BTCC Mondello Race Weekend Thread

[rdjones]

The first session has just finished and the time look like this:-

1 HINES 1:58.268
2 NEAL 1:58.512
3 TURKINGTON 1:58.518
4 PICKFORD 1:58.626
5 MULLER 1:58.778
6 EAVES 1:59.094
7 CHILTON 1:59.095
8 SMITH 1:59.109
9 PLATO 1:59.363
10 COLLARD 1:59.628
11 KAYE 2:01.136
12 CURLEY 2:02.390
13 HUGHES 2:03.364
14 LEGGATE 2:05.398
15 PROCTOR 2:07.997
16 WILLIAMS 2:18.052

OMG Luke Hines was fastest

[Hazard]

Forget that...

16 cars! Woohoo!!!

[rdjones]

I know that but still Luke Hines is fastest, sorry am I seeing things.......

[Hazard]

Well, it's just practice. Lets see if he's still there at qualifying.

[rdjones]

and your 2nd session times look like this:-

1 MULLER 1:57.472
2 CHILTON 1:57.897
3 TURKINGTON 1:58.083
4 PLATO 1:58.619
5 COLLARD 1:58.906
6 PICKFORD 1:58.908
7 SMITH 1:58.981
8 EAVES 1:59.055
9 HINES 1:59.389
10 NEAL 1:59.709
11 KAYE 2:00.250
12 HUGHES 2:01.569
13 LEGGATE 2:03.831
14 WILLIAMS 2:04.209
15 CURLEY 2:05.021
16 PROCTOR 2:06.298

[Hazard]

Well, looks like Hughes is nicely going to fit into the lead of 'class 2'. Of course he had some good runs overall last year.

Hines postition much more ordinary there. Otherwise, a nice mix. Looks like the Dynamics cars are sandbagging a bit in the second session I think.

(If I'm reading MST and the timings from the support sessions right, looks like it's a wet qualifying session anyway - just like the practices).

[Hazard]

Final qualifying times, Muller leads another all VX Racing front row!

 1 Yvan Muller		Vauxhall Astra SH	1:56.537
 2 Colin Turkington	Vauxhall Astra SH	1:56.969
 3 Luke Hines		Seat Toledo Cupra	1:57.162
 4 Jason Plato		Seat Toledo Cupra	1:57.410
 5 Matt Neal		Honda Integra Type-R	1:57.441
 6 James Pickford	Seat Toledo Cupra	1:57.761
 7 Tom Chilton		Honda Civic Type-R	1:58.049
 8 Gavin Smith		Vauxhall Astra SH	1:58.126
 9 Rob Collard		MG-ZS			1:58.228
10 Dan Eaves		Honda Integra Type-R	1:58.793
11 Jason Hughes		MG-ZS			1:59.350
12 James Kaye		Honda Civic Type-R	2:00.853
13 Ian Curley		Lexus IS200		2:01.818
14 Fiona Leggate	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	2:02.930
15 Mark Proctor		Vauxhall Astra Coupé	2:03.207
16 Richard Williams	Lexus IS200		No time

Looks like Luke was quick afterall! Must be he likes rain.

[rdjones]

Interesting grid and that man Hines is there again

[touringlegend]

Muller's pace looks worrying over half a second quicker than the nearest Seat, however they are in pretty good positions to pounce!

[BootsOntheSide]

Rain's going to be an advantage for an ice racing champion, he'll be hoping for wet races I'm sure. A nice surprise to see Jason Hughes out there, especially as he's not that much slower than Collard in the other MG.

[FIRE]

Why did have Smith OPC on his car instead of VXR?

OPC - Opel Performance Center - is Opels version of VXR.

[Ian Sowman]

I'm not sure whether you are answering your own question there or not. If not, I imagine it is a marketing thing as (I think) Vauxhalls in Ireland are badged as Opels.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

I'm not sure whether you are answering your own question there or not. If not, I imagine it is a marketing thing as (I think) Vauxhalls in Ireland are badged as Opels.

Didn't know that. That's probably the reason.

[MagnetON]

Weather was a serious factor today, and the number of red flags was through the roof, apparently there were over 22 red flags today.

[rdjones]

Race 1 Result:-

1 MULLER 14 Laps
2 PLATO + 2.876
3 NEAL + 3.189
4 TURKINGTON + 6.587
5 COLLARD + 7.396
6 EAVES + 14.251
7 SMITH + 18.348
8 KAYE + 22.237
9 CHILTON + 23.066
10 HUGHES + 23.585
11 PICKFORD + 32.956
12 HINES + 53.499
13 LEGGATE + 1:05.096
14 PROCTOR +1:17.472
15 WILLIAMS + 1:22.38
16 CURLEY + 1:23.974

I hate Telewest why can't they show Motors

[E46]

Hines disappointing again. Why did he lose such a lot of time?

