As the 2014 season begins to draw to a close, the teams headed across the channel to compete at Kent’s storied circuit – Brands Hatch, where Kelvin Snoeks would steer his Volvo S60 to a pair of victories on the GP loop.
Race 1
Even a drive-through penalty couldn’t hold back Kelvin Snoeks from taking the win in race one in what would eventually be a close run contest to the flag with Roger Grouwels and Arjan van der Zwaan and their Viper.
Martin Short grabbed pole position on Saturday, but couldn’t translate that into a win, as Snoeks and Peter Kox nipped past the Englishman on the first lap at Paddock Hill. The safety car had to be deployed on the opening tour of the circuit too, as Dann Meijer stopped out on circuit in a dangerous spot.
This brief break in the action created a spectacular three-way battle for the lead between Snoeks, Kox and Short with van der Zwaan hanging back in clear air in fourth place.
After the first stop Roger Grouwels stepped into the Viper and led the Raceart Viper to the front of the field, with Snoeks sitting second, and Short then holding third. Grouwels couldn’t hold the lead after the second stop however, as Martin Short took charge with better pace and a faster stop. Technical issues unfortunately prevented Short from finishing the race though, forcing him to park his car after 24 laps.
Snoeks was then handed his drive-through penalty after a pit lane infringement during his second stop, causing him to lose a considerable chunk of time to Grouwels out front. The Dutchman was on a mission though, and put up some astonishing times after serving his penalty, to claw his way back into contention for the win.
Grouwels just couldn’t hang on, and with only a few laps left to run, relinquished the lead to Snoeks, whose winning margin was just over 4 seconds by the final lap.
Craig Wilkens piloted his GT3 Racing Dodge Viper solo this time out and took a dominant win in a depleted GT class, while Fiona James’ Lamborghini Gallardo came home first in GTB.
Race 2
Snoeks took a far more convincing win in the second and final race of the weekend, being followed home by Henry Zumbrink and his Volvo S60.
Peter Kox had a magnificent start in his McLaren and stole the top spot from the race 1 victor round the outside at Paddock Hill bend. From there Kox was able to build a small lead in the opening laps while Snoeks and Zumbrink – who climbed to third – tried to keep in touch with the MP4-12c.
It remained a stalemate as the first round of stops approached, the Kox’s lead would shrink after he rejoined the race, creating a thrilling duel for the lead. But it would be short lived, as the McLaren would be parked in the pit lane due to a sensor failure.
Snoeks consolidated his lead for the final 18 laps after Kox retired, as Zumbrink held a consistent pace in second to keep the Raceart Viper at bay.
In GT, there was a big shakeup of form, as Henk Thuis would win the second race in his Radical, while Colin White and his CWS Ginetta would come home second, with Wilkens a distant third.
James would also complete a double in the GTB class however, with Max Koebolt’s Corvette taking the fight to the Backdraft Motorsport Lambo all the way to the end of the race.
The first weekend in October is the penultimate round of the season, and will be held at the infamous Spa Francorchamps in the Ardennes.
Stephen Kilbey
