A League First Winner as Title Rivals Tangle: Formula Vee at Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch hosted the sixth race of the season for the Matt Malone Patreon League. With a relatively caution-free event at Chicagoland, there was hope our drivers would manage to navigate the cars around the British circuit without too many issues. But close racing, open wheel's and drivers who would do anything to win - it created some tense battles throughout the field, with incidents taking out a number of title contenders.

Qualifying

Dominating the qualifying sessions this season, Richard Dempsey found himself once more on pole position (for third time of asking in Season 2). Rivals Matty Gwill and Slugger lined up behind, for the first time since Round 1. With a grid of 23 drivers, the anticipation for what to expect was through the roof.

Race Highlights

The grid was set, and the 23 drivers prepared for 20 minutes of racing action in the Formula Vee machines. To catch up with some of the overtakes, battles and incidents caught on camera; make sure to watch the Extended Highlights video for Round 6.

Season 2 / Round 6 / Extended Highlights

Lap One

Matty Gwill and Slugger both got a poor launch off of the line, allowing Big Al to move into 2nd place and challenge Richard Dempsey for the lead into the first breaking point of Druids.

Contact behind sent POWski into a spin through Paddock Hill Bend, being collected by Mech_Arm and lap_traffic, bringing them all to a stop. Out of the race early-doors was Checkers, off the back of his win at Chicagoland.

Unable to make the move into Druids, Big Al once again went for the overtake through Hawthorn's bend after using the two down Hawthorn Hill to move him to the outside. Stuck the long way round, however, and Dempsey was able to easily hold the lead of the race.

The end of the lap saw Neil Trotter spinning across the circuit on the exit of Sheen Curve, being collected by Nick Heslink - both drivers falling down the order.

Lap Two

Dempsey caught the gravel of Paddock Hill Bend, inviting Big Al and Matty Gwill in for an attempted overtake into Druids. Unable to stay ahead through Druids or Graham Hill Bend, Matty Gwill then became under attack from title-defender, Slugger, who looked towards the inside of Matty Gwill as the powered along Cooper Straight and towards Surtees. However, the championship leader, was able to stay ahead before the got to the next braking point.

Matt Malone looked to make his way past Bobsjelly as they entered Sheene Curve, scaring Bobsjelly into running wide. Fortunately at the slow speeds the Formula Vee's carry, Bobsjelly was able to return to the circuit ahead of Matt Malone and retain the position as they drove through Stirling's Bend. The greater speed from Matt Malone, however, pulled him around the outside of Clark Curve and into 5th place. AuburnKYLE, moving up from 11th on the grid moved to the inside of the slower Bobsjelly and ran side-by-side up to the timing line.

Lap Three

AuburnKYLE was able to confirm the move on Bobsjelly through Druids as race leader, Richard Dempsey went around for the second time from the lead of a race this season. However, unlike at Spa-Francorchamps, Dempsey was assisted in his spin this time by championship leader and rival, Matty Gwill. Dempsey, however, was able to stay on the rear of the leading train of drivers. With the contact, Slugger was able to slip up the inside of Matty Gwill and take the lead of the race - the first time he has been at the front of the field since the beginning of the season.

Lap Four

Through Paddock Hill Bend, Matty Gwill looked to the inside of Slugger for the race lead. A little tap between the two allowed Gwill to regain the lead of the race, and Slugger ran into the gravel trap on the exit of the turn, causing him to fall behind to fourth place behind Matt Malone.

Matty Gwill, wanting to let Slugger back through, allowed Big Al and Matt Malone to pass through the inside of Druids, with the possibility of a brand-new winner in the league, or Malone to win for the first time this season. Along Cooper Straight, Matty Gwill returned the position to Slugger, allowing the defending champion to return to third place.

Lap Five

Out of Paddock Hill Bend and Slugger was able to find space on the inside of Matt Malone through Druids - the two drivers side-by-side through the hairpin. However, as the circuit switched back across through Graham Hill Bend, Matt Malone was able to regain the position with the inside line.

