The Safety and Accessibility of Racing Cars

This weekend's racing experience has been nothing short of fantastic. The car is really accessible, really approachable, and it feels really safe and secure when you're flinging it into the corners. The grip when the tires are hot is outrageous - frankly, I'm not getting anywhere near the limit of the grip like the rest of these boys are. This is the way to go for all MINI CHALLENGE cars, as evidenced by the new f56 generation model being an altogether more serious racing car than the JCW it replaces.

The organizers have used British suppliers, which has certainly raised the bar for this series. The brakes are outstanding, the dampers are Nitron, and the brake pads make a noticeable difference. This was just my second ever race weekend, so I set myself a modest target - get the car home in one piece and get within two seconds of the fastest lap time. The pace at the front of the MINI CHALLENGE is massively quick, with drivers who have decades of experience and are pursuing professional careers.

The mini challenge was supporting the block pan sprint series, which really drew the crowds to Brands Hatch. We had four practice sessions on the Friday, but only on the shorter India loop. My first sight of the GP circuit would be in the 15 minute qualifying session on Saturday morning, which meant I was really up against it. Not helping myself by running into the back of another car at 30 seconds or two later, the safety car came out before I got a decent lap in. It stayed out until the end of the session, and that meant I'd start the first race from way down on the grid - regardless of qualifying times.

In fact, the f56 cars always start ahead of the JCW pack. This weekend's qualifying sessions were intense, with many drivers pushing hard for a good lap time. The pressure is on to get it right, as any mistakes can be costly in terms of position and speed. I couldn't help myself by running into the back of another car at 30 seconds or two later. However, this was an unfortunate incident that left me struggling to make progress.

On Saturday morning, I found myself starting the first race from way down on the grid - fourteenth of twenty-five cars. This didn't faze me too much, but the driver in front of me waving his arms manically did send a shiver down my spine. As we lined up at the start line, I knew that it was going to be an intense battle out there. The JCW pack is notoriously hard to get past, and this weekend's racing proved no exception.

The first race was a bit of a blur, with the safety car coming out due to an incident involving another driver. As I managed to avoid getting caught up in the chaos, I found myself pitting with a gearbox issue on lap five. The gearbox failure meant that I had to pit again with just two laps remaining - and it proved costly as I failed to get back onto the podium.

On Sunday's second race, things only got more dramatic. Unfortunately, my start was less than ideal, with me spinning around like a top at the beginning of the lap. The safety car came out for an incident at Westfield, which allowed me to close up to the pack and make progress. However, I eventually found myself alongside one of the JCW drivers - but got spooked by another driver's spinner, allowing him to get back in front.

After a few more incidents, I managed to get past two more cars and was right on the tail of the leader - with just one lap remaining. It all seemed so within reach, only for me to lose my concentration and fall back across the line. This meant that I crossed the finish line in 15th place, despite having been as close as possible to victory.

The final race of the weekend was by far my best performance yet. I managed to keep the JCW's behind me and stayed with the back of the f50 six-pack - a clear demonstration of my improving skills on the track. After it locked up at Druids, I managed to hold onto my position and cross the line in 10th place overall. My fastest lap was just 1.7 seconds off the quickest time, which although may seem like a small margin, felt like a victory to me.

The Conclusion of an Eventful Weekend

This weekend's racing event has been nothing short of incredible - despite some setbacks and incidents along the way. The car performed flawlessly, the track was challenging but rewarding, and my driving skills saw some significant improvements. It's not the first time that this series has provided a unique blend of excitement and unpredictability, but it certainly feels fresh.

