MATT LUFF BAGS POLE FOR TROPHY OPENER AT SILVERSTONE

Matt Luff topped the times in the opening Mairon Motorsport MINI CHALLENGE Trophy qualifying session of the season at Silverstone

Ahead of his first full season in the series, Luff came close to breaking the qualifying lap record at the wheel of his Graves Motorsport-run car in what would prove to be a close-run battle around the short National layout – with the leading 15 drivers covered by a second.

With just 15 minutes in which to set a time, track position would prove to be key as drivers looked to try and benefit from a tow, with the majority of the field running in small trains of cars.

After the early laps, the first sub 1:11s time came from Henry Foote at the circuit where he bagged his maiden MINI CHALLENGE podium last year before rookie Josh Selvadorai took a turn at the top – an impressive feat for the MRM man given that he was running alone on track.

However, it as the times continued to drop it was Luff who emerged on top with a quickest lap just off lap record pace before the arrival of light rain in the closing stages.

In the end, Luff would set two lap times which would have been good enough for pole, which means he will also lead the way for the opening race of the weekend this afternoon – where the grid is determined by second fastest times.

“What a way to start the new season,” he said. “When I did Brands Hatch last season, it was a big learning curve for me so it’s great to come out here and bag the first pole of the year.

“We managed to get the tow in the session to set the time and it got a bit tricky towards the end, but the job was done by then and I’m now looking forward to the races.”

Behind Luff, Josh Wilby would end up with the second quickest time for Team Avago, with defending champion Alex Keens rounding out the top three.

In terms of second quickest times however, the pair were reversed on the timesheets which means Keens will join his Graves team-mate on the front row of the first race of the campaign.

Despite running in a single-car team this season, Luca Marinoni Osborne took fifth, with Isaac Doble slotting into fifth as the best of the rookie drivers having left his quickest time until the final lap of the session.

That allowed the Race Car Consultants man to edge ahead of Selvadorai on the times, with Ashley Gregory, Henry Foote and Harry Smith behind.

The top ten was then rounded out by Richard Jepp, which left him as the leading driver in the Directors Cup.