Brands Hatch GP – 17/18th May 2025 Race Report, Images and Results

Posted on: May 23rd 2025 • Posted in: Race Results

Rounds 3 and 4 – Brands Hatch GP

The May sunshine illuminated the Saturday morning briefing held in Chloe’s Club coffee tent. The entry of 26 drivers were gathered all looking forward to enjoying the two races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. In the entry for this event was Mackenzie Walker, Sean Walker’s son, making his first appearance for the season in his brand new MCR. He was sharing the awning with David Houghton who had done the Friday morning test session on the Indy circuit.

Michael Gibbins also took part in the test session, his testing terminated when the rose joint failed on his front wishbone approaching Druids. Luckily without any further damage to the car. Repair work in the afternoon had the car ready for Saturday. Tony Barwell tested the family MCR, his car having a misfire. Clive Hayes coming across to assist to have the car ready for Saturday qualifying. Son James taking over the driving duties for the weekend.

Another driver having problems for Clive to resolve was Andy Chittenden. Again the car being ready for Saturday qualifying. It was another late night for the University Students still chasing the intermittent misfire on John Iley’s car. Whilst further work was required on Tim Tudor’s car. A delaminating floor pan being the issue reported. The Students working late until 2.00a.m. We trust their endeavours will help towards their course work. John Owen was hoping he had resolved his oil leak from Silverstone having traced the problem to a gearbox seal. Patrick Clifton was having his first taste of Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in the Tiga SC79.

Ross Hyett had dropped into Brands Hatch on Friday to shake down his Group 6 Chevron prior to the Spa Classic for the 24th/25th May. His entries for Brands Hatch having been withdrawn when his driver had an accident in testing at Silverstone.

Qualifying

There was drama for Steve Ough in the collecting area when his exhaust failed the noise test. A quick race back to the paddock with the loan of an exhaust from Allan Gibbins, he was able to take part in qualifying.

As at Silverstone, it was Michael Gibbins who would head the timing sheets, but the fight to be second on the grid was closely contested. Tim Tudor with his repaired floor was the first to take up the challenge, followed by Ben Cater. In the Historics Mike Fry was the top of the timing sheets from Nik Johnson. John Illey’s problems continued from Silverstone describing it as kangarooing in the left hand corners. Leaving the students with more problems to ponder in the lead up to the race.

As the session progressed it would be Josh Law, who assumed the position behind Michael with MacKenzie Walker coming up into 3rd place Tim Tudor 4th place, with Ben Cater 5th. Nik Johnson in the Lola T88/90 now having assumed the lead of the Historics from Mike Fry Tiga SC79 and Peter Needham Van Diemen RF02 in third place. For Peter the qualifying would be his best result of the weekend. His steering arm braking at Stirlings. Peter used his years of experience to avoid further damage, but the car was buried into the gravel trap, necessitating a red flag and a full lift recovery.

Other drivers experiencing problems were Roger Donnan whose engine cut out and had to be restarted after a reset on the master switch whilst rolling down from Druids. Rollo Tomasi whose Van Diemen also cut out on circuit and was brought back with the recovered car of Peter Needham. Steve Ough despite the loan of an exhaust could not get the car to peak performance. Colin Peach’s mechanical woes continuing from Silverstone in his Van Diemen with his clutch losing pressure. Bottled up behind a fellow competitor he was struggling to set a good time. The problem that brought his qualifying session to an end would be brake failure. The pedal going to the floor luckily it was on the early part of the lap and he was able to cut through the Indy circuit to retire to the pits without further damage.

The qualifying session would restart for 5 minutes. Michael Gibbins, remaining at the head of the timing sheets, Josh Law closing the gap to just over half a second. Just over 7 tenths back from Josh would be Mackenzie Walker, with Ben Cater, Richard Johnson and Tim Tudor separated by 3 tenths of a second from 4th to 7th position. Heading the Derek Bell class in 8th place was Roger Donnan, 9th place going to Ashley Law with Peter Brouwer completing the top 10 and heading Duratec class B.

Nik Johnson headed the Historic Classes from Mike Fry, with Peter Needham’s withdrawal, Simon Aldworth’s Lola T492 would take third place on the grid.

Race 1

As the cars completed their warming up lap, Ash Law put up his hand to indicate he was in trouble. His fuel pump had cut out. The start was delayed as Ash was pushed from the grid and the cars were released for a second warm up lap. At the start it was Josh Law that led into Paddock Hill Bend with Michael Gibbins second. Mackenzie Walker made a poor start and found himself entering Paddock Hill Bend three abreast. Deciding on discretion Mackenzie slipped down the order, with Ben Cater occupying the third slot from Richard Johnson, David Houghton 6th and Tim Tudor in 7th place.

There were no mistakes from Nik Johnson who took the lead of the Historics from a fast starting Simon Aldworth in second place, Mike Fry third Patrick Clifton 4th Richard Cooke 5th. Ash Law, started from the pit lane, passing both Patrick Clifton and Richard Cooke the end of the first lap.
Andy Chittenden’s race ended with a light brush at Druids that unclipped his front bodywork. Not being able to see where he was going Andy pulled off to retire. Ash Law’s race would come to a halt on the outside Graham Hill Bend. With his car stranded on the circuit when his fuel pump cut out again. The safety car was deployed whilst he was towed clear.

