Vertu Motors

JACK MCINTYRE STRIKES BACK AT SILVERSTONE ESERIES ROUND AS NEW FACES STAR

Key points:

  • Jack McIntyre takes pole positions at Silverstone National, but can’t deny Dave Marshall victory
  • Jordan Brennan, Ryan Elliott, Isaac Smith, Alex Toth-Jones, Matt Richards all star
  • Next race at Silverstone International on 13th June

As the MINI CHALLENGE UK Official eSeries entered it’s first of two events at the home of British Motorsport, Silverstone, it was Jack McIntyre who dethroned Dave Marshall of his 100% Qualifying record in the series so far.  The margin a slender 0.002s.

McIntyre couldn’t hold on though, and as the battle raged lost out to Marshall in the first race by the flag.  British GT driver Alex Toth-Jones, also backed by series sponsor MSL Motorsport was closest to the sim-racers and held on to lock out the podium in race one.  Behind him Jordan Brennan posted his best result so far in 4th, a big jump forward for a driver who has been consistently scoring top ten finishes in the opening rounds.

Race two saw Josh Hislop make a break at the front, he managed to build a gap as behind podium finishes Ryan Elliott and Max Coates battled.  In the latter stages Tobin Leigh passed Coates at the final corner to take the final podium slot.  Jack McIntyre, nicknamed ‘the Silent Assassin’ climbed to 5th position ahead of Brennan, Toth-Jones and Marshall.

McIntyre outlined his pace with another pole position in Qualifying 2, again only a small margin between the front two.  Jordan Brennan showed his pace again, qualifying 3rd.  Matt Richards had his best qualifying to date with a 4th place.

An epic battle ensued at the front again between McIntyre and Marshall, Dave ‘The Machine’ coming out on top again.  Behind Isaac Smith clinched his first podium ahead of the impressive Jordan Brennan.

Hislop again finished 10th to take reverse grid pole and lined up alongside fellow real world racer and MINI CHALLENGE front runner Max Bird.   This time it was Ryan Elliott who managed to come through to the front.  Hislop and Elliott tangled at the final corner which set off a chain reaction behind, ultimately forcing Max Coates out of podium position.  Through all that again came McIntyre who claimed 3rd behind Richards and Elliott.  Hislop retained 4th position with Marshall coming through to 5th, followed by Brennan, Bird, Leigh, Coates and Smith.

Elsewhere Will Fairclough recorded a strong event to notch the final driver of the race vote from commentators Richard John Neil and Antony Williams.

The eSeries now moves to Silverstone’s International circuit where the 21 real world drivers take on the 14 sim-racers competing for the championships incredible £20,000+ prize pool.  The real world drivers racing for a £10,000 Sim Race Pro Virtual Reality Racing Club (VRRC) simulator sponsored by MSL Motorsport Consultancy and a race weekend in the MINI CHALLENGE UK Cooper Class for the top sim-racer.

Fans of the series can follow all the action on social media via the hashtag – #MINICHALLENGEUKeSeries and live streaming on the MINI CHALLENGE UK YouTube and Facebook pages which as per the real-world competition will be commentated on by Richard John Neil.

MINI CHALLENGE UK Live Stream Links for Round 3 – Silverstone National:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MINIChallengeUK/posts/4137617159611843
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wImKJz9PkY4&feature=youtu.be
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/vrracingclub

Season Calendar:

  1. Donington Park National – Saturday 23rd May
  2. Brands Hatch Indy – Saturday 30th May
  3. Silverstone National – Saturday 6th June
  4. Silverstone International – Saturday 13th June
  5. Snetterton 300 – Saturday 20th June
  6. Croft – Saturday 27th June
  7. Knockhill – Saturday 4th July
  8. Brands Hatch GP – Saturday 11th July

Event Timetable:

  • Live streams start approximately 11:45
  • Qualifying 1: 12:00
  • Race 1: 12:30
  • Race 2: 13:00 (Reverse grid top ten)
  • Qualifying 2: 13:45
  • Race 3: 14:15
  • Race 4: 14:45 (Reverse grid top ten)