SAM GORNALL WINS FINALE AS HARRY HICKTON TAKES TITLE

Sam Gornall secured victory in the final Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy race of the season at Brands Hatch, but his win wasn’t enough to prevent team-mate Harry Hickton from wrapping up the championship title.

Gornall had topped the standings coming into the weekend but after the first two races it was Hickton who had moved into a slender advantage – and who would line up on pole for the season finale.

Hickton held the lead at the start as James Black jumped ahead of Gornall on the run to Paddock Hill Bend, before then making his move for the lead mid-way through lap one.

Black had to win the race to stand any chance of the title, and even then needed results to go his way elsewhere, with the Graves Motorsport man retaining top spot in the opening stages of the race as Hickton came under pressure from Gornall – who edged ahead on lap three.

Black held the lead from Gornall, Hickton, Gabe Fairbrother and Alex Keens as five of the six drivers who had started the weekend in championship contention ultimately duelled for the race win.

It was lap ten when Gornall finally managed to nose ahead of Black on the run out of the final corner and swept head going into Paddock Hill Bend, with Hickton almost pushing his team-mate through as the Westbourne pairing moved to the front.

Hickton then found himself battling with Fairbrother – who had also managed to clear Black – and it allowed Gornall to ultimately round out his campaign with victory as Fairbrother nicked second from Hickton on the final lap.

Third however was still enough to give Hickton the title by virtue of the six bonus points he secured for pole position, as he ended up two points clear of Gornall in the standings – although the roles were reversed in the Graduate Cup where Gornall emerged on top thanks to the fact that bonus points are removed from the equation.

Black had to settle for fourth spot in the race but was able to wrap up third in the championship standings, with Keens and Rhys Hurd rounding out the top six.

Luca Marinoni Osborne took seventh spot ahead of top rookie – and Rookie Cup winner – Ronnie Smith, with the top ten being completed by Alex Solley and Josh Wilby.

Directors Cup honours went to Ben Taylor as he celebrated securing the class title in his second season in the series.