On the restart Josh Law, led away with Michael Gibbins second and Ben Cater third. On the following lap, Richard Johnson got past Ben Cater, Roger Donnan losing 8th place to James Barwell. James having moved up from his 10th place grid slot. The race had broken down into close groups. Ben Cater leading Tim Tudor, and Mackenzie Walker, the next group being James Barwell, Roger Donnan, and Peter Brouwer. Steve Ough and Colin Peach were embroiled in a battle for 13th, and in 17th Adrian Ridge was fending off Rollo Tomasi and Nik Johnson leading the Historics. On lap 7, Michael Gibbins made his move for the lead, taking control of the race by passing Josh on the inside at Paddock Hill Bend.

On Lap 8 the race would end when Ben Cater slid off into the barriers following a non-intentional touch from Tim Tudor. Both drivers when interviewed after the accident relayed a matching story to the Clerk of the Course it was confirmed as a racing incident. Ben after a check up at the Med Centre, was quick to praise the strength of the MCR chassis which had withstood the barrier impact very well.

The result of race 1 being a win for Michael Gibbins, from Josh Law, with Richard Johnson third. Roger Donnan finished 8th winning the DB class from Peter Williams, and Steve Ough. 9th place was Peter Brouwer who won class B from John Owen and Colin Peach.

The Historic race was won by Nik Johnson, with Simon Aldworth second winning Historic Class C from Mike Fry who completed the Historic podium in 3rd place overall.

Race 2

It would be 24 cars that lined up on the Sunday afternoon for the second of the Sports 2000 races. Being an afternoon race, the competitors had enjoyed a buffet lunch provided by the Pink Ladies.

Michael Gibbins was leaving nothing to chance in the second race taking an immediate lead from Josh Law, David Houghton 3rd, Richard Johnson 4th Mackenzie Walker 5th with Tim Tudor 6th not making one of his renowned flying starts. Ash Law and Andy Chittenden both making rapid progress through the field from their back of the grid starting positions. Ash 13th at the end of lap 1 and Andy 16th.

Nik Johnson had taken control of the Historic field leading from Mike Fry and Simon Aldworth.

Missing at the end of lap 1 was James Barwell. James who either had cold tyres or a brake problem had gone straight on into the barriers at Stirlings sending Marshals and club Photographer Kevin Gibson diving for cover as he arrived in a cloud of gravel. The Safety car was called whilst the car was placed into a safe position.

After 4 laps behind the safety car the race would restart with the familiar duo of Michael Gibbins and Josh Law leading, with David Houghton in a short lived 3rd place when Richard Johnson dived past him into Druids. Mackenzie Walker in 5th place wishing to keep sight of Richard Johnson demoted David Houghton to 5th place on the following lap.

The close racing that had been promised all weekend finally burst into life and for 7 glorious laps there were dices down the field. Colin Peach and John Iley both found their car issues resolved. For John the ability to race was a welcome surprise after a problematic start to the season although a very fired up Colin Peach passed John and Ash Law into Dingle Dell in a three car wide manoeuvre. Whenever the car is on form, Colin too comes to life and the broad smile on his face in the paddock afterwards was worth a thousand words.

Mackenzie Walker continued to hound Richard Johnson for the final podium slot, as David Houghton began to come under threat from Tim Tudor. Josh Needham had a good tussle with Peter Williams before the wily Welshman outgunned the young pretender for 10th place overall. John Owen had a good scrap with Steve Ough but first they were caught and passed by Colin Peach, then Ash Law.

A great race that regrettably was foreshortened when Patrick Clifton became beached in a gravel trap. So many close finishes at the end, a few more battles to be resumed later in the season. It was smiles all round in the paddock afterwards, as the awards were handed out.

Race 2 winner was Michael Gibbins from Josh Law and Richard Johnson with Mackenzie Walker 4th, David Houghton 5th, Tim Tudor 6th. Peter Brouwer was 7th and class B winner, Josh Needham in 10th place would be second in class B with Colin Peach claiming 3rd in 11th place. 8th and class DB winner was Roger Donnan, from Peter Williams 2nd in class DB and 9th overall with Steve Ough in 13th place rounding out the DB class.

In the Historics Nik Johnson repeated his win this time with Mike Fry second having held off the challenge from Simon Aldworth. Michael Gibbins for his impressive two wins was awarded driver of the day.

The next round of the Championship will take place at Silverstone on the Grand Prix circuit on June 9th. It will be a busy day with qualifying and both races all taking place on the Sunday. At least the students from the South Wales University are guaranteed no late night working on that weekend.

Many thanks to Alan Jones for this report.

Full results are available via the Results Page. Here

Race Images

Many thanks to Kevin Gibson of KJG Photograpy for these Images from the event. To view the full set or purchase copies visit https://www.kjgphotography.co.uk