LIGHTS TO FLAG WIN OPENS HARRY HICKTON’S JCW ACCOUNT

Harry Hickton converted pole position into a maiden win in the JCW class of the Power Maxed MINI CHALLENGE with a lights-to-flag success in the first race of the weekend at Knockhill.

Hickton, now running with the EXCELR8 Driver Development squad, had dominated qualifying to earn his spot at the head of the field and took his spot at the front of the grid for the opening 20 minute race with the threat of rain in the air.

When the lights went out, Hickton was able to get away well from the line to retain his advantage over Max Edmundson going into turn one, and was able to lead from that point onwards despite the fact that the Pro Alloys Racing driver behind kept him honest throughout.

Hickton built a lead of just under a second and only came under threat when he lost time in traffic and Edmundson was able to close in.

In reality, Edmundson didn’t get close enough to make an actual move for the lead, which allowed Hickton to lead every lap as he scored his first JCW win.

“Being the first car on the road was tricky as conditions kept changing, and it was a case of making sure the tyres were up to temperature and then trusting the car underneath me,” he said.

“This was my chance to get that first JCW win and I was determined to take it. The traffic towards the end made it a bit more challenging that it could have been but it’s a great result and I’m delighted to get the win.”

The top two were helped somewhat by the fact that Nathan Edwards was slow away from third place at the start of the race, almost stalling his car when the lights went out before he finally got underway.

That left him under pressure from team-mate Tom Ovenden as well as Alex Solley going through the opening corners but Edwards was able to retain the place and then kept his rivals at bay throughout.

He and Ovenden would eventually managed to break clear of Solley, with Edwards ultimately able to keep the defending champion behind him to take third ahead of Ovenden.

“I’m struggling a little bit for outright pace and don’t know what it is at the moment, which is a shame as we were quick here last year,” Edwards reflected.

“The car has obviously changed quite a bit compared to twelve months ago and I just need to get my head round it, but I’m so proud of the team and the sponsors that have got me here. That was just one of those races where I had to defend hard to get the result.”

Josh Porter ran sixth in the early stages in a three-way fight with Charlie Hand and Harry Campey, with Hand getting ahead on lap four to take the place – with Campey following him through.

Hand held the spot until three laps from the end when he clashed with Campey at the chicane and dropped behind his rival, before being forced to park up on the final lap with a suspected fuel line issue.

That left Campey to take the flag in sixth ahead of Porter, with Ned Anthony, Cameron Richardson and Will Crooks rounding out the top ten.

That gave Crooks victory in both the Rookie Cup and the Directors Cup, albeit only after issues for the two drivers who had appeared set to win the respective classes.

Sam Gornall had taken the flag in eighth but a five second penalty for exceeding track limits dropped him down to eleventh, with Joe Tanner having led the Directors Cup for much of the race despite acquiring some trackside advertising on the front of his NAPA Racing UK car.

Although that hoarding would be dislodged from the car, he took encountered a fuel issue that saw him slow late on and drop down the order to finish in 15th.

The battle for honours in JCW Sport was effectively decided before the start when Murray Richardson took the gamble on going for wet tyres in the hope that rain would arrive – only for it to hold off until the chequered flag had dropped.

It meant he was on the wrong tyres and left Alfie Garford unchallenged at the front as he eased to another victory to extend his advantage at the top of the standings.

“I think it would have been a different race if the rain had arrived ten minutes earlier, but Murray’s decision to go with wets meant I could relax a bit,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve ever been here and I love the circuit, particularly after a win!”