HENRY HOWARTH FENDS OFF TEAM-MATE FOR OPENING OULTON PARK WIN

Henry Howarth held off race-long pressure from Jamsport team-mate Archie Johnson to score JCW Sport victory in the opening race of the weekend at Oulton Park.

The race kicked off in challenging conditions after rain showers prior to the start, although the six-car Sport field all elected to stick with slick tyres as they took their places on the grid.

Johnson lined up on pole from Ben Crossley and Howarth, but it was the points leader who got the best start when the lights went out to take the lead on the run down to turn one.

From that point on, the fight for the win would become an inter-team battle between Howarth and Johnson as the pair ran together throughout, with Howarth forced to make his car as wide as possible to stay ahead.

Brief contact between the pair at the hairpin left Howarth nursing damage to the rear of his car but he was able to hold on out front to secure the win, with Johnson only dropping away in the final two laps after another failed attempt to get ahead.

“It was a really tough race,” Howarth said. “I managed to get a better start than Archie and Ben at the start and then I had to try and make sure I kept Archie behind as he was quick.

“The early laps in particular were a real challenge because I couldn’t get heat into the tyres and it was a case of mastering the conditions as much as possible whilst they got up to temperature.

“We had a bit of contact that’s damaged the rear of the car but that is part of racing, and it was a good battle.”

Johnson would cross the line a second and half behind to take the runner-up spot, although he was also able to secure the bonus points on offer for taking the fastest lap having managed a best lap three-tenths of a second quicker than the winner.

The lead pair were well clear of Crossley by the finish as he took the flag a further 14 seconds behind in third place having been able to fend off the challenge of Nicky Gauci, with the Maltese racer forced to settle for fourth.

Chris Mackenzie, who topped the times in qualifying to snare pole for Sunday’s race, was unable to replicate that performance in the poor conditions and had to settle for fifth, with Will Crooks taking sixth spot.

Howarth now leads Crossley by 21 points in the standings ahead of Sunday’s race.