Trio Share Wins In Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy Opener

16/04/2025 11:00 Share

Trio Share Wins In Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy Opener

Joshua Wilby, Leo Purches and Rhys Hurd scored a win apiece as the new Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy season got underway at Snetterton.

A field of 23 cars headed for the longest circuit on the calendar to kick off the Cooper class campaign, with Olivier Algieri producing a storming lap in qualifying to secure the quickest time and bag six bonus points.

With the grid for race one set by second fastest times, it was Gabe Fairbrother who led the field away in the opener although he lost the lead to Wilby mid-way through the opening lap.

Wilby led until the race was halted to recover Algieri’s car when he clipped a tyre stack and dislodged a front wheel, but after the restart, the Team Avago driver was able to race clear to score a first victory for both himself and the team.

Fairbrother ran off track on the final lap to lose second spot, which instead allowed Ashley Gregory to come through as take the runner-up slot, with Ronnie Smith grabbing third late on following a fine drive from outside the top ten.

The reverse grid second race went all the way to the wire and a dramatic final lap after rookie’s Harry Smith and Alfie Garford had spent much of the race dicing out front.

After Smith ran across the grass and Garford slowed on track, it looked like James Sherrington would emerge on top but despite starting the final lap in fourth, it was Purches who came through to take the chequered flag first .

Purches overhauled Smith for third and when Sherrington was delayed whilst dicing with Jamie Keates, passed the pair ahead to grab the win – with Smith taking second and Sherrington forced to settle for third.

Having been forced to retire from the opening two races, Algieri was hoping for more luck in the weekend finale and he led the early stages before slipping behind Hurd and Fairbrother as rain started to fall on the infield.

Hurd scampered clear at the front with Fairbrother clearing Algieri for second before the action was halted after a number of cars ran off track and the safety car was called – with no time available to restart proceedings.

Purches heads the standings at the end of the weekend, with Gregory sitting in second spot and Harry Smith in third.

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