Saunders Makes it 2 from 2 at Brands

Despite qualifying with the Euro Saloons, Mike Saunders made it a very impressive 2 from 2 plus both fastest lap bonus points at Brands Hatch this weekend in the opening rounds of the Dunlop TVR European Challenge. 

In Race 1, which had been postponed from Saturday night due to weather, Mike made a very steady progression up the grid moving up to 2nd by Lap 11 just 4 seconds behind race leader and 2008 Champion Dean Cook. He continued to reel Cook in and passed him 5 laps later, whereupon he started to open up a 2 seconds per lap advantage over the former champion. At the chequered flag, despite back markers Saunders to relinquish a little of his lead, the Cerbera pilot was 10.4 seconds ahead of Cook who in turn was holding less than 2/10 second ahead of Tuscan veteran Martin Crass. Class B was headed home by 2009 Champion Tim Davis in 4th overall while Class C went to Jim Walsh in Tasmin after his only rival in Class C, fellow newcomer James Knight, fell by the wayside on lap 2.

Race 2 saw Saunders starting on pole with Cook alongside on the front row. But a poor start from Saunders saw him drop to 4th as Cook, Davis and Andy Race all surged through. It was only a slight set back though as by lap 5 Saunders was back up to 2nd with less than a second separating him from leader Cook. Slowly whittling this away until on passing the pits at the end of lap 7 there was less than 3/100ths between them and the way was clear for Saunders to take the lead on lap 8. He made the most of the clear track ahead of him and started to put roughly a second a lap between himself and Cook. Cook did manage to claw some of it back towards the end of the race but Saunders finished a clear 9.6 seconds ahead. Third place went to Class B winner Davis some 20 seconds adrift behind Cook while Class C went to Knight, 2 laps ahead of Walsh.

For full results, please see the TSL Timings Website. A full report with photographs will appear in the Motorsport Page in the Members’ Area as soon as possible. Not yet a member? What are you waiting for? Join online today to start receiving all of the benefits of members whch could save you hundreds of pounds per year! Click why join? for full details.

The next rounds will take place at Silverstone on 28/29 July.