As I reflect on the weekend's events, it becomes clear that this is what makes racing so addictive. Every circuit offers its own unique challenges and opportunities for improvement - whether you're seasoned pro or just starting out like me. With every pass through the gears, I felt a rush of adrenaline that left me wanting more.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ensunny brands hatch for the MINI CHALLENGE and what a brilliant weekend it's been so far it's Sunday morning at the moment we've got two races this afternoon yesterday we had qualifying and the first race I'll talk you through those in a moment I'm being run by accelerate motorsport they're the biggest most professional team in the championship they're running ten cars this weekend including my car which is the guest car owned by mini UK it means that I mean the same team as some of the really quick really experienced drivers so I've been watching them picking up a few tips and what I've learnt is that this is how you wear your race suit in the paddock let's have a look at the car here it is the new f56 MINI CHALLENGE race car this is its second time out the first round was at Donington two weeks ago so the teams are still working out how to get the most out of it it's got the same two liter turbo engine as the Cooper S Road car tuned up to about 270 horsepower in this specification driving the front wheels through as a Quaife sequential gearbox it's fantastic I love that gearbox we're carrying the Evo branding this weekend which means the reputation of the whole magazine is at stake let's hope I don't do anything silly but it's a proper piece of kit we'll be on Pirelli slick tires for the race it's nice and dry nice and sunny so we shouldn't have too much trouble getting heat into them and there's proper Aero on this car as well big old rear wing a massive diffuser down at the bottom so inside it's full race spec it's completely stripped there's nothing from the road car in there at all this carbon - its bespoke everything else has been taken out big chunky roll cage in the seat has been moved back in to the left for safety wheel comes right at you sequential lever so it's flat up shift clutch down and it just feels it feels superb when you're really going for out there got a nice safe setup this weekend for a front-wheel drive car to be quick on circuit you need it to be quite pointy quite oversteer I don't really fancy that this weekend's we've got a nice safe setup and it means that the car is really accessible really approachable and it feels really safe and secure when you're flinging it into the corners the grip when the tires are hot is outrageous frankly I'm not getting anywhere near the limit of the grip like the rest of these boys are this is the way in one may tracing all MINI CHALLENGE cars are the same the new f56 generation model is an altogether more serious racing car than the JCW it replaces where possible the organizers have used British suppliers the brakes are outcome the dampers are Nitron and the brake pads and min takes this was just my second ever race weekend so I set myself a modest target get the car home in one piece and get within two seconds of the fastest lap time the pace at the front of the MINI CHALLENGE is massively quick there are guys with decades of experience young drivers who are pursuing professional careers there's even one guy who's raced in the World Touring Car Championship don't mind me I'm just getting my excuses in the mini challenge was supporting the block pan sprint series which really drew the crowds to Brands Hatch we had four practice sessions on the Friday but only on the shorter India loop my first site of the GP circuit would be in the 15 minute qualifying session on Saturday morning that meant I was really up against the in quali and I didn't help myself by running into the back of another car at 30 s minute or two later the safety car came out before I got a decent lap in it stayed out until the end of the session and that meant I'd start the first race from way down on the grid regardless of qualifying times though the f56 cars always start ahead of the JCW pack I'd start the race fourteenth of 25 cars I don't think I've ever felt more nervous sat on the grid I could see the driver in front of me waving his arms manically I had to swerve his stranded car at the start and I was far too cautious into paddock hill which meant I got mugged by the JCW I spent the race trying to get back past them but I had to pit with a gearbox issue with two laps to run I got back out to take the checkered flag finishing in 19th position race 2 was the most dramatic of the weekend so we'll show you that one in detail I've got too much wheel spin at the start and when all hell broke loose at the bottom of paddock I backed off too much I got swamped by the JCW cars again the new cars a couple of seconds a lap quicker around here than the old car so I knew I could get back past a few of them later on lap one it all kicked off at Westfield and the safety car came out for that incident back at druids which allowed me to close up to the pack after a lap under yellow flags we were racing again but got alongside one of the JCW is on the run out of Graham Hill but got spooked by spinner at 30s and he got back in front I eventually got by on the main straight and then passed another the following lap the car feels superb around here the gearbox is a joy the Pirelli slicks find enormous grip and the brakes just don't fade no wonder everybody describes it as a mini touring car and Brands Hatch GP what an incredible track the back end of the circuit is fast flowing and the gradient changes are huge it's like a tiny slice of the Nurburgring I got by another jcw under braking for paddock and that left two of the older cars ahead of me by the start of the final lap ours with inside to the second place JCW with a clean lap I reckon I could have him we and you if I could stay on his tail through the final corner I might be able to out drag into the line but I got out of shape and fell back across the line in 15th position the final race of the weekend was by far my best I've got a good start kept the Jay CW's behind me and stayed with the back of the f50 six-pack I've got by one at druids after it locked up and managed to hold onto the position I finished tenth overall my fastest lap was 1.7 seconds off the quickest of the race yeah I know 10th is nowhere and 1.7 seconds is an eternity but on the cooldown app I felt like I'd won and there we have it one more racing addict to add to the pile to watch the chaotic mini