DELIGHT & DISAPPOINTMENT AS THUNDEROUS THRUXTON ROCKS!
Former British Touring car driver David Leslie’s hopes of victory in the Dunlop Radical Enduro championship were dashed by a stop/go penalty allowing Richard Ince and Austin Kinsella to take the chequered flag at a thrilling Great & British Dunlop Motorsport festival at Thruxton in Hampshire. The Scot had built up a huge lead in the first part of the Le Mans-style race and the win looked a formality as he handed over his SR8 sports car to team-mate Steve Jones, who continued at a rapid pace at the front of the field. Yet their hopes were dashed when they were penalised for speeding in the pit lane during their changeover and as Jones came in, the safety car was out on track following an incident so the man from Gillingham effectively rejoined at the back of the field, with time running out.
Austin Kinsella, of Market Harborough, having taken over from partner Richard Ince, who is from Ipswich, was the fastest car on track and he eventually took over at the front with just over three laps to go and from there was never threatened as he took the win to strengthen their championship lead, having won race one as well. Meanwhile there was a double win in the SR3 category with Chepstow’s James Harrison who was making his début appearance in the series.
In the Dunlop Radical Biduro championship, Toby Newton and Ross Allen shared a win apiece. Youngster Newton from Grendon Underwood took victory in the first meeting on Saturday, passing Bromyard’s Nick Adcock and crossing the line with a two second margin. Yet he was out of luck in Sunday’s race, finishing a lap behind the leaders with Ross Allen of Edge Hill taking the chequered flag and continuing his impressive transformation from Kart racer to Sports car racer.
Oly Mortimer’s dominance of the Cooper S contested Mini Challenge championship was finally broken when Gavin Bristow, of Chorley, won the first race of the day, his first ever victory, bringing a halt to the Scotsman’s run of seven consecutive wins. Mortimer then struggled in race two which went the way of Morecambe’s Carl Bradley yet the Scot still leads the championship, with the next meeting at Donington Park just a fortnight away. In the Club class category, Alex MacDowell of Tarraby, drove to victory in both races, the teenager making enjoying a stunning début appearance in the series
In the guest meetings Hex ham’s Stuart Oliver won a hugely entertaining International Truck Challenge Grand final. In the Dunlop Mini Seven championship, series leader Max Hunter stormed to victory to strengthen his position at the top of the standings while Andrew Hack took the spoils in the Dunlop Mini Miglia championship.
