OLIVIER ALGIERI OPENS MINI CHALLENGE WIN ACCOUNT

Olivier Algieri produced a fine drive from the third row of the grid to secure his maiden win in the final Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy race of the weekend at Brands Hatch.

Algieri had been forced to retire from the second race with an engine issue that saw the Westbourne Motorsport squad forced to change the unit on his car ahead of the start, where Gabe Fairbrother lined up on pole having topped qualifying.

Fairbrother retained the lead at the start as the field headed into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time but behind Joshua Wilby was slow off the line which allowed Ronnie Smith through into second spot.

Smith tried to find a way back ahead into the lead at Druids on lap two but then came under attack from Wilby later in the lap, with the Team Avago man able to slide through on the exit of Clearways – taking Algieri with him.

An issue for Louis Fleet that saw his car stop on the side of the circuit saw the safety car deployed and on the restart, Algieri wasted little time in making a move on Wilby for second spot and then went wheel-to-wheel with Fairbrother before taking the lead.

Wilby also cleared Fairbrother for second just before the action was halted following an off for Monroe Rennard that saw the Graves Motorsport man hit the barriers on the inside of turn one, which then needed to be repaired by track officials.

Algieri led the field away at the restart and was able to control the shortened six minute encounter from the front to score victory for the first time to reward the team for its efforts in preparing his car ready for the start.

It also came after a tough opener at Snetterton in which he qualified on pole but then suffered two retirements.

“I think I’ve had my fair share of bad to luck this season, and to be honest it had been a bit of a disaster,” he said. “That only makes that reason even sweeter!

“When the car had no engine in it half-way between race two and race three, I didn’t think a result like that would be possible but the team did a great job and when we were out on track, I just got my head down and went for it.

“It was a tough race with the heat and trying to make sure the car lasted, and after the restart, I nailed it and got the break from the pack behind. We always knew we had the pace to get these results, and I hope we can now build on it.”

Fairbrother was able to take second spot ahead of Wilby, who now leads the championship standings at the end of the weekend, with Luca Marinoni Osborne in fourth.

Osborne had battled with team-mate Rhys Hurd before the restart and just missed out on the podium positions, with Hurd and Leo Purches behind rounding out the top six finishers.

Alex Keens capped a strong weekend on track with seventh ahead of Alfie Garford – who now leads the Rookie Cup – with Smith slipping back down the order to ninth and Craig Morgan completing the top ten.