ALEX SOLLEY MAKES IT THREE NEW WINNERS AT KNOCKHILL

Alex Solley made it three new winners from three races at Knockhill with victory in the final Power Maxed MINI CHALLENGE race of the weekend in Scotland.

Solley had started the race alongside Harry Hickton on the front row of the grid as a result of a two-place grid penalty handed out to Max Edmundson, and he made a solid start to slot into second spot on the run to turn one for the first time, with Edmundson grabbing third from Nathan Edwards.

An early caution period for a trip into the gravel for Gerry Hendry coincided with news that Hickton had been handed a five second penalty for being out of position at the start, meaning he would need to push hard to try and build a buffer if he wanted to double up and add to his win in Saturday’s opening race.

Hickton pushed hard when the action resumed but never looked like shaking Solley, who remained within a second of the leader knowing that the penalty had been imposed.

It meant that even though Hickton took the flag first, it was Solley who was declared the winner for the first time since moving up into the JCW class, following Hickton and Archie Johnson – who inherited the win from Harry Campey – in securing a maiden victory.

“We came close here last year and picked up a penalty so I know how Harry must feel,” he said. “To be honest I’m a bit speechless as we’ve had a great weekend and this is the cherry on the top. To get my first win is fantastic and I’m so happy.”

Edmundson would be classified in second spot to make it a Pro Alloys Racing 1-2 despite not having the pace in his car to match Solley, with a disappointed Hickton slipping down to third once his penalty was applied.

Fourth went to Edwards in what was a somewhat lonely race for the EXCELR8 driver, who was unable to match the three cars ahead but had enough in hand to break clear of the battle behind that involved team-mates Campey, Tom Ovenden and Josh Porter.

Campey emerged at the front of that three-way fight in fifth having gained five spots from where he started, whilst behind the trio it was Ned Anthony, Cameron Richardson and Will Crooks who rounded out the top ten.

Olivier Algieri had been involved in the battle with his fellow EXCELR8 racers but multiple penalties for track limits dropped him back from fifth on the road to eleventh.

Crucially that gave Crooks the win in the Rookie Cup, whilst he also bagged Directors Cup honours after a retirement for Joe Tanner – meaning he leads the standings in both classes going into the final two meetings.

Alfie Garford’s domination of JCW Sport this season continued as he picked up yet another victory to move further clear of team-mate Murray Richardson in the points.