2021 SMRC Knockhill Round 5
Scottish Mini Cooper Cup
Hose takes win and Lap record
Neil Hose lit up the time sheets on Sunday with another win and outright lap record as the Scottish Mini Cooper Championship resumed at Knockhill Racing Circuit for the penultimate round of the season.
The Glasgow Independent BMW & Mini Specialists sponsored driver Qualified P7 suffering set up issues in changeable conditions.
The ALM run driver topped the time sheets in Race 1 whilst moving up to 4th place narrowly missing out on a podium by 0.014 sec but claiming an extra point for fastest lap.
Starting 4th on the grid for Race 2, an early move on Ian Munro allowed Hose to break away from the pack for a three way battle at the front with Michael Weddell and Chad Little.
Hose took the lead from weddell at the hairpin with 2 laps to go to secure his second victory of the season. Hose also claimed another point for fastest lap of the race and Outright Mini Cooper Lap Record at the fife circuit.
After Hose said,”I’m delighted to get another win and fastest lap as it really shows how much progress we’ve made as a team. To get the outright lap record is just the icing on the cake”
Race 3, the final race of the day and reverse grid format for the Minis provided plenty action resulting in one of the best races of the season. Starting P7 Hose was collected heavily from behind resulting in a long gravel excursion as the train of Minis headed through Butchers. Rejoining the track at the Chicane dead last, the Dent Centre backed driver had his work cut out in the short 9 lap race to recover. A thrilling 6 way battle for the lead unfolded at the front as Hose delivered multiple fastest laps to catch up the leading pack. The Glasgow driver sliced through the to 2nd place with a one lap to go. A perfectly timed cut back on leader Craig Blake exiting the hairpin on the last lap was only thwarted by a missed gear resulting in a bitter sweet 2nd place for Hose narrowly missing out on the win by 0.080sec from an outstanding recovery drive.
With Hose 3rd in the standings as the Championship heads back to Knockhill in a few weeks time for the reverse direction and last round season, he will be well placed to turn that raw pace into more podium finishes.