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On Saturday May 4th 2024, the time finally arrived for Miata Trophy to support Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. Excitement for the event was high as we headed into the morning’s qualifying session.
The first-ever Miata Trophy event was held on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in 2023 and it was Aidan Hills that topped both Qualifying and SuperPole on that occasion. Clearly keen to repeat the feat this time around, the Hills Motorsport #8 driver immediately got to work. However, Hills wasn’t alone in wanting to impress and a number of other drivers posted personal bests to stake their claim at the top of the timing sheet. Hills Motorsport teammates Roan Lundy and Nicholas Stott looked impressive, setting strong early benchmarks for rivals to beat. As the session neared completion, it was clear the battle for SuperPole was going to be incredibly tight. A tremendous lap time of 1:45:831secs ensured that Aidan Hills would make it through as fastest qualifier, with Roan Lundy and Nicholas Stott’s early times enough to see the Hills Motorsport duo through too. Reigning Champion Declan Lee used every bit of his expertise to progress to SuperPole, while Miller Motorsport’s John Langridge edged Michael Knibbs to take the final space in SuperPole by just 0.008secs! To demonstrate the competitiveness of the field, Hills Motorsport’s Daniel Parrans-Smith and Drew Fletcher qualified in seventh and eighth, but only missed out on SuperPole by less than one tenth! BC Cars Motorsport’s Kevin Silvain would also join SuperPole, topping the ND Class qualifying session in the process.
SuperPole provides an intriguing test of both a competitor’s speed and their ability to deal with the pressure of having to deliver on a single lap. Aidan Hills utilised his experience and race craft to rise above any nerves and deliver a great lap, securing his second-ever Miata Trophy pole position! Miller Motorsport’s John Langridge would join Hills on the front row, with reigning Champion Declan Lee in third. Roan Lundy and Nicholas Stott would round out the top five, in fourth and fifth respectively. Attention now turned to the third round of the 2024 Miata Trophy season.
An excellent getaway and opening lap from polesitter Hills ensured the #8 car remained at the front of field, while Hills Motorsport teammate Declan Lee had leapfrogged to second. John Langridge rounded out the top three, with a fast-starting Michael Knibbs in fourth. Plenty of overtakes were on display throughout the field for spectators to enjoy. As Aidan Hills looked to extend his lead out front, almost nothing could separate Lee, Langridge and Knibbs over the line after lap one. Knibbs managed to surpass Langridge for third, inviting Roan Lundy to join and put the pressure on the cars in front. Will Morris had enjoyed a strong opening stint to closely follow Lundy, while Nicholas Stott was picking his way back through the field after losing out on the opening lap. A red flag then brought proceedings to a close, with Aidan Hills earning his first victory of the 2024 Miata Trophy season – a third different winner in as many races. Michael Knibbs had just managed to get his nose in front of Declan Lee to secure second, while Lee finishing in third ensured a Hills Motorsport top three. John Langridge had to settle for fourth in the #5 Miller Motorsport car, ahead of: Roan Lundy, Nicholas Stott, Will Morris and Drew Fletcher. Connor Clifford and Daniel Parrans-Smith rounded out the top ten. Elsewhere, Kevin Silvain displayed some great racing enroute ND Class victory and picked up a good haul of points for BC Cars Motorsport.
Another great getaway from Aidan Hills kept the driver at the head of a busy Miata Trophy field at the start of the day’s second race, with Michael Knibbs able to defend his second place. John Langridge had got the jump on Declan Lee through the opening exchanges, while both Drew Fletcher and Daniel Parrans-Smith launched their way through the field to end the first lap fifth and sixth respectively. Langridge’s charge saw the #5 driver rise to second, while some gripping racing was happening behind throughout the field – with epic jostling and staunch defending aplenty. As the race progressed, another fantastic battle for second place between Langridge, Knibbs and Lee would thrill those in attendance. Heading into the final couple of laps, it was Michael Knibbs in front, with Declan Lee hot on his heels. John Langridge’s pursuit of the two in front was made trickier by Daniel Parrans-Smith, who had looked excellent all throughout the second half of the race and was now firmly in the podium hunt. Throughout the closing laps, each of the quartet from second to fifth pushed hard, while ensuring they didn’t make a mistake. There was no such worry for Aidan Hills up front, who had put in a faultless drive to claim his second victory of the day. The Hills Motorsport #8 driver topped every session throughout the meeting and thoroughly deserved the top step. Michael Knibbs fended off everything Declan Lee could throw at him to finish in second, with Lee finishing in third to replicate the day’s earlier 1/2/3. John Langridge again narrowly missed out on the podium places, but should be proud of the solid pace shown throughout the meeting. Daniel Parrans-Smith’s strong pace in race two resulted in fifth, ahead of: Connor Clifford, Drew Fletcher, Nicholas Stott, Roan Lundy and Will Morris. Kevin Silvain recorded a second victory in ND Class, completing a confident display from the BC Cars Motorsport driver.
A huge congratulations to all of our podium finishers.