SAM GORNALL VICTORIOUS IN SILVERSTONE FINALE

Sam Gornall emerged victorious in the final Power Maxed MINI CHALLENGE race of the weekend at Silverstone as the Pro Alloys Racing driver returned to the top step of the podium.

The weekend finale kicked off with Olivier Algieri sitting on pole after he inherited top spot in qualifying, with the EXCELR8 driver able to hold onto the lead at the start with the threat of rain in the air.

Behind, Gornall got away well from fifth on the grid to rocket up the order to sit in second spot, with Josh Porter in third.

Porter would be shuffled back down the order on lap two when team-mate Nathan Edwards managed to get ahead on the run up to Maggotts. Edwards then briefly managed to take second from Gornall before he battled back ahead, with Edward then coming under pressure from Harry Campey, who duly grabbed third.

Algieri had established a slender lead at the front but Gornall was able to close in behind before the arrival of heavy rain showers added another challenge into the mix – with a group of eight cars at the front suddenly involved in the battle for the win.

Gornall’s victory hopes looked to have gone when he was forced wide on lap twelve and dropped down to sixth spot but within two laps, had managed to place his car in the right place as others squabbled ahead to move back into second.

Gornall then made a move on Algieri for the lead going into Maggotts, with slight contact between the pair unsettling Algieri’s car as he ran wide.

Gornall would go on to take the flag first and score the win, with team-mate Max Edmundson grabbing second on the final lap when he managed to get ahead of Edwards to secure a Pro Alloys Racing 1-2.

It also means Edmundson has been able to close the gap at the top of the standings to defending champion Tom Ovenden with just the Brands Hatch season finale left to run.

“That was a really intense race and the weather threw a spanner in the works a bit,” Gornall said. “I got shuffled back but was able to find the right lines to get back to the front. We knew the rain was coming at some point and it was all about just trying to keep the car on track and it’s great to win.”

Behind Edmondson and Edwards, Alex Solley emerged as best of the rest with Ovenden taking fifth – with the top five within two seconds of each other at the line.

Campey took sixth ahead of Josh Porter and Archie Johnson, with Algieri slipping back to ninth. Will Crooks rounded out the top ten as Directors Cup winner.

The fight for the JCW Sport win raged throughout between Alfie Garford and Murray Richardson, with the Wera Alliance Racing Academy pair spending multiple laps running side-by-side.

Having swapped places throughout, Richardson emerged on top to score his second win of the campaign ahead of the new champion.