CHANGEGABLE WEATHER AND VARYING TRACK CONDITIONS MADE THE M7RC’S RETURN TO CROFT IN NORTH YORKSHIRE A CHALLENGING WEEKEND… 

Following a combined qualifying session on Saturday morning, the afternoon’s opening race for Miglias and Libres got off to an unfortunate start when several cars were involved in a first-corner melée after fluid was spilled on the racing line. However, the restart soon brought the expected spellbinding action, with Rupert Deeth claiming overall victory by a length from Aaron Smith and Kane Astin once Ian Curley had dropped out with an engine problem. Andy Dickinson took a deserved first Libre win at his ‘local’ circuit ahead of a fast-closing Les Stanton, with series leader Phil Harvey in 3rd.

In Sunday’s morning encounter, the same leading quartet fought out a riveting battle before Curley’s attempt to wrest the lead from Deeth at the chicane saw the latter spun out of contention, leaving the way clear for Smith, Astin and Phil Bullen-Brown to claim the podium places, and Curley classified down the order. In the Libre category, Ian Fraser’s bad luck continued when he retired after leading early on, Stanton taking up the reins to secure a long overdue class victory despite Dickinson and Julian Proctor chasing him hard throughout.

Both Se7en and S-Class races were scheduled for Sunday, the mid-morning opener seeing Damien Harrington easing away to a comfortable, in Mini terms, seventh win of the season, leaving title rivals Ross Billison and Spencer Wanstall to battle over 2nd spot with Daniel Munro, before Wanstall lost ground after a clash at the hairpin. Reigning S-Class champion Matt Ayres was back in the mix after a brief foray into Se7ens at Brands, and almost snatched the win at the end but for a dogged defence by series leader Olly Birkett, the margin just 0.186s at the flag, with Patrick McCarthy securing his best result yet in 3rd once the unlucky Michael Winkworth had picked up a slow puncture.

With the forecast rain arriving later than expected, it was wet tyres all round for the late-afternoon closer but the track still proved to be very ‘greasy’, catching out Billison at the start and who ended up in the tyrewall which cued the safety car, followed shortly after by another for a second beached car in the first-corner gravel. Undeterred, points leader Wanstall revelled in the conditions to slide his way round for a second victory of the year, chased gamely by Munro who went grasstracking at one point but recovered in front of Darren Thomas, with Harrington easing home in 4th behind S-Class winner Ayres who was equally at home on the damp surface. Birkett consolidated his lead in the standings with a measured 2nd ahead of Joel Wren who climbed up from the back of the grid following exclusion in race 1 for a flag infringement. 

The Goodyear Mini Challenge supported by Mini Spares now heads to Castle Combe on 20-21 September for the Wiltshire venue’s popular Autumn Classic meeting, and the penultimate rounds 15 & 16 in the 18-round championship.

RESULTS:         Croft               6-7 September 2025

Round 13         (Saturday – 11 laps)

1st       23        R Deeth (M)

2nd      0          A Smith (M)

3rd       11        K Astin (M)

7th       179      A Dickinson (L)           

Round 13         (Sunday – 12 laps)

1st       29        D Harrington (7)

2nd      2          R Billison (7)

3rd       41        D Munro (7)

6th       746      O Birkett (S)

Round 14         (Sunday – 13 laps)

1st       0          A Smith (M)

2nd      11        K Astin (M)

3rd       7          P Bullen-Brown (M)

7th       133      L Stanton (L)

Round 14         (Sunday – 9 laps)

1st       73        S Wanstall (7)

2nd      41        D Munro (7)

3rd       20        D Thomas (7)

4th       701      M Ayres (S)

For full results go to www.tsl-timing.com

For provisional points go to www.mini7.co.uk