JAMIE OSBORNE BAGS MEMORABLE DONINGTON PARK HAT-TRICK

Jamie Osborne rounded out a near perfect weekend in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE with victory in the final race at Donington Park – making him the first driver to bag three races in a meeting for the first time since 2018.

The NAPA Racing UK driver started the longer, 25 minute race from the front row of the grid alongside Tom Ovenden, who was able to hold his lead from pole when the lights went out.

Ovenden was able to keep Osborne at bay through the opening laps, but on lap six, Osborne saw his opportunity to get ahead in his quest to replicate the feat last achieved by Ant Whorton-Eales some seven years ago.

Once at the front, Osborne was able to open a slender gap over Ovenden behind, with the lead pair having broken away from Lewis Selby in third, with the reigning Directors Cup champion having battled his way ahead of Josh Porter on the fourth lap.

As others started to struggle with tyre wear in the Donington heat, Osborne was controlling proceedings at the front before an incident involving team-mate Alex Solley – who went off avoiding Marlo Cordell when he spun with a puncture – saw the race brought to an early end.

“It’s been a mega weekend,” Osborne said. “That third race was one I had to really work, and it was all about keeping the performance in the tyres.

“The race with Tom was really good and a fair battle, and once I got ahead of him, we just tried to get away from the pack. When the red flag came out, I knew there wasn’t enough time to continue and whilst it would have been nicer to see the chequered flag, I’m delighted with the win.

“The team has done a mega job this weekend and we’ve really proved why we are here. It really couldn’t have gone better.”

Ovenden took second spot with Selby rounding out the podium with Porter running in the top four throughout to end his weekend on a high.

Jacob Hodgkiss bagged the Rookie Cup with with another impressive performance for Race Car Consultants, with another strong showing from Steven Chandler in the fuel development car resulting in a top six finish.

Albert Webster took seventh, with Charlie Hand, Harry Campey and Ned Anthony rounding out the top ten – having all scored their best results of the weekend.

Aside from Cordell and Solley, both Max Edmundson and Harry Hickton were forced to retire to the pits, with Cameron Richardson and Nathan Edwards finishing off the lead lap after running into trouble – with Edwards having suffered a spin early on that dropped him out of contention.