Race of Remembrance - Clubsport Trophy 12th November 2022
Race of Remembrance weekend encompasses more than just the 12hr Endurance race, and the RABsport team would enter one car in the support race for 2022 - the Clubsport Trophy.
The clubsport trophy opens up the weekend to cars not eligible or capable to compete in the endurance race, and the RABsport racing Clio Cup car fitted that bill with its sequential gearing, not allowed for the endurance.
Gary mitchell was asked to drive the car for the team, a driver with significant pedigree and ability. A driver whom team manger Richard hoped could derive the best from the car.
The race day took place on the 12th November, at Anglesey international circuit, a great venue. It would consist of two parts, a 30 minute qualifying session, and a 45 minuite race, with a mandatory 120 second pit stop.
Qualifying started for the team running slightly heavy on fuel and high on tyre pressure in an effort to get the burn rate and pressures bang on for the race. A 4 flying lap stint came first, with the Clio sitting in P3 by the 15 minuite mark. A quick stop for a bleed of pressures, and a second 4 flying lap run was made. An improvement on laptime came, but the other teams made gains also, and the #433 car would line up 9th on the grid, P5 in class for the race. another push to the pits for tyre pressure reductions would see us set up to improve come racetime.
Reprep was done over the hour inbetween sessions, with the fuel drained, calculated and refilled to just enough! The car spanner checked and all seemed well, and Gary geared himself up for the main event.
Race time, and lining up on row 5, Gary completed one formation lap before a standing start. Lights out and a big push off the line jumped gary into P7, passing the P4 and P3 in class placed cars onto the Podium. Gary would be under pressure now, the Audi TT of #23 having a 50bhp power advantage over the clio, and he coped well to keep the #23 behind, using the pace through the bends to keep a gap. 7 laps in, the #23 saw its opportunity, and with a tow managed to make it past Gary in the Clio.
The pit window opened at the 20 minuite mark, and waiting for a quiet pitlane, No1 Mechanic Lee Johnstone signalled the #433 in to the box. The team made a clean stop, and was 6 seconds over on the stop time, a safe but maybe too safe margin?!
Gary put the hammer down now, setting clean and consistent lap times, and keeping the audi under pressure. 35 mins in and the Audi makes a mistake and slides off on a patch of oil dropped, gifting Gary the class podium, although the same patch of oil very nearly sends the Clio to join the Cudi on the grass if not for a masterfull bit of car control by Gary!
The chequered flag is waved, and the clio crosses the line in P5 overall, and 2nd in Class. A great result and only 8 seconds off the overall race leader!
A great way to start the Race of Remembrance weekend, and focus now turns to the Endurance race….
Richard Barnard
Team Manager
RABsport Racing
