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Race Team make history at Silverstone

October 7th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

Smarts4youracing which owns and runs the 4Two Cup, a race series for the little town car, entered the larger forfour model owned by the smart club into the prestigious Britcar 24hr race at Silverstone. It was the first time in the world that a Smart car had been entered into such a gruelling race and was up against some very fast cars from marques including Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin.

The drivers consisted of four very experienced racers: 4Two Cup founders and former Britcar winners, Paul Bates and James Palmer, local racer Tom Mills and 16 year old David Moore, the current 4Two Cup series leader. Nigel Moore from Tockwith motorsport help build and run the car as our chief engineer. Nigel is the youngest British driver to race at Le Mans for a works team, So plenty of experience there.

Paul Bates said: ‘We had a very good team running the car and some great sponsors, including CFT Financials and drum and bass label, Ram Records.  The team set out with one goal and that was to finish the race.

Things didn’t start off too well during Thursday practice as the car had a misfire, which took until the early hours of Friday to rectify.  This meant that the car went into qualifying without any testing on the tyres that would be used in the race. Qualifying took place and due to their practice problem this left the team on the starting grid in 54th place out of 57 cars.

The race got underway at 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon and first to take to the wheel was Paul Bates.  James Palmer was followed by Tom Mills and finally 16 year old David ‘Nipper’ Moore.  At this point the Smart car was up to 27th overall. Near disaster was about to strike as darkness approached when David radioed through to the team with a fuel surge problem.

James Palmer added: ‘ He came into the pits for a check and the team found that the fuel tank had split.  So 6hrs in to the race a decision was made to take the fuel tank out of a road car, fit all the special fitting and put this on the race car. 1hr and 5mins later the car was back on track, but had dropped back to 36th place.’

The car pounded on into the night gaining places and was back up to 33rd, when a wheel bearing broke causing the brakes to fail. As Paul Bates said: ‘What a scary moment,  I was approaching Brooklands at 125mph with no brakes.’

Once again the car pitted for a new wheel hub and brakes and less than an hour later the car emerged from the pits in 37th place.  On it went for the next 11 hours with only the scheduled stops for fuel, new tyres and driver changes. As the race went on the team climbed back up the leader board. By 4pm on Sunday the car was not surprisingly looking worse for wear.  Half its wing was missing, it had no side skirts, a very badly cracked windscreen and a suspension issue. But despite all that on it went to take the chequered flag on a late Sunday afternoon in 28th place overall.

The car had completed a total of 456 laps of Silverstone race circuit, a total of 1,672 miles.

740 Litres of fuel had been used and 6 sets of slick tyres.

We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our sponsors and team. Without them this would have not been possible

CFT Financials

Ram Records

JC Motorhomes

Luke harnesses and Corbeau seats

Compomotive wheels

Hi Spec motorsport

FEV Fire extinguishers

GAZ Suspension

S2 Smart

Pure D-zign

By the Scruff

Simpsons Mirrors

Pure Smart

Tom Tom Communications

AWS Racewear

Evie Adams Beauty Clinic

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Race 2 – Castle Combe – History is made!

July 24th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

History was made in the second race of the 4two cup in what was a highly entertaining race.

Pole-sitter David Moore made a good start with Tom Mills behind.  But it was Nigel Moore from the back of the grid that had a lightening getaway and by Quarry was already upto 3rd.

By the end of the first lap he was upto 2nd and Tom had to do battle with another Moore, this time, Sarah.

On what was a ding dong battle throughout the race, the Moore brothers each took the lead several times, Nigel going up the inside at Quarry, but ultimately losing out at Camp Corner.

With them battling, the gap closed between Tom and Sarah to the leaders.  The female racer braked late into Quarry and went up the inside of Tom.  Despite being side by side heading to the Esses, Tom was unable to keep her at bay and a few laps later Tom retired due to a lack of fuel.  This meant Sarah was free to join in the battle between her brothers.

At the finish line it was David that took his second win of the weekend with Nigel 0.285 seconds behind.  Sarah took the final step to make history as the first family to take all the steps of a podium in a race.

David just managed to keep his brother behind him:  ‘Nigel was behind me from the first lap and throughout the race.  We both had a bit of trouble with the cars going into limp mode, so sometimes he was infront of me and I was chasing and vice versa.  We made it entertaining and it was a close battle.’

Nigel had a good race despite missing out on the top step:  ‘I started from the back but got a good start and then battled with my brother.  The car went into limp mode which kept costing me, but I nailed him back under at Quarry.  I’d love to do another race as it was such a good weekend and the first time our family has raced in the same class.’

