JDM DC2.

Having got the better of the handling issues that impaired his qualifying session, Matthew Walker began to show improved pace in the treacherous conditions.

Rich Chilton and Tim Blowers found themselves battling for 2nd place in class.

The conditions proved tricky throughout the race as grip seemed to move position from lap to lap leaving drivers guessing where to position themselves for the safest passage.

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Oversteer and understeer where the order of the day as the semi-slick tyres struggled to cope with the amount of water deposited on the track.

The PTCT cars running full wets were able to capitalise and began to set up camp at the top of the grid.

Rob was still pushing hard and was closing on the top two when the clutch on the Integra began to falter. Only able to get 5th gear, or 4th with brute force the sterling efforts of Burkinshaw began to unravel and he had to relinquish 3rd place to 2nd GT3 370z in order to save the gearbox for race 2.


1st Rob Burkinshaw
2nd Phil Wright
3rd Gareth Broadbent

Class wins were awarded to:

(P) – Matt Le
(T) – Gareth Broadbent
(ST) – Matthew Walker
(INV) – Rob Burkinshaw

Fastest lap: Rob Burkinshaw 1.16.106 on lap 5 of 16

Back in the paddock, Rob and his team began to try and get to the bottom of the problem in order to get out for race 2.

After bleeding the clutch and making some other adjustments (including swapping a faulty TPS) the car was ready, but only during the race would it be known if the fix would hold.


Race 2:

The start of race 2 saw the Integra driven by Hamish Smart take to the grid, after deciding to sit out race 1 due to the conditions. Starting from the back of the pack would present him with an uphill struggle as the rain continued to fall.

Before the race got underway, trouble hit Mark Bennett as a severe miss-fire caused the driver from Poole to bring the car into the pits to prevent any major damage.

As the race got underway, it was clear from the off that the 2nd tyre choice to be tested by Burkinshaw offered nothing in the way of grip and promptly spun dropping to the back of the pack.

Suffering a similar fate was the CRX of Broadbent, who having showed promise in race 1, was now left to fight his way back up the pack.

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Rob’s early departure from the head of the field meant Wright and his Accord led the way, closely followed Le, Smith and Walker.

In addition to the troubles with a lack of grip, (which saw Rob drift the Integra the entire way around “Luffield”!) the problem with the clutch re-appeared which resulted in a rare DNF for the Yorkshireman.

Smart began to display his abilities and cut through the pack from the back to be up in 5th before the end of the 1st lap.

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While Wright sat out in front, the trio of Le, Smith and Walker fought a close battle, with the EK9 Civic emerging the victor and managing a 1 second gap from Le.

Unfortunately at half race distance, the Accord’s alternator cried enough and taking with it all of the cars electrics. Unable to proceed the only option was to retire, robbing Wright of his first race win.

This promoted Walker into the position of race leader as Le and Smith did their best to rob him of his new found status as well as fighting for 2nd place themselves, a battle which lasted to the final corner on the last lap!

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Further back, Broadbent continued to climb back up the field as Blowers and Chilton again battled for 2nd in class. Leading Blowers, Chilton found himself understeering hard into “Maggotts” allowing Blowers through for a reversal of race 1.

A lock up into “Brooklands” saw Smart in the Integra take to the grass and with zero visibility through the misted up windscreen, a decision was made to retire before anything untoward took place.


1st Matthew Walker
2nd Matt Le
3rd Andy Smith

Class wins were awarded to:

(P) – Matt Le
(T) – Gareth Broadbent
(ST) – Matthew Walker
(INV) – Andy Smith

Fastest lap: Matthew Walker 1.19.768 on lap 9 of 16

The “Apex Trackdays” award was presented to Matt Le in recognition of his continued improvement throughout the season.


Summary:

The final two races of 2013 have been run and despite the horrendous conditions, the spirit of the VTEC Challenge was alive and well.

I’m proud and pleased to say that even with the challenging track conditions, all of the cars and drivers came home safe and sound.

When red flags were commonplace throughout the weekend and the sight of damaged cars littered the paddock, the achievements of our drivers should be applauded.

Thanks to the series sponsors: Dunlop Tyres, Performance Autoworks, Banzai, Honda Tuner, Apex Track Days and R-Motion for their continuing support.

Again a huge thanks goes out to everyone who braved the weather and made the effort to come out on the day.

The Honda VTEC Challenge now heads for a winter break, but will be back in 2014 to continue the excitement.

Finally, a massive thank you goes out to everyone who has supported, raced or been a spectator at any of events this year. Your support has been what has kept us going and has given us the drive to make things better still for 2014.

News and updates will be posted on the series FaceBook page and on the forum so please keep an eye out.



Words: Jonathan Fletcher
Pictures: Lindsey Fletcher & Jonathan Fletcher
 
Do need to make it some of these this year.

When does the 2014 Calender get finalised?
 
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