RICHARD JEPP DOES DREAM DOUBLE AT CROFT

Richard Jepp capped a dream weekend in the Mairon Motorsport MINI CHALLENGE Trophy with victory in the second race at Croft.

The Pro-AM Racing driver had scored is maiden win in the series on Saturday afternoon having earlier topped the times in qualifying to ensure he would lead the field away when the action kicked off on a drying circuit.

Jepp made the best start when the lights went out to lead the way into turn one for the first time, with Luca Mariononi Osborne and Alex Keens slotting in behind.

Former champion Dominic Wheatley had been due to line up in fourth sport but he failed to get away off the line and dropped down to 15th spot, with Josh Selvadorai instead leading the chasing pack early on.

Selvadorai did try and make a move on Keens at the hairpin in the second lap but was unable to get through, and his challenge would ultimately fail from that point onwards as the Rookie Cup leader slipped down the order with a gearbox issue.

At the front, the top three were able to ease away from the pack behind, which was now being headed by youngster Leo Richardson, who in turn had Harry Smith and James Colburn fixed on his rear.

Colburn managed to get ahead of Smith to take fifth place and then dived down the inside of Richardson into the hairpin to take fourth at the end of the eighth lap.

As the three cars then headed down to turn one, Smith looked to attack Richardson for fifth but contact between the pair saw the two cars go off into the tyres on the outside of the circuit to bring out the safety car.

With limited time available, the safety car would remain out on track until the chequered flag dropped, leaving Jepp as winner for the second time.

“I would have preferred a one lap dash to the flag, but I’m so happy to get a second win,” he said. “This had just been the dream weekend after the disappointment of Donington Park and I know I’ve said it before but I owe the team a huge thank you for their efforts to even get here.

“Hopefully this weekend helps us to secure a bit more funding for the finale at Brands Hatch, where we’ll be looking to end the year on a high.”

Marinoni Osborne had to settle for second having admitted that the safety car had hampered his plan to bide his time before making a late bid for the win, with Keens in third extending his advantage in the championship standings with just one round left to run at Brands Hatch.

Colburn took fourth place, with the late drama allowing Josh Wilby to come through to fifth spot for Team Avago after a tough qualifying session had seen him starting down in eleventh spot.

Wheatley recovered from his tough start to recover through to sixth, ahead of Matt Luff and Ashley Gregory, with the top ten being rounded out by Isaac Doble and Blair Dryburgh.