Sarah admitted she didn’t start very well:  ‘I had a rubbish start, Nigel came flying through and then I was battling with Tom for ages.  He then made a mistake and I caught up with my brothers and battled with them for the last few laps.  Everybody thinks the smart cars are going to tip over, but they don’t and they’re just great fun to race.’

1. David Moore

2.  Nigel Moore

3.  Sarah Moore

4.  Sarah Franklin

5.  James Palmer

6.  Andrew O’Dell

7.  David Nash

8.  Paul Bates

Round 2 Qualifying – Castle Combe

July 24th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

Qualifying for round 2 of the 4two cup took place at a sunny Castle Combe circuit.  With the addition of two more members of the Moore family, Sarah and Nigel added to the grid, it was younger brother David that took pole position.  His time of 1.30.877 was a mere 0.011 faster than Nigel.  Sharing a car with Howard Kayman, who was to contest the first race, this meant Nigel’s time was irrelevant and so Tom Mills was to line up alongside David.

The first ever race winner, Sarah Franklin took third, edging out Sarah Moore, while James Palmer completed the top five.

1.  David Moore

2.  Tom Mills

3.  Sarah Franklin

4.  Sarah Moore

5.  James Palmer

6.  Howard Kayman

7.  Andrew O’Dell

8. David Nash

9.  Paul Abrahams

10.  Paul Bates

Silverstone Test

June 21st, 2011 by alisonpepler.

The smarts4you team headed to Silverstone circuit for a day of testing, making adjustments to the changes that had been added to the racecar since the last race weekend in May.

The first ever race winner of the 4two cup, Sarah Franklin was also present to assist with testing.

‘We tried two different sizes of rear wheel spacers, both of which made the rear of the car feel much more stable, particularly under braking.  The new Gaz springs were much harder than the previous ones we had on the car and, with some adjustments to the suspension, we managed to get them to work beautifully, giving us a car that felt really good with just the right amount of understeer, especially in the faster corners of the Silverstone GP circuit.

I think we made a lot of progress in improving the handling and stability of the car today which hopefully everyone will benefit from going forward.’

The 4two cup returns on 23rd July at Castle Combe.

More Le Mans pictures

June 13th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

More pictures uploaded of the amazing trip to Le Mans. Again a Big thank you to showtrax, Corbeau and Luke. Being able to access the pits and other areas of Le mans that you can not normally get to is something quite special.

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Le Mans 24hr race 2011

June 12th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

smarts4youracing was invited down to Le Mans to watch the race. We had access to all areas of the event. Here is a taster of the pictures. More to follow tomorrow.

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Sponsorship options now available

May 18th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

the 4two cup have just released the options for sponsors and partners for the new and unique race series. Please see the PDF for more details. If more information is required or you would like a package modified to suit your specific requirements please email or call.

DOWNLOAD SPONSORSHIP PDF

Race 2 – Donington Park

May 8th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

Race two saw the drivers take to the track in the early evening and it was Charlie Burt and James Palmer that made the best starts, with race one winner Sarah Franklin failing to capitalise on her pole position.

By the end of lap one, youngster David Moore had battled his way upto 2nd and was aiming for the lead duelling with Charlie Burt down at the Old Hairpin.  But a lap later proved a decisive moment for the race at Redgate.

Brief leader Charlie explained: ‘I went into the corner and somebody rammed into my back.  I was going backwards and somebody hit me again and I just barrel-rolled.’

Able to get out and walk away, he also drive the car back to the paddock once it was back on four wheels at the end of the race.

It continued under yellow flags and Moore shot off into the distance building up a sizeable lead over 2nd placed Franklin.  Narrowly missing out on a podium in the first race, Warren Breener was upto 3rd, with James Palmer and David Nash following closely behind.  As with the first race, the novices were stealing the show and Nash executed a perfect passing move on Palmer to grab 4th spot.

Having opened up a lead of nearly 8.9 seconds at one point, Moore had started to get the same car issues from race one.  But despite this the Tockwith Motorsport driver took his maiden win, with Franklin only 1.667 seconds behind.

David was pleased to have taken the top spot: ‘The car was hesitating round the right-handers in the first race which was problematic.  This seemed to resolve itself for the second race, and despite starting in 9th I caught a lot of drivers under late breaking into the corners.  It was fun, I’ve enjoyed it and it has been a great day.’

