Star Platforms Mini Challenge Sponsorship

Jack, son of Del Patterson from Star Platforms hire office, sat on Max’ Mini

Star Platforms are delighted to have sponsored Max Leaver’s MINI, which raced at the Silverstone and Brands Hatch Indy MINI Festivals, 12th – 14th June and 27th – 28th June 2015 respectively.

The race at Silverstone was the longest in the calendar, with the cars able to strut their stuff on the 3/6 mile Grand Prix loop. Max spent Friday 12th testing with one of the Coastal Teams as the day was already fully booked, with three thirty minute sessions on the track. Despite poor weather conditions, the car was problem-free and Max qualified 9th the following day, even with the torrential rain that came in Saturday morning and stayed all day.

As the track was so wet, all the Mini race cars were running on wet tyres; Race 1, held at 3:15 Saturday afternoon, saw Max makeup 2 places on the first lap but, unfortunately, slid at the Abbey Corner on both laps 1 and 2, and as such finished 10th. Sunday’s weather proved drier and Max started in 9th (after grid penalties were applied to other drivers in the race). Fierce driving for position ensued, seeing Max finish in 6th, with no damage to the car and a best lap time of 2.42.360 – the 4th fastest in the class!

The final Silverstone race took place on Sunday 14th showed Max starts in pole position after a reverse draw grid pulled 6 at random; more fierce driving by all in the race eventually showed him finish in 4th with the 3rd quickest lap times in the class.

Max’ thoughts after the racing concluded were overall positive, saying,
“A positive comeback from Donington Park; the Mini is reliable and straight and to be third quickest is a good result after a disappointing Saturday. I hope our guest had an enjoyable weekend, thank you for coming to support me. Brand Hatch Indy is the next round that I know well and look forward to seeing our sponsors there.”

Following Silverstone, Max raced at Brands Hatch two weeks later; this is his home circuit and had a packed crowd in attendance. A shorter circuit, the weather was hot and dry for all three days, a vast improvement on the weather during Silverstone.

Practice on the 26th saw Max’ Mini running well all day, and the next day’s qualifying was equally successful, with Max securing pole position for Race 1 by almost a 10th of a second. The first race took place at 5:05pm and despite a close encounter with another driver, Ricky Page, he finished in 2nd place. The Mini did sustain some damage but was still in the running for Race 2 on Sunday morning.

The next day dawned cloudy but dry and Max’ 2nd position on the grid gave him an initial advantage, but unfortunately had to retire as a minor bump in lap 12 had caused a problem with the car’s radiator, which then caused it to overheat. This DNF meant he would be at the back starting Race 3, but he took pride in the fact that overall, he held the fastest lap time of anyone in the race, of 57.522.

Race 3 started on time at 4:10 with the Mini repaired and back in the running, although Max was in 16th position. By lap 6, he had moved up to 4th, and the next ten laps showed some close driving between him and Davey, finally managing to push past on the final lap in 3rd.

After all three races, Max reflected on the weekends’ racing at Brands Hatch, saying:
“The Mini festival is always a great event with some of the best close racing you will ever see over a weekend. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side and the DNF in the second race made the third race fun from starting at the back. I hope all the GPFM Financial planners and Star Platforms sponsors enjoyed their day out along with everyone who came to support!”

Well raced Max, we loved watching you race and seeing the Star Platforms logo on your beautiful Mini!