VTEC Challenge Rounds 1 & 2

[Jonathan F]

Silverstone National: April 2nd/3rd 2011 (Rounds 1&2 of VTEC Challenge)

After all the planning, headaches and sleepless nights, it had all come down to this. The time to stop talking and get down to racing had finally arrived, and with every class represented, it was sure to be something special.

Despite a relatively small turn out for the first event on the calendar, the atmosphere in the paddock was a heady mix of nerves, excitement but overall one of team spiritedness.

Drivers began to mentally prepare themselves to put all their hard work to the test, and with several novice crosses and an equal amount of freshly built cars, anything could happen.

More cars are expected at the following rounds, as those winter projects are completed, and the word spreads about how open and well organised the VTEC Challenge is.

Qualifying:

The race day got underway with the obligatory scrutineering, which with the odd exception everyone passed first time. One driver who was less fortunate was Mark Chese in his Civic Type “R” who fell foul of the new legislation surrounding roll cages. With a potential early bath on the cards, “RedBrick Racing” came up trumps with a huge gesture of good will and offered Mark their spare BTCC spec Civic as his replacement steed! Talk about helping out your fellow competitor!

At the allotted time, all cars made their way onto the hallowed tarmac of Silverstone and began the task of setting their times for grid position.

With a remarkably trouble free qualifying session, all cars came home in one piece.

Rick Rowles in his impressive late model “Type R” Civic had a big moment at the “Luffield Complex” but ended up safely on the grass. The same corner also claimed the CRX of Dave Roberts, who also rejoined unscathed.

The A048 control tyre from Yokohama was performing well, with lap times dropping as they came up to temperature.

At the end of the session, Richard Voaden in his H22 powered Integra took his first ever pole, nearly 2 seconds ahead of 2nd placed Charlie Butler-Henderson.


Race Day:
Race 1:

With Rich on pole, he had on paper the best line into “Copse”, but alongside the seasoned drivers of “Butler-Henderson”, “Dunlop” and “Duxbury”, it would be a close fought thing to come out of the corner on top.

With the lights out “Dunlop” in his lightweight Class D 1600cc Civic EG made a storming start and took an early lead, but he was soon overhauled by the more powerful Class “A” Integra, and the Tuner Class Civic driven by CBH.

Over the next 3 or 4 laps, the front running duo of Voaden and Butler-Henderson battled cleanly for control, with the more powerful Integra eventually gaining the upper hand.

Stewart Hutchinson in his now Class C Integra (due to a last minute engine swap) came through from the 3rd row, past the Civic of Duxbury and on to take 3rd from Dunlop after 3 laps when the lightweight Civic ran wide at “Maggots” giving the edge to the Integra on the straight. For the next 2 or 3 laps the pair tussled for the same piece of tarmac, which ended with Dunlop back up to 2nd place, with Hutchinson in 4th following the stricken Civic of CBH.

An issue with the gear linkage in the Civic of Butler-Henderson meant he was unable to capitalise on his race craft, and had to end race 1 with a 3rd place overall.

Rich ended his first race 12 seconds ahead of the 2nd place Dunlop.

1st: Rich Voaden
2nd: Kris Dunlop
3rd: Charlie Butler Henderson

Fastest lap: Rich Voaden 1:07.264 sec on lap 3 of 14


Race 2:

The grid for the second race was established using the times taken from the racers second fastest lap in qualifying instead of the usual race 1 results line up.

This meant that the majority of the grid was laid out in the same format as for race 1.

A better start for the number 24 car of Voaden saw the Integra driver lead from lights to flag, although with the car having been repaired in between race’s the number 9 Civic of Butler-Henderson provided a greater challenge for race 2.

The Integra of Hutchinson shot past the “RedBrick Racing” Civics of CBH and Duxbury, but running alongside the fast recovering Butler-Henderson, Stewart found himself being pinned between the pit wall and the day glow orange bodywork of the Civic. In the heat of the moment, the blue Integra missed the apex for Copse, and both Redbrick cars had their places back by Maggots.

Ahead the battle between Robin Duxbury and Kris Dunlop was now on, and it was Robin who eventually brought a second of the “RedBrick Racing” Civics onto the podium, and Stewart Hutchinson rounded out the top 5.

1st: Rich Voaden
2nd: Charlie Butler Henderson
3rd: Robin Duxbury

Fastest lap: Rich Voaden 1:07.341 sec on lap 3 of 14

Summary:

Whilst the results are fantastic, they are only part of the weekend’s story.

This series has been executed in both a short time frame, but with great attention to detail. The needs and wants of the racers have been considered, and the infancy of the series does not show, and already puts more established “one make” series to shame.

The atmosphere between all the drivers and crews was fantastic with everyone putting class rivalry aside to make the first race meeting something really special.

All credit goes to Mike and Kris, for making it such a great weekend.


Also, throughout qualifying and both races, the reliability and consistency of the Honda’s shone through with every car crossing the line without issue. Something that is somewhat unheard of in the paddock.

The feedback from the racers and by the marshals was that the VTEC Challenge drivers provided the cleanest racing on the day, and was hugely entertaining.

Keep it up guys!

The VTEC Challenge moves to Mallory Park in Leicestershire for the next round on the 1st of May.

[mig]

Very good write up looked like everyone had fun. I intend to try and squeeze a few in as and when the car is back together.

[BILTEL]

Nice write up.

It should be noted that Rich Voaden did really well. This was his first race ever. Not bad at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!