Lydden is the home of club motorsport in Kent based near Dover on the A2, this picturesque circuit was previously owned by Maclaren Racing, plans to alter this mini Brands Hatch into a test circuit for the world famous formula 1 team were curtailed by the local authority Dover council on the grounds of excessive noise being generated by the high revving unsilenced F1 engine.
The circuit was to become a white elephant to Maclaren and sold to a rally cross family, who recently regenerated the paddock and various aspects of the track to meet FIA standards, mainly in the area of safety.

This was to be round 4 of the SEMSEC Championship which is open to a varied mixture of hybrid modified saloons and sports cars, including space frames like our team member Mary races.

New pads were to be bedded in and also a new tyre. Racing slicks have to be deglazed, which is done over 3 to 4 laps of gentle driving, after which the level of grip is maximised. Finding a clear lap in qualifying was to be no problem and the mini took pole by .03 of a second. Next to us on the grid was to be arch rival Nigel Craig in a very rapid Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD.
 
 

The only problem discovered after qualifying was a broken alternator bolt, this was to be rectified by the team engineer with time in hand.

As usual I made a slow start and was out dragged to the 1st corner by the turbo charged 4 wheel drive Impreza, but after this a titanic battle ensued until we found a way past using a back marker. Once in front he wasn’t going to pass us. Click here to watch the action. The Clubman took an overall win

Race 2 saw the same battle, however all did not go our way and the Impreza took the initiative on the last lap within site of the flag however, the Mini proved to be no slouch and did us proud.

The team look forward to the next round of the high profile DMN championship at Brands Hatch this Sunday 12th June.