[rdjones]

Race 2 Results:-

1 TURKINGTON 14 Laps
2 EAVES +5.143
3 NEAL + 11.626
4 COLLARD +27.498
5 HINES +33.373
6 MULLER +51.295
7 HUGHES +57.187
8 CHILTON +57.394
9 PICKFORD +1:02.705
10 PLATO +1:05.069
11 CURLEY + 1:45.380
12 WILLIAMS + 1.46.086
13 LEGGATE +1 LAP
14 SMITH + 2 LAPS
15 KAYE -10 LAPS
16 PROCTOR -10 LAPS

Race 3 looks like it might be interesting

[gwyllion]

He had to come in because his left door was open and needed to be closed (with tape).

[Hazard]

A fairly processional race, but the first one always is.

Plato looking on his own for the Seat's...Hines & Pickford need to get set-up for race three.

Hughes running with Chilton & Kaye to the end, nice work

[Gaz]

Plato's stinging criticism of his team mates made me smile...they'e been getting away with their shocking performances for far too long now.

Nowt much too get too excited about to be honest, few good moves at the final corner on Turky but that was about it.

Anybody else get the impression that there isn't exactly thousands there? I remember last year when I went to Mondello it being dead in comparison to other meetings and it seems its even quieter this year. I see the logistical and marketing reasons for going to Ireland, but why play to 5-6,000 and travel all the way over the Ireland when you could race at Rockingham infront of 30,000 + ?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Gaz

Anybody else get the impression that there isn't exactly thousands there? I remember last year when I went to Mondello it being dead in comparison to other meetings and it seems its even quieter this year. I see the logistical and marketing reasons for going to Ireland, but why play to 5-6,000 and travel all the way over the Ireland when you could race at Rockingham infront of 30,000 + ?

I was going to say that the cameras are normally facing away from the spectator areas and the bits outside the track you can see are off-limits so it always looks quieter on TV, but having seen the onboard shots turn one did seem unusually empty. I'm sure the weather didn't help.

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by redshoes

I was going to say that the cameras are normally facing away from the spectator areas and the bits outside the track you can see are off-limits so it always looks quieter on TV, but having seen the onboard shots turn one did seem unusually empty. I'm sure the weather didn't help.

True redshoes, last year I remember it being quiet and then picking up as the day wore on but I'd have been surprised if the crowd figure broke 5,000, this year it looks even less than that. Ive seen more at Donington for a club meeting!


Just think that it seems a waste of a meeting. I understand the marketing need but there's hardly any potential customers there! Visiting Castle Combe or Rockingham instead would guarantee 3/4 times as many spectators.

Do agree the weather would have had an effect but still nowhere near good enough really in all honesty.

Just watching the Uno race, obviously been watching and learning from the Touring Car boys looking at the driving standards!

I'd also like to offer my congratulations to VXR, they were immense this weekend and Muller really showed his undoubted quality. Its game on for the championship now!

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by Gaz

I see the logistical and marketing reasons for going to Ireland, but why play to 5-6,000 and travel all the way over the Ireland when you could race at Rockingham infront of 30,000 + ?

Because Mondello offered to pay more to have the race than Rockingham did..... Also, Irish fans are discerning, I'm sure if the premier English tin-top class could provide a grid larger than 16 cars then there would be more people bothering to pay the Euro 35 to get in the gate. Best racing of the day, the Fiat Arbaths and Der Bikes Mit Wings... Sorry, Formula BMW.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Because Mondello offered to pay more to have the race than Rockingham did..... Also, Irish fans are discerning, I'm sure if the premier English tin-top class could provide a grid larger than 16 cars then there would be more people bothering to pay the Euro 35 to get in the gate. Best racing of the day, the Fiat Arbaths and Der Bikes Mit Wings... Sorry, Formula BMW.

Yes,Mondello never has attracted crowds since it was opened.Watching the opening FBMW race yesterday,on Motors TV,there did not seem to be a single person around the circuit-a few managed to get up to arrive later.And this is the biggest meeting in Ireland? Biggest crowd in Ireland is of course at Pheonix Park where you do not have to pay,and its easily accessable by public transport.

[EvilPumpkin]

Originally Posted by Rob29

Yes,Mondello never has attracted crowds since it was opened.Watching the opening FBMW race yesterday,on Motors TV,there did not seem to be a single person around the circuit-a few managed to get up to arrive later.And this is the biggest meeting in Ireland? Biggest crowd in Ireland is of course at Pheonix Park where you do not have to pay,and its easily accessable by public transport.

Well as for Mondello not attracting crowds, that's not true for a start. Take a look at footage from any rallycross over the last few years. And we never have a problem getting bums on seats for bikes or for karts. It's just cars that don't seem to get the same level of interest.

In terms of spectators, as has been pointed out by others, there were plenty there. Possibly not as much as you would have had at one of the UK circuits, but then again, in that weather, without the full support package, for 16 cars (and the rumour was that it was only going to be 10), it's hardly surprising. In addition, there were a number of All Ireland sporting events going on that weekend. For some reason Toca always manage to put their Mondello date on the same weekend as a large Irish sporting event. Toca dictate the dates, not Mondello.

Phoenix Park has been cancelled this year due to lack of funding so the much vaunted crowds are obviously not enough to attract sponsorship.