Bill Sollis Racing 2007

Dunlop Mini Miglia Challenge Round 1

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Full official results:- Silverstone round 1

Race report:- Silverstone round 1   07/04/07

Following the winter break it was to Silverstone to assemble for the start of the 2007 season, and the defence of Bill's 2006 Miglia title. 18 cars were lined up to go out to qualify in the glorious early spring sunshine.

At the beginning of the session it was Kelly Rogers who started to set the early pace from a returning Phil Rudge, and the green and orange Pyro motorsport car of Andy Hack. After only a couple of laps Kelly then spun at the complex unfortunately ending up buried in the gravel and his session over. Meanwhile, Bill had started to get his eye in and was gradually moving up the leader board. By halfway though the session Bill had posted a time of 1 min 08.681 which was enough to take pole. Kelly's early time was good enough to take 2nd place with Andy Hack 3rd, Phil Rudge maintained his early speed to line up a personal best of 4th on the grid.

With Bill reporting no serious problems after the qualifying we just had the usual pre race checks to carry before the 3:30 race start, giving us chance to catch up with the early season gossip and enjoy a bit of sunshine.
 

Onto then to the race with Bill leading the cars round on the warm up lap to start the 12 lap race, and get the 2007 season underway.
Bill got a flying start taking advantage of the inside line to lead Kelly Rogers, Andy Hack and Endaf Owens, but going down the long straight the slip stream came into effect and Bill got bumped down a couple of places. Worse was to follow the next lap, this time as Bill got to the end of the straight, ready to go into the Luffield complex, Mark Sims had got tangled up overtaking and ended up going into Bill's nearside front wheel.  Immediate thoughts were that we had sustained a puncture and Bill started to slip down the order crossing the line in 10th place. It turned out the wheel had taken a hefty bang but the tyre was still up, and that the steering was slightly deranged. Bill then started to press on and made light work of dealing with the midfielders. With laps running out Bill made up the large gap to join the top 4, who had been going at it hammer and tongs.  Into the complex for the last time Bill wrestled forth place from Tony Le-May, and followed the top three of Andy Hack, Kelly Rogers and Endaf Owens over the line. The top cars had put on a great race and we picked up some valuable points from what could have been a disappointing start to the season.

Andy Packham 08/04/07