NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 12 SILVERSTONE 8th October 2000 Tobia Masini lost all chance of winning the National Saloon Championship when he clashed with ex Mardi Gras employee Lee Lindford on the first lap in the final round at Silverstone. After qualifying fifth in atrocious conditions on Saturday, anything less than a win was not enough for the Mardi Gras Honda driver. The first lap incident required a pit stop to clear a blocked air filter, putting Tobia one lap down on the leaders, finishing eighteenth and third in the championship. Des Smail had a trouble free run climbed from his lowly qualifying position of twenty first to finish twelfth. For more information see: powertour.co.uk NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 11 SPA FRANCORCHAMPS 24th September 2000 It was a disappointing weekend for Mardi Gras at Spa where the Championship all but slipped from Tobia Masini's grasp. After being on the front row from Friday's qualifying, Tobia slipped to eigth after going the wrong way on set up for the Saturday session. Worse was to happen to Des Smail, in the second Mardi Gras Honda Integra, when a big off at Eau Rouge damaged the car beyond repair for Sunday's race. Tobia had a good start in the race, and was challenging for third when, debris thrown up by Ruokonen in the led, led the second car to take avoiding action causing a chain reaction in which Tobia fell down the order. The rest of the race was left to fight his way back up to a seventh place finish. Further damage was done when title rival Matt Kelly run into the back of Tobia at the "Bus Stop". causing him to miss the corner! With 18 points difference between Ruokonen and Masini, Tobia has a mathematical chance of taking the title. Kelly is a further 3 points behind. For more information see: powertour.co.uk NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 10 SNETTERTON 3rd September 2000 After qualifying second, Tobia Masini had a dramatic win in the Mardi Gras Honda Integra at Snetterton. Tobia was leading into the last corner when he was taken by the Peugeot of Toni Ruokonen in a "heavy handed" manoeuvre, the reverse of the situation between the two drivers earlier in the season at Donnington. Tobia spun and recovered to finish second on the road. Toni was later penalised 30 seconds for the incident dropping him to third place. Des Smail spun on the first lap similar to the last meeting at Silverstone but this time, with the help of a safety car period and retirements, came through the field and finished a career best fourth. For more information see: powertour.co.uk NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 9 SILVERSTONE 20th August 2000 Tobia Masini finished a disappointing sixth in the Mardi Gras Honda Integra at Silverstone. On the circuit that least suits the Integra, with the 40Kilo weight penalty for winning Croft, the car was left trailing the Peugeots at the end of the race. He was however the leading Honda. Des Smail faired worse when he spun into the gravel trap at Becketts trying to avoid a spinning Brian Ward. For more information see: powertour.co.uk PROXIMUS 24 HOURS OF SPA - 5-6th AUGUST 2000 The Mardi Gras Honda Integra finished 7th in class and 14th overall in Europe's top 24 hour Saloon Car Race at Spa in Belgium. (Follow link for a full report and pictures on seperate page) For more information see: www.spa24hours.com NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 8 CROFT 23rd JULY 2000 Tobia Masini was in scintillating form in the Mardi Gras Honda Integra at Croft taking his second win of the year. After qualifying third, Tobia took second at the start and inherited the lead later in the lap when Dan Eaves transmission failed. There was a long period under yellows following Gavin Pyper's Alpha blowing up, leaving a three lap dash for the flag. Tobia got the drop on Roger Moen at the restart and had a four second lead by the flag, setting the fastest lap in the process. For more information see: powertour.co.uk RENAULT CLIO CUP - ROUND 8 SNETTERTON 8th JULY 2000 Racing for the first time in the dark, Stuart Clarke finished eighth in the Mardi Gras Renault Clio at the "night race" at Snetterton. After qualifying eleventh, Stuart was as high as fifth before outbraking himself at the "Esses" and dropping down the order. For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 7 DONNINGTON PARK 2nd JULY 2000 In another race where almost half was under yellow flags, Tobia Masini brought the Mardi Gras Honda Integra home in third place after qualifying fifth. Des Smail was unlucky to collide with Phil Andrews, when fighting for sixth, and crashing in the Redgate gravel after hitting the pit wall. For more information see: powertour.co.uk RENAULT CLIO CUP - ROUND 7 CROFT 25th JUNE 2000 Stuart Clarke took the Mardi Gras Renault Clio to a sixth place finish at Croft. Qualifying was disappointing when Stuart missed a quick lap at the end of the session, after stopping to correct a handling imbalance. In the race, from eleventh on the grid, he managed to avoid the carnage at the front of the field but lost precious time which proved difficult to make up. For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm RENAULT CLIO CUP - ROUND 6 SILVERSTONE 11th JUNE 2000 In one of the closest finishes seen at Silverstone in years Stuart Clarke brought the Mardi Gras Renault Clio home in third place. After qualifying in second place, Stuart led from the start before Jim Edwards Jnr. slipped by on the second lap. Slow starting pole sitter Daniel Buxton also passed on lap six as Stuart fought to stay at the front with a car clearly not handling as well as it had in qualifying. In pushing to stay with the lead pair he had a moment at Copse two laps from the end putting him out of touch with the leaders. With Buxton in the lead on the last lap he made a small mistake to allow Edwards Jnr. alongside coming under Bridge. The pair remained along side each other right through the complex in a thrilling dash for the flag. Out of Woodcote neither would give an inch and they went to the line side by side, Buxton with two wheels on the grass. MST could not separate the two giving them identical times but Edwards was adjudged the winner. Stuart finished a couple of seconds behind waiting to pick up any pieces! For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 6 BRANDS HATCH 4th JUNE 2000 After the disappointment of losing a