MX-5 Racing Roundup for August and September

11 October 2013 / Words by Craig Durrant. Pictures: FOSC by Cameron Hallam, MRA by Scott Walker

 FOSC 10 & 11 AUGUST SMP South

Festival of Sporting Cars events feature an eclectic mix of cars old and new, from historic vehicles and open wheelers to modern sports cars, and the drivers are just as diverse. The more than 100 vehicles competing included a 1952 Austin A30, a 1965 GT 350S Mustang - and a 2006 MX-5. Whilst you might expect the drivers of the more historic machines to tread carefully in the races, the reality was that many of them took to the track with a take no prisoners approach.

There were eight MX-5s competing across the weekend, in Regularity events and the Historic and Invited Sports Cars races. Several of these had their first taste of motorsport in a special ‘Come and Try It’ Regularity format put on by FOSC.

The three MX-5s racing were piloted by John Anastas, Craig Durrant and Bill Kinnane, in two NB’s and a barge ..sorry… a bloody quick barge. John battled gearbox issues and was fortunate the races featured rolling starts so he could nurse his car, with a choice of just 3^rd and 4^th gear, across the start line. Nonetheless he managed to post some impressively rapid lap times. Bill and Craig worked their way through the order over the weekend, from 9^th to 5^th on Saturday and on Sunday each took several 3^rds  and a 2^nd place apiece. The weekend featured spirited and good natured racing on a tight and technical track. 

MRA ROUND 4, 14 & 15 September Wakefield Park

This was the 4^th and final round of the MRA (Motor Racing Australia championship) for 2013. Several new categories were presented including Super Trucks and Nascars, along with the regulars such as Super TT and MX-5s.

On Saturday, after heavy rain overnight, 2 MX-5s were due to take on the monster cars in the Sports Sedans/Nascar races. Andy Harris experienced mechanical issues so it was left to Craig Durrant to duke it out with the 650bhp monsters on a drying track surrounded by a muddy quagmire that punished wayward driving. After a frustrating day and a heroic effort repairing the car including 800kms on the road backwards and forwards to Sydney, Andy managed to rejoin the field for Sunday’s racing.

On Sunday seven MX-5s formed up on the grid for two races with the Super TT field. The action unfolded in front of a large crowd who had come to watch the variety of categories competing over the weekend. The Super TT / MX-5 races were huge affairs. With a grid of 38 cars, ranging from Nissan GTRs and ex-Supercar V8s, to Evo’s and MX-5s, it was always going to be hectic. Daniel Deckers and Luke Otten took it to the big boys in their high powered MX5s whilst the remaining 5 MX-5s – piloted by Steve Green, Bill Kinnane, Andy Harris, Craig Durrant and Chris Quick – battled it out with the TT cars and each other in the middle of the field. Daniel Deckers placed the highest of the MX-5s at 5^th.

The final race of the day for the MX-5s was the MX-5 Trophy Race. Deckers continued his form by finishing 1^st, followed by Luke and Steve on 2^ndand 3^rd respectively. All of the MX-5s went home winners and grinners after their trophy race regardless of where they finished, with positions 4 through 7 all posting pb’s during the race.

For more information about MX-5 racing contact Craig Durrant.