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Mini racer Bill Sollis stars as Historic Sports Car Club season starts at Brands Hatch

Dan Wright
dwright@thekmgroup.co.uk
09:31, 07 April 2022  | Updated: 09:33, 07 April 2022

Tonbridge racer Bill Sollis starred at Brands Hatch on Sunday as the Historic Sports Car Club’s new season began.

The Morris Mini Cooper S pilot took the fight to the more powerful Ford Lotus Cortinas in the Historic Touring Car events, claiming a third-place finish in the first race before triumphing in the second.

Bill Sollis scored a win, a third place and two fastest laps in the two Historic Touring Car races in his 1963 Mini Cooper S. Pictures: Simon Hildrew
Bill Sollis scored a win, a third place and two fastest laps in the two Historic Touring Car races in his 1963 Mini Cooper S. Pictures: Simon Hildrew

After qualifying fourth for the first encounter, Sollis worked his way to the front but a carburettor problem meant he ran short of fuel, dropping him back to third.

In the second event, he beat race one winner Mike Gardiner to the flag by 3.8s, claiming the fastest lap in his class for the second race in succession.

Other winners included John Harrison, from Swanley Village, in the Classic Clubmans races, and Rory Smith in the combined Formula Atlantic and Classic F3 events.

Smith, who won the 2020 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, dominated the races in his BM Racing-prepared Ralt RT4.

David Thorburn, driving an ex-Martin Brundle Ralt RT3, took two top-eight finishes in the Classic F3 division.

John Harrison, from Swanley Village, won both Classic Clubmans races in his 1980 Mallock Mk21
John Harrison, from Swanley Village, won both Classic Clubmans races in his 1980 Mallock Mk21
Rory Smith (45) won both Formula Atlantic races in his 1985 Ralt RT4
Rory Smith (45) won both Formula Atlantic races in his 1985 Ralt RT4
Harry Barton in his BMW 1800Ti and Ford Lotus Cortina pilot Nigel Cox had a race-long battle during the second Historic Touring Car event. They eventually clashed at Paddock Hill Bend with the Cortina being tipped on its side and ending the race two laps early
Harry Barton in his BMW 1800Ti and Ford Lotus Cortina pilot Nigel Cox had a race-long battle during the second Historic Touring Car event. They eventually clashed at Paddock Hill Bend with the Cortina being tipped on its side and ending the race two laps early
Jonathan Rose, from Hawkhurst, finished 15th and 24th in his 1979 Reynard SF79 in the two Historic Formula Ford 2000 races
Jonathan Rose, from Hawkhurst, finished 15th and 24th in his 1979 Reynard SF79 in the two Historic Formula Ford 2000 races
Kevin Kivlochan (98) won the Historic Road Sports race in his AC Cobra, after a race-long duel with Frazer Gibney in his Lotus S1
Kevin Kivlochan (98) won the Historic Road Sports race in his AC Cobra, after a race-long duel with Frazer Gibney in his Lotus S1
Sollis leads the Historic Touring Car pack through McLaren
Sollis leads the Historic Touring Car pack through McLaren
Mike Gardiner (1) scored victory in the first Historic Touring Car race in his 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
Mike Gardiner (1) scored victory in the first Historic Touring Car race in his 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina

The British Racing and Sports Car Club is at Brands Hatch this weekend, with Caterhams, Fords and BMWs on the bill.

Adult tickets cost £16 on the gate; children under 13 are admitted free.

Dartford Sport Gravesham Sport Motorsport Tonbridge Sport Dan Wright

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