win a Donnington, Tobia Masini took a tremendous victory at Brands in the Mardi Gras Honda Integra. Third fastest in qualifying was promoted to pole following the exclusion of the factory Peugeot's for weight infringements. With Des Smail on Grand Prix duty in Monaco, Phil Bennett guested in the second Integra and placed fourth on the grid. The race was halted early with Brian Ward's car stranded on the startline. At the restart Tobia was again on pole and Phil demoted to the back of the grid following a spin. He had touched Tom Ferrier's Alpha at Surtees. Tobia again led from the restart and held the lead until a second pace car period. Phil Andrews Focus was the problem following a crash at Dingle Dell. It was cleared in time for a one lap dash for the flag. This time Tobia held off Eaves's Peugeot for the frantic sprint to take his first win in the UK. With the excitement at the front Phil scythed his way through from the back of the field to take an excellent sixth place at the flag. For more information see: powertour.co.uk RENAULT CLIO CUP - ROUND 5 OULTON PARK 29th MAY 2000 Stuart Clarke rediscovered his Donnington form to finish second at Oulton Park. After qualifying second, he took the Mardi Gras Renault Clio to his best result of the season. Stuart led the race on the first lap when the first of two safety car periods interrupted his progress. After being passed by David Gibson on lap 2 Stuart re-took the lead on lap 7 when Gibson went out. He held the lead for three laps before being passed first by Jim Edwards Jnr then Peter Sowerby, he re-took Sowerby on the last lap for second place. For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 5 SILVERSTONE 21st MAY 2000 After qualifying third, Mardi Gras had high hopes for Tobia Masini at Silverstone. On a greasy , drying circuit Tobia passed the two Peugeot's to lead into the first corner but was passed by Simon Harrison later in the lap. The move damaged the Honda Integra's handling and was to see him slip to fifth by the end of the race. Des Smail, after qualifying sixteenth, was caught out by the greasy surface, spinning on the first lap. He climbed back through the field but spun again when his engine cut out. He eventually finishing thirteenth. For more information see: powertour.co.uk RENAULT CLIO CUP - ROUND 4 KNOCKHILL 15th MAY 2000 Following the Thruxton race, the Mardi Gras team had re-shelled Stuart Clarke's Renault Clio. Stuart qualified 14th and in his usual style quickly worked his way through the field. On lap 13 he was up to 7th when he unfortunately slid into a gravel trap on debris thrown up by an accident on the previous lap. For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 4 DONNINGTON PARK 7th MAY 2000 The euphoria of Tobia Masini's Mardi Gras Honda Integra crossing the finish line first, evaporated with exclusion, following an incident with Toni Ruokonen, on the last lap. Tobia drove brilliantly to move from fourth on the grid to second on the first lap on a very greasy circuit. He inherited the lead when Simon Harrison's Focus suffered gear selection problems. The last quarter of the race was spent holding off the advances of the Peugeot's of Moen and Ruokonen who had upped their pace on the drying circuit. Ruokonen took the lead at Copice but Tobia controversially re-passed him at Redgate on the last lap. Des Smail, Mardi Gras second Honda Integra driver, dropped to last on the second lap with a spin, but climbed steadily through the field to finish seventh at the flag. For more information see: powertour.co.uk RENAULT CLIO CUP - ROUND 3 THRUXTON 1st MAY 2000 At Thruxton Stuart Clarke in the Mardi Gras Renault Clio did not finish after a race where he showed great promise. From a disappointing qualifying position of twelfth, he had worked his way up to fifth by lap three but by this time was a long way behind the leaders. He slowly closed the gap to enable a move on Jim Edwards Snr. for fourth on the final lap. As Stuart went to the inside Matt Jackson went outside and all three took to the grass. Trying to recover from the drop down the field an incident at the final chicane parked the Clio in the tyre wall backwards. Stuart unfortunately suffered "whiplash" which needed a trip to hospital for a check up. The shell of the Clio was destroyed. For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm NATIONAL SALOON CAR CUP - ROUND 3 OULTON PARK 1st MAY 2000 Meanwhile at Oulton Park, eventful testing and qualifying sessions were compounded with Tobia Masini's Mardi Gras Honda Integra retired on the fifth lap with engine problems. Des Smail's similar car ended in a gravel trap. For more information see: powertour.co.uk Stuart Clarke Third in First Clio Race at DONNINGTON - 24th April 2000 In a sensational drive Stuart Clarke had his first motor racing podium driving the Mardi Gras Renault Clio at Donnington Park on Sunday. With the car having its first outing in practice, there was little time to find a set up, especially as it was hit by new car niggles. It was not surprising therefore that Stuart qualified back in 15thon the grid. Not only was it Stuart's first drive in the Clio it was his first in a left hand drive car and his first with a sequential shift gearbox. In the race he avoided much of the carnage that happened in front of him and pulled up from 6th to 3rd following a safety car period. When the race was red flagged for an incident on the final corner, Stuart was a couple of seconds behind the leaders running similar lap times. The Clio will be running at Thruxton on 1st May and the Integra's will be running at Oulton Park on the same day, a busy week! For more information vist the Renault Clio Cup Site : http://www.renault.co.uk/cliocup.htm

Round 2 National Saloon Championship CROFT - 9th April 2000 The Mardi Gras team will be busy this week repairing the heavy front-end damage sustained on Tobia Masini's Honda Integra at Croft on Sunday. Tobia was involved in an incident with Dan Eaves and early pacesetter Roger Moen. ‘I spun under braking and caught Roger and Dan,’ admitted Tobia afterwards. The tangle at Tower Corner sent Eaves and Moen to the tail of the pack and Eaves later retired after another incident when he hit brake trouble. Tobia battled home to fourth despite considerable damage to the front of his car. 'We were just hoping that the radiators weren't damaged,' said team boss Paul Hetherington. For more information see: powertour.co.uk