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News for 2007 season Sport Maxx Cup Reports 26th + 27th May Qualifying was a matter of completing 3 laps as the race was over subscribed. Three laps completed and next time round it was into the pits for John to tweak the suspension. Back out, back in for another tweak. Back out again, back in again. Back out again. Stay out and try for a reasonable lap time. We were not last but we were back on the 17th row. Time had been ok in the circumstances – new suspension and new pads. Lights out and oh dear. Richard’s lovely paint work took a bit of a battering as the guys at the front did not get away too well and everyone behind looked for a way through. Made up several places before the red flag appeared. Back to the grid where a Nissan Primera ex BTCC super tourer had a Cossie in its boot. Once cleared away it was lights out and away. Got by a couple of cars and then the drag race along Revett’s Straight. Another couple passed. That was it really; did not want to stick the nose in and get it broken so settled in behind a train of motors. The class win was in the bag as we were the only ones in T3, ahead of the Xsara were a couple of T2 cars so third overall in our production based race and 27th when you count all the slick shod modifieds. Sunday was going to be wet. And the weather peeps were right. It chucked it down. Bloody hell, where is everybody? The lights had gone out and all that could be seen was spray, no one to the inside so across and hug the kerb up to Riches and keep tight in up to Sear. Onto Revett’s and move to the left. Slip in between a couple of cars, play follow the leader through the Bombhole and into Coram. Find the inside line and head for the chicane. Over the line and we are about 19th. Next few laps are great as the Xsara’s narrowish tyres cut through the water and give some good grip. Banging on the door of the top ten and the windscreen misting is getting bad. The back of my glove is too wet now, the bit of emergency rag has suffered the same fate. Nothing for it but to try running with open windows. It gets better but not brilliant due to the right lens of my glasses started to join in the misting game. A couple of Minis slithered by at the chicane as the ex German touring car Mercedes Evo 190 loomed large ahead of us. Merc passed and then an Escort for 11th overall. I knew the class win was ours again but had not realised we were leading the Tin Tops. A nice bit of silverware. Hopefully the first of many this season. Big thanks to John, Rene and Bernard for the support.
28/29 April - It was a hectic weekend at Snetterton . The Xsara was sitting on Toyo shod Compomotives borrowed from the BX. Six pristine, colour-coded Xsara rims sat naked in boxes in the back of the car. We had arrived at the circuit and at last they would be fitted with new rubber. Soon done, but they could not be balanced due to lack of the right equipment. We skipped the test session to concentrate on the decals. Dunlop door stickers in place and on went the numbers. Dunlop sun strip on, Dunlop number plate stickers on, BARC stickers on, Sunoco stickers on. On went the wheels. Popped out for qualifying. Bloody hell, did it vibrate. Up to 85 was ok; at 110 it was all over the place. For the race John simply switched wheels front to rear, rear to front, and we hoped all would be better. Onto the scales and a weight of 1039kg appeared on the digital screen. The number is exactly 200kg less than Evo magazine reckons the car weighs, and we had only thrown out the trim and air con. Puts the Xsara at 160 bhp per tonne. Best lap time was a tad better than expected at 1.38.876 but it did leave us in 11th (of 11) over 5 seconds adrift of the car in front. If all was well with the wheels I could see us circulating in the 1.33s Race one start on Sunday was very enjoyable. The guys in front were not expecting the Citroen to catch them. A bit of to-ing and fro-ing and the VTS was soon in the groove. It certainly felt better, the vibration starting around 95 and still not too bad at 120. We had a pretty good run and was only lapped? by a 350z which went by under the red flag but soon dropped back in line. The Seat Leon FR had been tapped and collected a tyre barrier; damage looked minor. We finished 7th with a best lap of 1.31.383 Race two was ok, in fact the first few laps were fun! Swapping of places was courtesy of 2nd gear disengaging itself at Russell until it was firmly held in place and the car driven one handed. Another 7th overall with a best of 1.31.012 Thanks to John, Rene, Bernard for looking after the car and to Martin Evans and Chris Ducklin for coming along to cheer us on. Sneak Peek!
Just a glimpse of what is to come Newsflash! Dunlop have put together a TV package for at least five of the six rounds of the BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup. The new television deal will offer more race action of the Sport Maxx Cup to wider audiences with greater coverage on Sky Sports and Motors TV.
Looks like a tough time on the track for the Xsara as the published list of cars for the Sport Maxx Cup at March 1st is as follows
For 2007, the Witmun Engineering Team BX Sport name will adorn a Citroen Xsara VTS in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup. The series for production based cars will run 12 races at 6 events as part of the Great & Britsh Motorsport Festival meetings.
The 2007 BARC/Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup will consist of 6 double header races as follows
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