RICHARD JEPP HEADS RECORD-BREAKING CROFT QUALIFYING

Richard Jepp bounced back from the disappointment of the final race at Donington Park to snare a maiden pole in the Mairon Motorsport MINI CHALLENGE Trophy at Croft.

Jepp’s Pro-AM Racing had worked round the clock other repair his damaged car in order to make the trip to North Yorkshire, with work ongoing until the early hours ahead of Friday testing.

After a solid run in the three sessions, Jepp emerged as the mean to beat in the 30 minute qualifying session, which had to be halted early on following an off into the gravel at turn one for Ashley Gregory.

With the leading ten drivers all dipping below the previous qualifying lap record, Jepp was the only person to break the 1:39s marker to earn his spot at the head of the field for Sunday’s second race – with just two races being on the schedule this weekend.

“There are no words to describe how I feel,” Jepp said. “I’m so appreciative of the effort that has gone in from the team, and particularly from Scott Thompson, because the work they’ve done to get us back on the grid is amazing.

“The car was close to being a write-off but they’ve got it back on track and it’s been rapid from the moment it hit the track. I can’t thank everyone enough – it’s just unreal.”

Jepp will be joined on the front row of the grid by Luca Marinoni Osborne who was a tenth of a second behind, with points leader Alex Keens in third.

Keens however will start race one from pole thanks to his second fastest time, with his two best laps having been much closer than Jepp and Marinoni Osborne ahead.

“It’s nice to be on pole for one of the races, even if we didn’t manage to get quickest overall,” he said. “This is the kind of circuit where if you can get a good start, it’s possible to stay ahead and that will be the aim this afternoon – to try and break the tow and get away.”

Outside the top three, former champion Dominic Wheatley was fourth ahead of his one-off return with EXCELR8, with the Matt Luff and Josh Selvadorai rounding out the top six – making the latter the top Rookie Cup entrant as he looks to extend his lead in the standings.

Leo Richardson, Chris Doble, Harry Smith and Westbourne Motorsport boss James Colburn completed the top ten.