race that we staged at the Bedford Auto drom click on the link on the left to see Richard Meade and drive an lmp2 car click on the link on the right and remember to subscribe to the channelsunny brands hatch for the MINI CHALLENGE and what a brilliant weekend it's been so far it's Sunday morning at the moment we've got two races this afternoon yesterday we had qualifying and the first race I'll talk you through those in a moment I'm being run by accelerate motorsport they're the biggest most professional team in the championship they're running ten cars this weekend including my car which is the guest car owned by mini UK it means that I mean the same team as some of the really quick really experienced drivers so I've been watching them picking up a few tips and what I've learnt is that this is how you wear your race suit in the paddock let's have a look at the car here it is the new f56 MINI CHALLENGE race car this is its second time out the first round was at Donington two weeks ago so the teams are still working out how to get the most out of it it's got the same two liter turbo engine as the Cooper S Road car tuned up to about 270 horsepower in this specification driving the front wheels through as a Quaife sequential gearbox it's fantastic I love that gearbox we're carrying the Evo branding this weekend which means the reputation of the whole magazine is at stake let's hope I don't do anything silly but it's a proper piece of kit we'll be on Pirelli slick tires for the race it's nice and dry nice and sunny so we shouldn't have too much trouble getting heat into them and there's proper Aero on this car as well big old rear wing a massive diffuser down at the bottom so inside it's full race spec it's completely stripped there's nothing from the road car in there at all this carbon - its bespoke everything else has been taken out big chunky roll cage in the seat has been moved back in to the left for safety wheel comes right at you sequential lever so it's flat up shift clutch down and it just feels it feels superb when you're really going for out there got a nice safe setup this weekend for a front-wheel drive car to be quick on circuit you need it to be quite pointy quite oversteer I don't really fancy that this weekend's we've got a nice safe setup and it means that the car is really accessible really approachable and it feels really safe and secure when you're flinging it into the corners the grip when the tires are hot is outrageous frankly I'm not getting anywhere near the limit of the grip like the rest of these boys are this is the way in one may tracing all MINI CHALLENGE cars are the same the new f56 generation model is an altogether more serious racing car than the JCW it replaces where possible the organizers have used British suppliers the brakes are outcome the dampers are Nitron and the brake pads and min takes this was just my second ever race weekend so I set myself a modest target get the car home in one piece and get within two seconds of the fastest lap time the pace at the front of the MINI CHALLENGE is massively quick there are guys with decades of experience young drivers who are pursuing professional careers there's even one guy who's raced in the World Touring Car Championship don't mind me I'm just getting my excuses in the mini challenge was supporting the block pan sprint series which really drew the crowds to Brands Hatch we had four practice sessions on the Friday but only on the shorter India loop my first site of the GP circuit would be in the 15 minute qualifying session on Saturday morning that meant I was really up against the in quali and I didn't help myself by running into the back of another car at 30 s minute or two later the safety car came out before I got a decent lap in it stayed out until the end of the session and that meant I'd start the first race from way down on the grid regardless of qualifying times though the f56 cars always start ahead of the JCW pack I'd start the race fourteenth of 25 cars I don't think I've ever felt more nervous sat on the grid I could see the driver in front of me waving his arms manically I had to swerve his stranded car at the start and I was far too cautious into paddock hill which meant I got mugged by the JCW I spent the race trying to get back past them but I had to pit with a gearbox issue with two laps to run I got back out to take the checkered flag finishing in 19th position race 2 was the most dramatic of the weekend so we'll show you that one in detail I've got too much wheel spin at the start and when all hell broke loose at the bottom of paddock I backed off too much I got swamped by the JCW cars again the new cars a couple of seconds a lap quicker around here than the old car so I knew I could get back past a few of them later on lap one it all kicked off at Westfield and the safety car came out for that incident back at druids which allowed me to close up to the pack after a lap under yellow flags we were racing again but got alongside one of the JCW is on the run out of Graham Hill but got spooked by spinner at 30s and he got back in front I eventually got by on the main straight and then passed another the following lap the car feels superb around here the gearbox is a joy the Pirelli slicks find enormous grip and the brakes just don't fade no wonder everybody describes it as a mini touring car and Brands Hatch GP what an incredible track the back end of the circuit is fast flowing and the gradient changes are huge it's like a tiny slice of the Nurburgring I got by another jcw under braking for paddock and that left two of the older cars ahead of me by the start of the final lap ours with inside to the second place JCW with a clean lap I reckon I could have him we and you if I could stay on his tail through the final corner I might be able to out drag into the line but I got out of shape and fell back across the line in 15th position the final race of the weekend was by far my best I've got a good start kept the Jay CW's behind me and stayed with the back of the f50 six-pack I've got by one at druids after it locked up and managed to hold onto the position I finished tenth overall my fastest lap was 1.7 seconds off the quickest of the race yeah I know 10th is nowhere and 1.7 seconds is an eternity but on the cooldown app I felt like I'd won and there we have it one more racing addict to add to the pile to watch the chaotic mini race that we staged at the Bedford Auto drom click on the link on the left to see Richard Meade and drive an lmp2 car click on the link on the right and remember to subscribe to the channel\n"