Sarah was disappointed to have not done the double: ‘It was my first ever pole position so it was rather strange going around the green flag lap with no one in front of me! I think it all went to my head a little as I got a poor start and lost out some places going down the Craner Curves.  Then on lap 3, I was on the inside of Charlie Burt going through Redgate, and despite being side by side, he turned in on me and his car went around the front of my car. My side skirt fell off and caught in his wheel arch, sending him rolling on the grass. I had some brake issues after the collision but was on a mission!’

3rd placed Warren joked that he’d put the car in reverse after making a terrible start: ‘It was shocking, the car was jumping on the start line and everybody went past me.  I thought the race was over, so I just carried on and during the race the car got better.  I’m a complete novice and had a brilliant day, can’t wait for the next one!’

Race 1 result

1.  David Moore

2.  Sarah Franklin

3.  Warren Brenner

4.  David Nash

5.  James Palmer

6.  Ronnie Amis

7.  Paul Bates

8.  Tom Mills

DNF  Charlie Burt

DNF  Paul Abrahams

DNF David Green

Race 1 – Donington Park

May 8th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

In drier conditions the smarts headed off for their first ever UK race and polesitter David Moore was immediately under pressure from Paul Abraham going into the first corner.  But surprisingly, at the end of the first lap of the 20 minute race, it was Sarah Franklin leading, Moore falling down to 3rd with an engine mapping problem.  This was also going to affect the cars of Abraham, Charlie Burt, Paul Bates, Tom Mills and James Palmer.

With those drivers having to battle it out further down the field, as the race progressed it was Franklin and Kayman that provided the entertainment for the crowds.  Lap 4 saw them going down the Craner Curves and also upto McLeans side by side, in what proved to be an exciting battle between the female racer and the novice.

Experienced driver, Paul Bates stuck his car in the gravel at the Old Hairpin but it was the novices that were showing the way; Warren Brenner and David Nash battling for 3rd and 4th, after making their way up from 9th and 10th respectively.

Setting a fastest time of 1.36.724 on the last lap, Franklin claimed the first win of the series beating Kayman by 1.093 seconds to the line.  David Nash completed the podium, making a mistake at the final chicane to narrowly beat Brenner, who was just 0.143 seconds behind.

Sarah was ecstatic after her win: ‘I got an absolute blinding start from 6th on the grid.  There was a group of three of us battling away then one of them dropped off.  Move of the day was definitely the one where Howard got me at Redgate, then I just chucked it up the inside.  But Howard kept me honest all the way through.’

Despite qualifying at the back of the grid, Howard showed how racy the smarts are: ‘Qualifying was bad because we didn’t have the turbo boost, so I was ten seconds off the pace.  I got a great launch as soon as the lights went off and there were a few close calls during the race with Sarah, but I just wanted to finish it.’

Another novice, David Nash was surprised to have made it onto the podium: ‘I can’t believe it, from 9th on the grid to finish 3rd can’t be a bad start for my first ever race.  Warren was just behind me on the grid and if nothing else, I had to finish ahead of him!’

Race 1 result

1.  Sarah Franklin

2.  Howard Kayman

3.  David Nash

4.  Warren Brenner

5.  Charlie Burt

6.  Paul Abraham

7.  James Palmer

8.  Tom mills

9.  David Moore

DNF  Paul Bates

DNC  David Green

Round 1 Qualifying – Donington Park

May 8th, 2011 by alisonpepler.

In wet conditions the 4two cup finally took to the track at Donington Park for Round 1.  For a lot of the drivers it was the first time they’d driven the S4R race car, and at 10.25 they took to the track in the first ever qualifying session of the new series.

Within a minute the red flag was waved as the number 9 car of Charlie Burt was on its side at the Old Hairpin.  Once upright and after a quick visit to the scrutineer, Burt was able to resume with just minor damage to the bodywork.

Youngster David Moore was first to set a flying lap of 1.49.341.  A lap later and he’d knocked off a further 2 seconds.  The red flag stopped the session a second time, again caused by a car on its side.  Further proof of the robustness of the cars, James Palmer was able to return to the qualifying session.

David Moore made history as the first driver to claim pole position for the UK’s first ever smart car race.  His time of 1.45.166 was over 3 seconds quicker than Funcup racer, Paul Abraham.  GT driver Tom Mills and Britcar racer David Green completed the front two rows.

1   David Moore                     1.45.166

2   Paul Abraham                  1.48.289

3   Tom Mills                         1.49.506

4   David Green                     1.49.801

5   Paul Bates                         1.50.209

6   Sarah Franklin                 1.50.856

7   Charlie Burt                      1.51.304

8   James Palmer                   1.51.815

9   David Nash                        1.53.176

10  Warren Breener               1.55.614

11  Howard Kayman              2.05.054