NATHAN EDWARDS BENEFITS FROM OVENDEN PENALTY IN FIRST CROFT ENCOUNTER

Nathan Edwards returned to the top of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE podium in the opening race of the weekend at Croft, even though it was team-mate Tom Ovenden who took the chequered flag first.

Edwards had qualified on pole in qualifying but bogged down when the lights went out at the start, allowing EXCELR8 stablemate Ovenden to grab the lead on the run down to Clervaux for the first time.

In fact, Edwards was so slow off the line that he was also overhauled by both Jamie Osborne and Lewis Selby to slip back to fourth, although he was able to reclaim third by the end of the opening lap.

As Ovenden grabbed a slender early lead, Edwards set about trying to get ahead of Osborne and dived down the inside at the Complex on lap three only to lock up and run wide, which allowed Osborne back ahead.

A lap later however, Edwards repeated the move to claim second and then set off after Ovenden at the front – chasing down his team-mate before launching a move at Tower on lap nine.

Edwards ran deep on the exit to allow Ovenden back ahead, but the leader was then hit with a five second penalty for exceeding track limits, which put Edwards ahead on corrected times.

Electing to maintain position rather than push for the lead on track, Edwards followed Ovenden across the line to take the win, with Ovenden having to settle for second spot once his penalty was applied, admitting afterwards he was unsure where his penalty had come from.

“It’s nice to be back where we belong, it feels like forever since we were on the top step,” Edwards said. “I had a bad start to the race but the recovery was unbelievable against drivers like Jamie and Tom.

“I got up to second but when Tom got the penalty, I didn’t want to try and get ahead because he had a chance of still taking the runner-up spot, and we’ve ended up with a great result for the team.

“It’s been a hard season and that was all about having fun, and getting the result we should be getting.”

Osborne crossed the line in third spot but like Ovenden was handed a penalty for exceeding track limits, which ultimately demoted him back to fifth in the final result.

Whilst it meant Selby claimed third having followed his team-mate throughout the race, the NAPA Racing UK man admitted he was frustrated at missing out on a potential P2 having mis-read his pit board late on – leading to confusion over what position he was in.

“I feel a bit livid to be honest as I didn’t realise I was in second with the penalties,” he said. “I mis-read Jamie’s board and saw P5 so I eased off which was a rookie error but the positive is that we’ve still got a podium finish and another trophy.

“The car is quick so the aim tomorrow is to fight forward from sixth because we’ve got a real chance of a top three championship finish which would be a great result for the season.”

Harry Hickton had climbed his way to fifth on the road after a mid-race battle with Albert Webster and was promoted up to fourth with Osborne’s penalty to secure Rookie Cup honours, with the championship leader classified just behind.

The fight for sixth would rage throughout the race and was headed on the road by Webster, although he would be the third driver in the race to pick up a five second penalty for track limits.

That instead dropped him down to ninth behind Jacob Hodgkiss, Alex Solley and Josh Porter, with Solley having charged through from the back of the field in impressive fashion to cross the line seventh following a drag race with Porter to the line.

The top ten was completed by Harry Campey as he recovered from a heavy off into the barriers during Friday practice.

Four JCW drivers failed to make the finish, with Charlie Hand forced to pull off the start and Owen Hillman also retiring early with a mechanical problem.

Marlo Cordell’s difficult campaign continued with a trip into the gravel after contact damaged his car, and Max Edmundson forced out late on having looked well set for a top six finish.