Silverstone, Rd.3
QUALIFYING:
Mini Challenge JCW Championship leader James took pole position for Race 1 at Silverstone, by a margin of 0.086s, thereby securing an extra 6 points towards his championship challenge.
James: “I was quite surprised at pole actually. Before Snetterton we had loads of testing in the same conditions as qualifying, so I wasn’t surprised at the pace I had there, but this was the complete opposite. Combined with the fact I’ve never driven this configuration of Silverstone, I’m pretty made up to be fastest. It wasn’t an easy session. The data shows that I had to overtake another car on my fastest lap, which cost me about quarter of a second, so there’s some more time on the table. But tomorrow is a whole new challenge because this isn’t one of those tracks where you can just drive off into the distance because the slipstream here is so strong. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow.”
RACE 1
James: “I just didn’t quite have the edge in that one. I was being a bit of a wimp on the brakes and in the high-speed stuff and that allowed both Jac and Ben on to me, and it’s so hard to shake off cars around here in the tow. But I’ll take third because it’s solid points for the championship.”
RACE 2
Following a decent start to the race, James became embroiled in a collision through Village corner. He continued to hold second, but later ground to a halt with a broken driveshaft.
James: “I’ve got no idea if the driveshaft went because of the contact, or if it just went. It’s a gutting way to end the weekend and doesn’t exactly do me any favours in the championship.”
Driver Standings: https://www.minichallenge.co.uk/mc-driver-standings/
Images & Videos by kind courtesy of Mini Challenge & CSUK
Next MINI CHALLENGE UK meeting: 22/23 June – Donington Park GP