Surrey-based racing driver, Nick Padmore, rounded off his sensational 2013 season in style by taking a convincing victory in the HSCC Open Wheel Race, supporting the annual Walter Hayes Trophy, at Silverstone, Northamptonshire on Saturday.
Behind the wheel of the WDK Motorsport-prepared 1978 March 783 Formula 3, Padmore completed an all-March front row in a very wet qualifying session, alongside Richard Evans' March 782 Formula 2.
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At the start of the race, Padmore got too much wheelspin off the line but held P2 and tucked in behind Evans into the first corner.
The pair broke away and after four laps, Padmore managed to take the lead just as torrential wind and rain forced the red flags out and for the race to be postponed.
At the restart, starting again from P2, Padmore wasted no time and put himself in front of Evans by the first corner, pulling out a 2-second lead in the opening laps.
However, as the track started to dry and the leaders caught the backmarkers, Evans was able to reduce the gap, although Padmore retained his lead and kept a comfortable margin.
Eventually Evans was forced to retire just two laps before the chequered flag, leaving Padmore to take the win, a full lap clear of the rest of the field.
Nick Padmore:
"What a nice way to end an incredible year! The car felt great and we were on the pace from the word 'go'.
"It was definitely the right decision for the stewards to red flag the race as the conditions were horrendous.
"Once the race was restarted, I knew what I wanted to do; get to the first corner first and keep it there, so it all went to plan.
"Traffic was a little difficult, having such a variety of cars in the race, and I think I lost a bit of time in the last few laps but I was confident by that stage that I had the race under control.
"It was a shame we were unable to take the fight to the flag but everything else this weekend was pretty much perfect.
"Thank you to Max, who owns the car and has given me the opportunity to race some incredible machinery this year, and also WDK Motorsport - they've been faultless all season and today was no exception. This result gives us all a big push as we work over the winter and prepare to expand our program next season."
