Photo Credit: Mandy Newman

Vice-Champion John Mickel #4 (Horsham) was the only double victor in Kent, winning both Finals to conclude the season with a total of 13 victories and to finish the 2021 Championship in 2^nd place behind victor Miles Rudman. Will Gibson took his seventh race win of the year in round 15 Heat Two, going on to seal a very competitive 3^rd place championship finish.

Paul Simmons #51 agreed to start first few races from the rear of the grid to enable him to test his new car ahead of next season.

Mike Schlup #3, Director of Kalimex and promoter of the Kalimex/Mickel Motorsport Young Driver Programme was planning on making a bid for his highest ever race finish this season.

Oli Schlup #9 and Luke Ttakoushis #55 were both green Rookies, having only raced a handful of times, supporting the Kalimex/Mickel Motorsport Young Driver Programme were keen to get a pre-2022 season experience.

First win of year for Smith, victories too for Gibson and Mickel

Steve Whitelegg made the early running at the beginning of Heat One on Saturday morning, soaking up pressure from Smith and Nathan Anthony before the Safety Car was deployed in time for lap two. At the re-start on lap five, Smith grabbed the lead at Paddock Hill Bend.

Another Safety Car was required from laps seven to nine, leaving a two-lap sprint, and Smith aced the re-start before claiming his first win of the year by a tenth of a second with Whitelegg seeing off Mickel to retain second. Jack Parker, Anthony and Gibson completed the top six but Parker was later disqualified for an eligibility issue, elevating Rudman into sixth.

Clark made a good start to Heat Two but Chris Needham soon took the lead ahead of Schlup, Rudman, Clark, Bird and Mickel. After taking second on lap two Rudman closed on Needham and Clark battled back into the top three, as Gibson continued to move up through the order.

Mickel’s championship bid took a big hit on lap seven when a tangle with Needham put the latter off into the gravel and retirement, with Mickel recovering to finish in 13th place. Gibson and Rudman remained glued together to the finish, Gibson taking a sensational seventh win, with Schlup sealing a superb first podium from Bird, Clark and Charlie Budd (Henley-on-Thames).

Saturday’s round 15 Final delivered a great response from Mickel with his 12th race victory of the season, a Mickel Motorsport one-two with Paul Simmons just 0.2 seconds behind the team leader at the chequered flag. Simmons launched strongly at the beginning to slice through into the lead and, after an early Safety Car period, he stormed away at the re-start on lap five.

Mickel worked his way into second and passed Simmons for the lead on the sixth tour, and they duly pulled clear of the rest.

Rudman seals title, Clark grabs first 2021 win, Mickel doubles-up
Sunday’s racing didn’t begin how anyone wanted when Heat One was red flagged at the end of the opening tour due to an unfortunate multi-car tangle, triggered after Gibson was pushed wide onto the grass at Surtees, but thankfully all drivers emerged unscathed.

Following a single file re-start, contact put an end to Mickel’s title challenge leaving him requiring urgent work in the pits which left him a lap down and too far out of the points to make any further claim on the championship title. Schlup sealed another top finish in fourth place.

Heat two on Saturday

Mickel became the only double race winner of the weekend with a great victory in the round 16 Final, fending off the ultra-quick Gibson during the last few laps. Jonty Norman (Wakefield) led the race initially before Simmons took over, but Mickel passed his team-mate at the start of lap three.

Following a mid-race Safety Car period, due to a car off in the barriers on the run up Hailwood Hill, Mickel controlled the action to soak up Gibson’s pressure. Smith capped a very strong event with third place, ahead of new champion Rudman, Simmons and Whitelegg.

John Mickel – Rd15 Final and Rd16 Final Winner:
“The last race of the year at Brands always seems to be my lucky race, I think I’ve won four or five of them. At the end of the day, I think Will [Gibson] was the quicker car but I made my car twice as wide. I thought they’d all freight-train me and get past, so it’s great to end the year with another win to add to the one on Saturday. Thank you to all my sponsors who have been with us all year.”

Provisional 2021 Legends Cars National Championship with MRF Tyres Points:,

Thanks to MRF Tyres and Legends Racing UK for the report extracts.

There was a fantastic atmosphere in both the VIP suite, where guests were soaking up the sun kissed action and in the garages amongst the crew who worked incredibly hard all weekend at whatever was thrown their way.

Thank you to every sponsor, every crew member and to all the family and friends who contribute to the Team to make it all happen!  It would not be possible without the support of so many, in so many different ways! THANK YOU!

The plans for 2022 are underway!