Rookie Max Hall Shines Bright In Brands Hatch Sun
Rookie Max Hall proved to be the man to beat in the second meeting of the season for the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW field at Brands Hatch.
Hall had endured a tough opening weekend at Donington Park with an early retirement in race one hampering his challenge, as defending champion Dan Zelos and Directors Cup racer Lewis Selby shared the wins.
In more favourable conditions at Brands Hatch, Hall topped the times in qualifying to snare pole for the final race of the weekend, although it was Zelos who led the field away in race one – where the grid was determined by second fastest times.
Although Zelos led the early stages of the race, Hall battled his way ahead after an early safety car period and set the fastest lap as he edged away at the front to take his first win since stepped up from the Cooper class.
Zelos chased him home in second place, with Marlo Cordell battling his way ahead of Lewis Selby to score third place and break onto the podium having endured a wretched start to his campaign two weeks earlier.
Hall was prevented from doubling up in race two when he suffered a driveshaft issue before the start, which allowed Zelos to beat Selby to his second win of the campaign, with Cordell repeating his result from race one to secure another podium finish for the JamSport Racing UK squad.
With Hall’s car repaired ahead of race three, the teenager kept Zelos at bay to secure a second win of the weekend, with the pair racing away from Selby at the front. He would settle for third, scoring a hat-trick of Directors Cup wins in the process.
Victories in the JCW Sport class were shared by Dylan Hotchin and Cameron Richardson – with Hotchin winning races one and two before Richardson saw off the challenge of Ben Crossley to win race three.
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