JASON LOCKWOOD PLEASED WITH IMPROVEMENT IN FINAL JCW CAMPAIGN

Jason Lockwood admits he was proud of his performance on track in what proved to be his final season in the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE, despite missing out on a top three championship finish.

Lockwood would be a front-runner throughout the campaign having returned to the grid for a third successive season with EXCELR8 Motorsport – grabbing his first victory in the series at Oulton Park.

Unfortunately for Lockwood, a grid penalty carried into the JCW finale at Brands Hatch would hamper his chances, with a puncture in race one and then a suspension issue in race two ultimately ending his hopes of a top three championship finish.

Fifth however was still Lockwood’s best result in the series, with a total of eight podium finishes across the season.

“Heading into the final weekend, my aim was to finish in the top three and ideally fight for second spot – but the stars didn’t align,” he said. “We should have had pole position but there was the penalty and also a lap lost to track limits, and then we had issues in the first two races.

“The fact I came from the back of the grid to finish in the top ten in race three showed we had the pace, and I have to give thanks to the team as they did a great job all year to let me fight at the front, even if the final round was disappointing.

“I feel things came together a lot more for me in my third year in the MINI CHALLENGE and I’ve massively improved as a driver, and I feel it sets me up well for what is to come.”

Lockwood will move to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB with EXCELR8 next season, where he will line-up alongside fellow MINI CHALLENGE graduate Max Bird.