Mickel gets Legends title defence underway in solid fashion

The 2016 UK National Legends Championship got underway at Brands Hatch with Mickel Motorsport preparing four cars for the season opener.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Apr 2016, 15:23 BST
Updated 26th Apr 2016, 16:24 BST

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John Mikel SUS-151029-163721002John Mikel SUS-151029-163721002
John Mikel SUS-151029-163721002

John Mickel returned in his #4 orange mean machine to defend his 2016, UK and world titles over the course of eight weekends.

The team was made up of fellow drivers Paul Simmons, Rickie Leggat and guest driver Mike Schlup, who has joined the team after seeing Mickel’s storming success last season.

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In round one, Mickel showed his legendary race craft by finishing inside the top four places over the opening three races with a fourth, third and second in the final of round one.

He finished in sceond place overall on points on the day.

Experienced Legends driver Simmons took a respectably ninth and 11th place finish in the opening two races, before suffering a mechanical failure in the final.

Leggat, in the #26 Magrasil car, was using every moment from his previous two years’ experience to place him in three commendable top ten finishes, with a fourth in the final, which is his best race finish to date.

Debutant Schlup, in the #3 orange K-Seal car, brought his car home in very respectable position for race two and three finishing 19th and 17th.

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In round two, Mickel collected two wins in the first, before race two saw a stunning Mickel Motorsport finish with three of the team drivers finishing in the top three places.

At the start of the final, Mickel was poised on the grid with his sights set on a hat trick, but a downpour scuppered his chances as he finished in third place, taking the overall points win on the day.

Paul Simmons took a fourth in race one and a best-ever second-place finish in race two. In the final, he drove superbly, finishing 10th to take a third place podium for overall points on the day.

Rickie took to the track with further podium finishes in his sights but became victim to a spinning car, taking him out of race one. His second race saw him take 3rd and the final rewarded him a 7th place. Rickie was again awarded Master of the Day for his superb driving.

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Schlup collected a well-deserved award for rookie of the day, having finished a commendable 14th, 17th and 11th place.

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Related topics:Legends