Max Hart took a last gasp pole position in this mornings qualifying session to front the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK grid. The Irish driver was a force to be reckoned with throughout, saving his best for last as the Maximum Motorsport driver pipped the Essex & Kent Motorsport pair around Silverstone.
Using the International Circuit, it was a new challenge for the series that until now has been more accustomed to the National Pits. A dry and breezy morning welcomed the Trophy as thirteen drivers took the track.
The Kent brothers were quickest at the start of the 15-minute qualifying session, with the pair towing each other down the pit straight. Both had radio communication with each other while on track and were prepared to work in order to challenge their rivals in class. Max Hart was the first to interrupt their dominance, with the Maximum Motorsport driver running a brand-new Hyundai i30 to take the fight into a new level.
The trio continued to pull away with Bradley not content to play second fiddle to his Essex & Kent Motorsport teammate. Having set the fastest lap, he proceeded to lower the benchmark, setting a 1:07.460.
This appeared to be enough not only to better defending TCR UK Champion Lewis Kent, but also the rest of the field. Hart though knew he couldn’t afford to settle behind, pulling out a 1:07.363 as the flag came down.
Darron Lewis ended the session as the fastest TCT runner, fourth overall with a time of 1:08.092 to complete the second row. Under half a second behind Lewis Kent in front, the Mercedes A Class NGTC will be a threat towards the end of the race at 13:20. 16-year-old Hugo Cook made an impact on debut, qualifying fifth in his Audi RS3. The #138 Simpson Motorsport driver had already gained experience from racing at the circuit on Saturday and will be determined to mark his name early in the championship.
Next in line will be the Power Maxed Racing trio as #70 William Butler took first blood in the group, a mere 0.004 seconds ahead of Dan Kirby, as Jac Constable completed a respectable debut qualifying to line up eighth. The three drivers are each running Cupra Leon TCR’s, the car that took multiple podiums and one overall race win last season.
Defending Milltek Civic Cup champion Bruce Winfield finished ninth from Toby Bearne’s Mercedes A Class. On debut, Danny Krywyj leads row six from defending VW Cup champion Andy Wilmot and Will Powell.
About the event
With teams based in the Grand Prix paddock and Wing pit complex, the new-look Maximum Networks Volkswagen Racing Cup and Goodyear Touring Car Trophy and TCR UK season is set for a spectacular start.
The action gets underway with two 25-minute races at 13.20 and the second at 15.30. Both will be live streamed on Facebook:
@GoodyearTouringCarTrophy
@volkswagenracingcup
Sunday’s meeting is administered by the BARC and utilises Silverstone’s 1.851-mile International circuit configuration.
For further championship details visit:
