|
|
Jason Plato's Renault Spider Championship for Mardi Gras in 1996 had always been a high point for the team but this seasons one, two, three in the Championship surpassed their previous achievement.
Two of the seasons highlights were at Brands Hatch and Croft where we had all three of our drivers on the podium. |
|
Roger's replacement Stephen Day, did well in his two outings with a second at Brands Hatch and fourth at the Silverstone British Grand Prix meeting. |
1999 was a season of highs and lows with success in Renault Spiders and the sad loss of Martin Sharpe. A former bike racer, he was one of the group of friends who formed Mardi Gras in 1987. He was characterised by his bow tie and walking stick, the legacy of a bike racing accident.
When the season kicked off at Donnington Park on Easter Monday who would have thought that Mardi Gras's Andy Priaulx would end the year unbeaten? For a driver who had previously never won a circuit race, he not only completed a clean sweep of the Championship, winning every race, but also starting from pole and set the fastest lap in each round, an unprecedented feat! Other drivers challenged him and, on several occasions, he had to come from behind but Andy finished each race at the front.
The year was dominated by Mardi Gras with Tobia Masini and Phil Bennett taking second and third in the championship. Masini, in his second season with the team in Spiders, frequently chased his team leader, while Bennett impressed as he took a step up the racing ladder despite his modest experience.
In the 1999 National Saloon Cup, Mardi Gras Motorsport driver, Roger Moen was an early front runner for the championship. Unfortunately a nasty, life threatening arm infection caused an enforced two-race layoff mid-season. From there the Norwegian struggled to find his early season form in his Honda Integra R and dropped out of championship contention.