With only two rounds remaining, the MINI Challenge Series is back in the North Island, at the Manfeild Park racing circuit, Feilding.

Going into the penultimate Round 6 at Manfeild this weekend the Top 5 is:

1st        Craig Innes (Taupo)                    892
2nd       Simon McLennan (Wellington)   871
3rd        Gavin Yortt (Hawkes Bay)            746
4th        Mark Maddren (Auckland)            670
5th        Gary Johnstone (Christchurch)     512

Manfeild is a driver's circuit, a minimum 12 metre track width with up to 9 passing opportunities. The MINI's are good for 210 kph at Manfeild and with the big mix of left and right hand cambered corners cars they will be freight training with virtually nothing between them.  In fact at Ruapuna, seven cars crossed the line with just under 3 seconds covering them after 12 laps - plus 20 minutes of racing.  Add to that MINI's don't have limited slip differentials so the drivers must be smooth through the corners to avoid wheel spin.  

MINI Challenge Co-ordinator Martin Collins said:

"5th placed Gary Johnstone is not coming up to Manfeild but three North Island drivers are re-joining the series. James Kirkpatrick (Auckland), Martin Hunt (Wellington) and David Grigor (Auckland).

The good news for Joel Thrupp is, he is no longer labelled the 'Rookie', as there will be three new entries at Manfeild.

Chris Parkinson has purchased the ex Richard Moore car which has been rebuilt after its dramatic roll at Ruapuna last year.

Napier driver Dean McMillan has put a deal together to lease a MINI to compete in the final two rounds. Dean has been in semi retirement since last competing in the 2006/07 NZV8 Development series in which he finished 2nd overall.

The third new entry is Ryan Bailey from Palmerston North."

To keep the racing close at the top, the first three place getters in each race get 'rewarded' with weight penalties that are accumulated and they have to carry at the next race meeting.  If they finish worse than 3rd in a race at the next meeting, for whatever reason, they get a weight credit - weight is taken out.  

These weight boxes are tamper proof and bolted to the floor on the empty passenger side.  As the season progressed it got interesting in the points battle as you find several of the front runners carrying the maximum 50kg.  So that the public know what is going on, the ballast kilos carried, is shown on the car's side window.  

Race Commentator Mike Eady, who is also a BMW / MINI Driver Instructor, said:  "The reward system of weight ballast really works and helps to produce such close racing. In the two seasons to date MINI Challenge has provided some of the most exciting racing and the television coverage rated very high - pleasing for the sponsors of the individual cars and drivers."  

Media: HH Media   Photo: MotorSportMedia