Having wrapped up the CUE One Hour Production Sports Car endurance series a month ago at Morgan Park, Dark Horse Racing have added yet another crown to their burgeoning trophy cabinet – Mazda MX5 National Champions.

Facing the cream of Australia’s Mazda MX5 crop from all over the eastern coast, Dark Horse Racing and driver Ash Miller were up against their most formidable field of their 2010 campaign. Arriving at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park on the weekend of October 29-31, the team were optimistic about their chances.

“We have a well prepared car,” said driver Ash Miller.

“We’ve done all we can to make sure the little beast is all ready for what’s the most important race of the year for us, so we’ve done all we can there. Now it’s just up to myself to get the most out of the driving.”

A few sessions of practice saw the cars hit the track for the first time together on Friday morning, but it wasn’t until Friday Qualifying that the true lay of the MX5 field was to be seen.

With Miller battling against fellow Queensland protagonists David Gainer and Russell Schloss, the trio swapped fastest laps throughout the session. However, only one man could take pole – Miller taking the honours from Schloss by just three-thousanths of a second, with Gainer just half a second behind in third. With such a closely matched top bunch, the weekend’s racing was shaping up to be intense.

In fact when the lights went out to signal the beginning of the ten-lap race one on Friday afternoon, it was a continuation of the titanic battle that raged during Qualifying. Grouped together with the Class 2B cars, the 2F leaders mixed it with the upper class until the pattern of the racing settled out. Schloss initially got the jump on Miller, but with the 2B cars negotiating turn one in a less than orderly manner, Miller managed to slip through into the lead after turn two.

The race would stay this way, with Miller leading and Gainer getting the better of Schloss 5 laps into the race. However, with the three cars spaced evenly and the laps counting down, problems struck for Miller. Encountering an engine glitch that caused the engine to cut out temporarily between third and fourth gears, the loss in momentum allowed Gainer to close right up, and with no challenge to be had, Miller duly left room as they climbed the hill towards turn three.

Schloss made the most of the situation, nipping by the stunted Miller to grab second at the next corner – however, an accident up ahead of the battling trio just one corner later saw Schloss take to the grass in avoiding action, and gifting Miller the place back.

The race would finish in that order, with Miller climbing all over the back of Gainer’s car but unable to do anything about the engine woes. So after race one, the points read Gainer, Miller and Schloss, with Peter Lacey placing an impressive fourth.

“Race one was frustrating, to say the least,” Miller said afterwards.

“We had the pace to stay out in front but you can’t foresee these little dramas. As it is though, I’m pleased with second, it sets us up well for the weekend ahead.”

Saturday dawned with a program of 3 races, consisting of an 8 lap opening race and two ten lap follow on races. With the grid order being progressive, it was now Gainer with the upper hand over Miller and Schloss for race two.

The start of race two saw Miller gain an immediate advantage, sailing into turn one and making the most of a slow-starting 2B class pack, picking off Kerry Finn to put a gap between himself and the other 2F cars.

The 8 laps wound down uneventfully, as Miller claimed his first win of the weekend over Gainer and Schloss, the latter sitting in second until Gainer managed to squeeze by with just a few laps remaining.

“What a great result!” Miller shared afterwards.

“Of course it’s what we’ve been aiming for, but there’s still four races to go, and we need to do 100% in all of them.”

Races three and four saw another set of 100% races for Miller, as he continued his affinity with good starts and advantageous use of the 2B cars, pulling a gap over the duelling Gainer and Schloss to claim a clean sweep for Saturday’s events. After four races Miller lead the charge, over Gainer in second and Schloss in third.

Sunday’s races brought another 8 and 10 lap duo, but with a twist – the final 10 lap race on Sunday was also worth double points.

“With the last race being so valuable on points, we have to push right till the end,” Miller said.

“You can’t just sit back – you have to get as many points as possible because it’s not over until the flag falls on race six.”

Sunday’s first event was a liquid-tinged affair, as early morning rain had given the track a thorough soaking. With standing water and oil residue blanketing the Wakefield tarmac, conditions would prove to be tricky.

“The weather was tough to read – it stopped raining about 20 minutes before the race, with a couple of events due to hit the track before us, so it was marginal as to how wet the track would be once we had our turn on track,” Miller said.

With the track proving too wet for dry tyres yet not comfortably wet for wet tyres, tyre choice would prove critical as the track dried out.

Miller made the call, settling for wets. It would prove to be an inspired decision.

As the lights went out for the start of race five, Miller once again made the most of his starts, and vaulted ahead of not only his 2F rivals, but also a handful of 2B talent. The tricky conditions proving difficult for the more powerful turbo cars ahead, Miller kept them honest.

The track rapidly dried, and as a dry line started appearing, Miller sought to conserve his tyres, finding puddles of standing water to cool the rubber. Hanging off the back of Matilda Mravavic’s turbo MX5 for the entire race, he finished door to door with the 2B car, taking not only 2F honours but sixth on the road. Gainer once again nabbed second off a fast-starting Schloss, and the two finished in their orderly places.

With just the one double-points race remaining, it was all to play for – Miller had to finish no lower than second to take home the National Title, and with the weather fining up by the final race, it would be neck and neck out on the circuit.

“Going into the last race we knew we couldn’t relax. It had to be played as best we could, and go for as many points as possible,” Miller said.

At the start, Miller got the jump on fast-starting Schloss, with Gainer bogging down as they made their way towards turns one and two. As the field threaded towards the end of lap one, Schloss was close enough to have a look at Miller going into the final corner. Miller managed to get back underneath, and the cars raced door to door, mirrors almost touching as they steamed into turn one with Gainer just a car length off their bumpers. Miller managed to hold off Schloss, but the remaining 9 laps saw the Kingaroy journeyman challenge Miller unwaveringly every lap, sniffing for a gap at every opportunity, with Gainer waiting patiently just a car length behind.

The laps wound down excitedly, but as the cars entered the straight for the final time, Miller had enough of a lead over Schloss to take victory, and the 2010 Mazda MX5 National Title – his first National Title.

“What a day, what a weekend! I couldn’t have done this without the amazing car the team have prepared,” Miller said afterwards.

“I’d like to thank Errol Davidson, Graham Miller, John and Joey Bayly, Wayne Davidson for all the help preparing the car, and Gary Stewart for the fantastic engines. It’s been a brilliant weekend’s racing, and to David Gainer and Russell Schloss, many thanks for the fierce but fair racing – it was the most enjoyable racing I’ve had in a long time.”

The win sees Miller improve on his 2009 Nationals third place.

The MX5 Nationals were the penultimate round in DHR’s 2010 campaign, with the final round being the last round of the 2010 CUE One Hour Endurance series, at the enigmatic Phillip Island circuit, south of Melbourne.

The final CUE race will also see the final swansong for Dark Horse Racing’s Mazda MX5 chapter – with the car and truck up for sale, Ash Miller and DHR are looking for pastures new in 2011.

“It’s been an incredible few years – from humble beginnings to being where we are today, it’s  been the most amazing journey with everyone involved in the team. Sadly, though, it’s time to sell the old girl and go elsewhere. I’ll miss her, but there’s exciting things on the horizon for 2011.”

Anybody interested in buying the Dark Horse Racing package, please email us with your details – dh-racing@hotmail.com

DHR and Ash Miller are also looking for supporters to continue their upward climb through the motorsport ranks in 2011, and any interested parties please contact us at the above email.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE TEAM AND SUPPORTERS, WHO PUT IN A MASSIVE EFFORT TO BRING THE CAR TO WHERE IT IS TODAY

_____________________________________________________