BEN CROSSLEY MAKES IT THREE FROM THREE AT SNETTERTON

Ben Crossley produced a dominant run in the final Vertu MINI CHALLENGE race of the weekend at Snetterton to become the third different winner in the JCW Sport class.

The JRW Motorsport driver lined up on pole for the start of the race and maintained his advantage when the lights went out, quickly establishing a lead of more than a second over points leader Henry Howarth.

Crossley was able to build his advantage as Howarth was forced to defend to keep team-mate Archie Johnson at bay, with the Jamsport pair swapping places on lap three when Johnson managed to slide through at the end of the Bentley Straight.

The lead was extended when Johnson was forced to come into the pits with a power-steering issue and Howarth dropped back into the clutches of Nicky Gauci behind.

Crossley was untroubled as he took the flag nearly six seconds clear at the front to bag a first win of the campaign.

“I got a great start and was able to break away and let them battle behind,” he said. “I knew the set-up on the car might give us an edge but it blew me away how quick it was and it’s a really good result.”

Howarth was forced to contend with a car that wasn’t to his liking and was unable to replicate his earlier win as he instead found Gauci all over the rear of his car in the final stages.

Gauci had a look at trying to get ahead going onto the final lap, but the championship leader held on to take the flag second and retain his position at the head of the points.

“That was a hard race and we struggled with the car,” he said. “I was having to overslow the car which dropped me back from the front so to take P2 is still a good result.”

Third for Gauci marked his third podium finish of the season, with Will Crooks taking fourth spot for EXCELR8.

Chris Mackenzie almost missed the start of the race as the Bitcoin Racing team worked on his car, with the race two winner struggling for pace throughout as he suffered with both clutch and tyre issues en-route to fifth spot.

Despite an unscheduled stop as a result of the steering issue on his car, Johnson was able to rejoin the race to ensure he was able to score points, taking the flag a lap down in sixth.