The third Super Tourer Power weekend certainly wowed the crowds at Brands Hatch last weekend, with the cars from a golden era of motorsport taking to the track in some enthralling racing.
In baking heat there were some familiar cars and names taking to the Brands Hatch GP and Indy circuit both days, with 90s era Touring cars and beyond reminding fans just why the Touring cars were and still are so popular.
Michael Lyons drove to victory in the first Super Tourer race of the Super Touring Power 3 weekend here at Brands Hatch on Saturday afternoon.
At the wheel of a Honda Accord which has been shipped from New Zealand especially to contest this weekend’s races, Lyons took the lead when the pack launched into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time. Lyons started from second alongside four-time British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington but was able just get ahead from the rolling start.
Turkington fought back as they streamed up towards Druids for the first time, but Lyons just managed to keep the tin top veteran behind him. Turkington launched another attack which started on the Cooper Straight and was ahead again by the time the leading duo emerged from the woodland Grand Prix section of the circuit.
From there, Turkington charged into what seemed to be a commanding lead, setting times quicker even than his pole position effort in bright and sunny conditions. But with only eight of what would ultimately be 12 laps completed, the Vauxhall slowed with an issue, denying the Northern Irishman what would have been a popular victory on Super Touring debut.
This left Lyons to drive to a comfortable victory, over 17 seconds ahead of New Zealand’s Conrad Timms at the wheel of his Ford Mondeo. Colin Sowter completed the podium in a Peugeot 406. Behind that, two more of the visitors from New Zealand completed the top-five with Paul McCarthy fourth in the purple and yellow Mazda Xedos 6 and Allan Scott fifth in his Mazda 323 ST.
Jim Pocklington crossed the line sixth in his Vauxhall Cavalier GSI, just ahead of Roger Stanford in the first of a handful of later cars joining the Super Tourers. David Power, Jason Hughes and Eliot Dunmore rounded out the top-10.
Jason Hughes claimed an impressive double victory in the two Classic Touring Car Racing Club (CTCRC) Super Tourer races on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit at Super Touring Power 3 on Sunday afternoon.
The former independent BTCC racer took over the Vauxhall Vectra raced so ably by Colin Turkington on Saturday, but initially had to settle for a second row start after being outqualified by the Honda Accord of Michael Lyons, the Nissan Primera of Kayne Scott and Colin Sowter’s Peugeot 406.
Scott threatened to seize an early lead from Lyons, but the experienced historic campaigner who won on Saturday fought back. From there, Hughes, began to pick his way through the order and was hunting Lyons down by mid-race.
The Honda defended well from Hughes who kept the pressure on lap after lap. An opening finally came at the exit of Clark Curve, with Hughes boldly slipping up the inside and taking the lead in a three-wide move as the leaders passed CTCRC Chairman Stuart Caie in his Vauxhall Cavalier.
After taking the lead, Hughes drove home to win just a handful of tenths in front. Scott completed the podium ahead of New Zealand’s Conrad Timms who’d been enjoying a strong weekend in his Ford Mondeo. Four-time BTCC champion Turkington completed the top-five in the MG ZS Hughes drove on Saturday.
Hughes won from pole in the final race of the weekend, driving home from lights to flag with only Lyons able to maintain close proximity. The Honda was just a few seconds behind over the line, with a significant gap back to Timms in third, who ended the weekend with his second podium.
Turkington was just over a second behind Timms, with Scott eventually rounding out the top-five after seemingly struggling for straight line speed in the iconic red Nissan Primera. He fought hard against both Timms and Turkington but had to settle for a spot just behind.
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