[Race report] 77MM – Betty Richmond Trophy Final
Nick Swift claimed a dramatic last corner win in the Betty Richmond Trophy final for Mini saloons and variants. The accomplished Mini ace got too much wheelspin at the start, with pole man Ian Curley eking out a slender lead on the opening lap.
Man on the move, however, was Nick Padmore with Swift dragging himself back into contention by the time they arrived at the chicane for the second time. Curley was bundled down the order as Swift led from Padmore with former Mini7 champion and self-confessed ‘oldest and fattest man in the race’ Jonathan Lewis assuming third place.
Swift and Padmore swapped places repeatedly, lap after lap, as Lewis and Curley squabbled behind them. There was everything to play for on the final lap, with Padmore barely a car’s length ahead of Swift as they descended on Lavant for the final time. Padmore then had a grassy ‘moment’ but appeared to recover as the lead quartet arrived at the chicane, only for Swift to brilliantly muscle his way past for a famous victory.
Photography by Drew Gibson.