Eventful Anglesey leaves Red 5 in spin and battling back

Some of the cosmetic damage to the MX-5 after the spin. Picture: Andy and Carol Paterson (Image: Andy and Carol Paterson)

Red 5 Racing went to Anglesey in Wales for the third round of the 750 Motor Club's Cartek Enduro Series – a three-hour day to dusk endurance race starting at 6pm around the Coastal Circuit.

Amazingly for Anglesey, it was a beautiful warm day. With a full entry list for the event and a vast range of cars, it was going to be a challenge for Red 5's Mazda MX-5 Mark I to be competitive. Qualifying went well, and even though it qualified last, the car was running and handling extremely well.

The race was eventful to say the least.

Guest driver Rich Bernard started the race and did a sterling job with several safety car phases during his one-hour, 25-minute stint. A smooth pit stop, car refuelled and he handed the reins to Andy Paterson.

Almost immediately there was another safety car for almost half and hour, due to a BMW having a big accident making contact with the pit wall.

Finally, the race restarted and all was well until a Porsche came up behind Red 5 on the start/finish straight. Andy allowed him to pass then prepared to take his line again for the corner. Unfortunately a Honda Civic thought it could squeeze through between the Porsche and Red 5, causing Red 5 to spin off track. After what seemed like ages, but was probably only a minute, Andy made it back on to track and came into the pits for the damage to be assessed.

It was mainly cosmetic damage to the front bumper, a bent door but, most importantly, the driver was okay. So it was out again for another 20 minutes before handing over to Peter McNicol for the final stint. With only two laps to go the team noticed sparking from the back of the car but, with hearts in our mouths, left the car out on track and hoped nothing would fall off. It didn't and Red 5 finished a credible 25th out of 32 – in front of some faster, more powerful A and B class cars.

Red 5 will not race in the last two races of the Cartek Enduro Series, at Silverstone and Spa Francachamps in Belgium, due to lack of funds and the type and power of cars in the C Class making it almost impossible to be competitive.

Instead, funds are being put into competing in the 1600 class at Mission Motorsport's Charity Race of Remembrance at Anglesey in a 12-hour endurance race on November 11 and 12.