TOM OVENDEN BAGS OULTON PARK POLE

Tom Ovenden will start both Vertu MINI CHALLENGE races at Oulton Park from pole position after topping the times in qualifying.

Ovenden emerged as the man to beat at the end of a dramatic session in which points leader Jamie Osborne was consigned to the back of the grid after a fuel pump issue saw him stop on track before setting a lap time.

That brought out a red flag before the NAPA Racing UK squad managed to repair the car and get him back out on track towards the end, only for a second red flag for an off for Owen Hillman to leave him without a timed lap.

“The team did a mega job to get me back out and I thought we’d have time to get a lap in at the end and at least be in the mix,” he said.

“Sadly the red flag came out just as I got to the final corner so we’re going to be stuck at the back, but the aim is just to score as many points as we can.”

With Osborne out of the equation, it looked like Josh Porter was on to grab pole when he set the pace on the first timed runs, but Ovenden left it late to edge his EXCELR8 Driver Development Programme team-mate out of top spot by just 0.036s.

Ovenden’s second fastest time was also the best of anyone and puts him on the pole for the Saturday afternoon race.

“That was the most tense qualifying session I think I’ve ever done,” he said. “It’s been tough in the heat and my eyes with stinging with sweat by the end but we got the lap in and are where we need to be.”

With the EXCELR8 duo locking out the front row, Lewis Selby was best of the rest in third having ended his session early when he felt he had maximised his lap time, with Marlo Cordell taking fourth despite encountering traffic on his quickest lap.

Max Edmundson took fifth for Pro Alloys Racing to reward the team for changing the driveshaft on his car during the red flag, with the top six rounded out by Nathan Edwards as he looks to return to form after a difficult start to the campaign.

Albert Webster, Alex Solley, Harry Hickton and Harry Campey rounded out the top ten.

In the JCW Sport class, Chris Mackenzie emerged on top to score a first pole for both himself and the Bitcoin Racing team, with an early lap proving to be enough to fend of Archie Johnson and lead the way by a tenth of a second.

“We showed good pace on Friday so it’s nice to get the job done and get my first pole,” he said. “Hopefully we can get a good start and push for the win, and hopefully the conditions stay dry and we don’t get the rain that looks like it could arrive.”

Ben Crossley was third quickest for JRW Motorsport, with Nicky Gauci taking fourth and points leader Henry Howarth back in fifth.

Will Crooks rounded out the field with the sixth quickest time.