JOSH PORTER OPENS JCW WIN ACCOUNT

Josh Porter scored his maiden win in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE with a lights-to-flag success in the second race of the weekend at Knockhill.

The EXCELR8 driver had started from second spot on reverse grid after a difficult qualifying session left him outside the top ten on the grid for races one and three, and jumped to the front of the field on lap one when he got away from the line better than Cam Richardson.

An early caution after a clash at the chicane between race one winner Nathan Edwards and Lewis Selby that left Edwards stranded in the gravel was followed by a strong run at the front from Porter who was kept honest throughout by Richardson and then Alex Solley when he moved ahead of his NAPA Racing team-mate.

Solley however had picked up a ten second penalty for a false start which meant he wasn’t a risk to Porter in terms of the win, but the EXCELR8 man was unaware of that fact and was unable to relax as Solley fixed on his tail.

With championship leader Jamie Osborne also joining the party late on as he fought his way through the field, a three-car fight for the win on the road was on in the final laps but Porter held on to take a deserved victory.

“I honestly didn’t expect that this weekend after qualifying and it’s great to get the win – it’s taken long enough!” he said. “It was difficult late on in the heat when the pressure was on behind but I just made sure I parked it on the apex to keep them at bay.

“This was all because I managed to make up a load of places in race one to benefit from the reverse grid and hopefully we can come through again well in race three!”

Solley’s penalty dropped him down to ninth place, and allowed Osborne to take second and extend his advantage at the top, with his title rival Tom Ovenden just behind in third place.

Richardson had been in the fight for the podium places before a minor mistake at the chicane saw him dip a wheel in the gravel and lose momentum on the run up the Clark’s.

Side-by-side contact on the exit of the corner with Max Edmundson saw both drivers go off track, with Richardson ultimately ending up down in tenth and Edmundson at the back of the field after dropping off the lead lap.

With Solley’s penalty and Richardson’s drama, it was Owen Hillman who instead came through to take Rookie Cup honours in fourth ahead of Harry Hickton and Harry Campey, with Ned Anthony impressing in sixth after a difficult weekend to date for the Amigo Motorsport driver.

Selby raced his way back to tenth ahead of his delayed NAPA Racing team-mates.