Brands Hatch Circuit, Fawkham, Longfield,. Kent DA3 8NG 01474 872 331 www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/circuits/brands-hatch.asp See more photos

After the success of Caste Combe, Gary was looking forward to the Brands Hatch event, a circuit he knows better than most and one he favours.

Qualifying

In changeable conditions, Gary was confident of a high grid position in qualifying, but after only 2 decent laps he suffered a puncture, forcing him to end the session early. This resulted in 6th place, not bad considering he only managed a short run. The 2 Nissans had blocked out the front row, with the Astra VXR’s of Adrian Churchill, Ryan Bensley both in front.

Race 1

A damp start to the race presented a challenge that Gary had not had to deal with in the Leon, but he managed a great start, slotting into 4th place, behind the Bensley, Churchill and the Nissan. The 3 front running were holding ground, with Gary just behind when Andrey Magiy went off at clearways in his Mini Cooper, forcing a safety car. This bunched the pack up and when the safety car pulled in, Gary had a great run at guest driver Chris Ward in Nissan out of clearways, ducking past in a brave move with little room for error as they passed the start/finish line.

With Gary now in 3rd place, he was gaining on Bensley and Churchill, who were holding each other up as they battled for the lead. A few laps later and they came together, with Bensley spinning off, dropping him back into the pack and allowing Gary up to 2nd place.

Churchill was able to hold the gap of a few seconds to Gary though, and the race finished with Churchill taking the win, Gary 2nd and the rapid Nissan 370 of Chris Ward in 3rd.

There was controversy after the race though, as Churchill was deemed to have caused the spin for Bensley, so he was given a penalty, dropping him back to 4th place. This meant Gary would have won, but unfortunately Gary was also deemed to have passed Chris Ward before the first car passed the line as the safety car pitted, so he was given a 1 second penalty, dropping him back to 2nd place and handing the win to Chris Ward.

Race 2

After the first race results were decided, Gary lined up 2nd, next to Chris Ward in the Nissan 370, with Bensley and Churchill just behind.

Making a fantastic start, Gary took the lead as they entered Paddock Hill, driving round the outside of the Nissan. Churchill and Bensley were just behind Ward to complete the 4 car challenge for the lead, but Gary was suffering under steer on faster corners and struggled to hold a tight line through the exit of Clearways. This allowed first the Nissan of Ward and then a lap later the Astra of Churchill to get past with relative ease as Gary was unable to defend.

Running 3rd, Gary was holding off an ever present Bensley and looking at damage limitation, but as he approached the druids hairpin mid way through the race, he suffered a brake fail and could not stop, overshooting the corner and hitting the tyres, out of the race.

Gary was unharmed and the car was not too badly damaged, but the lower suspension arm was bent and a spare could not be sourced, so Gary was unable to compete in race 3.

So not a great weekend, with a puncture in qualifying, a potential win taken away and a retirement that was not Gary’s fault. Onwards to the next challenge!