Paul Stokell looks forward to new Wakefield success

MINI Challenge racer Paul Stokell is looking forward to an “unpredictable” round at Wakefield Park this coming weekend (4-6 April). Stokell has plenty of experience at the tight 2.2 kilometre circuit just outside of Goulburn, including stints in a Lamborghini Murcielago in the Nations Cup and a Volkswagen R32 in the Australian Production Car Championships. When Round 2 of the MINI Challenge series kicks off he will be behind the wheel of the DecoRug Motorsports MINI. Leading up to the event Stokell said, “It’s a nice little racetrack and being front-wheel drive, the MINI Challenge racecars should be perfectly suited to the circuit.”

Both Stokell and series leader Neil McFadyen will be burdened with extra weight, or “success ballast” on account of their good form at round 1 held at Eastern Creek. Stokell will carry and extra 15kg and McFadyen will have 25kg ballast added to his M3 Motorsports team MINI. In what will be a new experience for McFadyen he commented, “It will be the first time I’ve driven in a class with success ballast, so I have no idea yet how it will affect my times or driving. I know what having a passenger in a racecar does to the handling, whilst it won’t be quite that dramatic, I have no doubt the 25kg will alter the way in which we approach the weekend.”

Dave Turner, from the WA-based Glory Racing Team had never driven at Wakefield before, but has managed to squeeze in some testing time at the track prior to round 2. “We were quite happy with sixth at Eastern Creek considering the quality of opposition we are up against in MINI Challenge,” he said. “We’ve tested to ensure we have the setup right for Wakefield and I was extremely pleased with the outcome. I anticipate we can be among the front runners next weekend.”

The MINI Challenge will be supported at Wakefield by a contingent of MINI owners and enthusiasts with convoys meeting at the circuit from both Sydney and Canberra. Action begins on Friday with three sessions, including qualifying at 3pm. Race one will be held on Saturday with races two and three on Sunday.

Highlights of the opening MINI Challenge round from Eastern Creek will be aired on the Seven Network at 1:30pm (nationally) on April 5. The post-produced television coverage from Wakefield Park will air on the Seven Network on April 26 at 2:00pm (nationally).

For more detail on TV coverage for the MINI Challenge, read this previous AUSmotive article.