As the drivers headed through Surtees, Matty Gwill was able to find the faster outside line and move past Slugger once more for third. Bobsjelly and AuburnKYLE remained side-by-side behind in the battle for 5th place.

A mistake through Stirling's Bend from race leader, Big Al sent him into a spin ahead of Matt Malone. Both drivers were sent in the gravel trap and out of the lead of the race. Big Al was quickly able to return to the circuit, with Matt Malone have to get his car facing the right way and out of the deep gravel after being thrown over the top of the leader's car.

The spin promoted Matty Gwill back into the lead of the race, with Bobsjelly, AuburnKYLE, Slugger and Richard Dempsey still hot on his heels.

Lap Six

Slugger, eager to move back towards the front of the field looked to the inside of AuburnKYLE through Hawthorn's Bend. However, instead of getting up the inside of the 3rd placed car, he allowed Dempsey to carry more speed around the exit as they left the turn. Trying to hold the position as they entered Westfield Bend, Slugger moved an inch too far to the left of the circuit, collecting title challenger, Richard Dempsey and sending him into an uncontrolled spin off of the circuit.

Lap Seven

Eager for more - after starting outside of the top 10, AuburnKYLE moved to the inside of Bobsjelly through Druids. A seemingly easy move as Bobsjelly ran wide, possibly trying to get the over-under to work on the exit. However, unable to find the speed he needs, Bobsjelly had to settle into 3rd as AuburnKYLE hunted Matty Gwill for the lead.

Lap Eight

Matt Malone and Richard Dempsey found themselves next to each other on circuit, in a battle as old as time itself. Unfortunately for the championship contender, he would have to visit pit land before the race was over to serve a penalty. This didn't stop him from giving it all he had got with Malone, however.

Lap Nine

Issues behind for Provi as he spun through Paddock Hill Bend and collected in a hard hit by LukeSuds, sending both drivers off the circuit with major damage.

After fighting hard with Matt Malone, Richard Dempsey found the entrance to the pits at the end of the ninth lap, allowing Matt Malone to race in clear air to the end in 6th.

Lap Twelve

The final lap of the race saw AuburnKYLE finally attempt a move past Matty Gwill for the lead as they entered Paddock Hill bend. Going for a wide entrance, he carried the speed down the hill and towards Druids. Matty Gwill, looking ahead to Hawthorn Hill, knew that the tow would be incredibly strong in the fight for the lead. He went wide into Druids, and allowed AuburnKYLE to get up the inside and move ahead. The swapping of posistions inviting Bobsjelly closer into the fight for the lead.

As expected, the additional slip stream pulled Matty Gwill back into a fight for the lead as they headed towards Hawthorn's Bend. Sticking to the outisde, Matty Gwill was able to take the lead of the race momentarily, before the inside line for AuburnKYLE returned the position back to him. The risk from championship leader earlier in the race not paying off as Bobsjelly also got himself involved in the fight at the end of the lap.

Sheene Curve saw Bobsjelly to the inside of Matty Gwill as he was stuck to the outside of AuburnKYLE. As the circuit switched back through Stirling's Bend, Matty Gwill was able to regain 2nd. In-line, the three drivers crossed to take home the podium around Brands Hatch. Surprisingly, the three race leaders finished closer here than the leaders around Chicagoland.

Championship

With the win from AuburnKYLE, he moves up to third in the championship, just two points behind Richard Dempsey. A consistent run of results keeps Matty Gwill at the top of the championship. Defending champion Slugger had a strong result at Brands Hatch, moving him up the order to 6th place. But he needs better results in the last four rounds of the season if he wants any hope of winning back-to-back titles.

Up Next

We will return for the next round of the championship at Cadwell Park in the Pontiac Soltice's on Saturday 1st November 2025.

To make sure you don't miss out on any of the races, head over to our Twitch page and give us a follow so that you are notified when we go live!