Will Martin bounced back from a retirement to take victory from the final Ginetta Junior race of the season.
The Richardson Racing driver had intended not to drive Sunday’s race at Brands Hatch after severe damage to his Ginetta following a crash at the end of race two. The team worked hard overnight to repair the car for the season finale, in which he would start 10th.
Lorcan Hanafin led for most of the race, handling multiple safety car restarts, but came under pressure from Martin, James Hedley, and Ethan Brooks late in the race.
Brooks briefly snatched the lead after Martin ran wide and Hanafin was delayed, but Hanafin soon pulled back alongside him to retake the position. Brooks was stuck on the outside as Hanafin, Hedley, and Martin all ran nose-to-tail past the scholarship winner.
Martin made his way past Hedley on what would become the final lap at Paddock Hill Bend, before taking Hanafin on his way into druids.
Racing would be cut short four laps before the chequered flag when Ben O’Hare, who enjoyed a fantastic start and was briefly running fourth, made contact with Joel Pearson. O’Hare was sent into a spin, collecting Daniel Gale and leaving them both stranded on the track.
The safety car was called out for the third time, but the race was red flagged, bringing an early end to the season.
Hanafin held onto second, finishing just ahead of Ethan Brooks.
Hedley dropped back to fifth on the final lap, with Ethan Hawkey passing the champion elect to finish fifth.
Taylor took sixth, ahead of Zak O’Sullivan – who climbed up from the back of the field – and Casper Stevenson.
Hayatham Qarajouli avoided drama on the opening lap after running slightly wide. Ahead of him in the gravel, Molly Dodd managed a half-spin before returning to the track, covering Qarajouli’s car in mud.
The Total Control Racing driver was able to continue to finish ninth, as Josh Rattican rounded out the top 10.
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| Position | Name | Number | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will Martin | 10 | Richardson Racing | 16m36.210s (7 Laps) |
| 2 | Lorcan Hanafin | 23 | Douglas Motorsport | +0.581s |
| 3 | Ethan Brooks | 86 | Total Control Racing | +1.314s |
| 4 | Ethan Hawkey | 40 | Richardson Racing | +1.987s |
| 5 | James Hedley | 67 | Elite Motorsport | +2.985s |
| 6 | James Taylor | 66 | Richardson Racing | +3.625s |
| 7 | Zak O’Sullivan | 51 | R Racing | +4.000s |
| 8 | Casper Stevenson | 25 | Richardson Racing | +5.286s |
| 9 | Haytham Qarajouli | 75 | Total Control Racing | +6.785s |
| 10 | Josh Rattican | 21 | R Racing | +8.354s |
| 11 | Bailey Vosin | 22 | Douglas Motorsport | +9.295s |
| 12 | Aston Millar | 70 | R Racing | +9.849s |
| 13 | Joel Pearson | 29 | R Racing | +11.564s |
| 14 | Nat Hodgkiss | 59 | Race Car Consultants | +12.375s |
| 15 | Frankie Taylor | 32 | Team HARD | +12.828s |
| 16 | Freddie Tomlinson | 62 | Douglas Motorsport | +18.113s |
| 17 | Suleiman Zanfari | 52 | Elite Motorsport | +18.606s |
| 18 | Ben Kasperczak | 35 | BK Racing | +21.013s |
| 19 | Molly Dodd | 47 | Premiership Academy | +21.596s |
| DNF | Ben O’Hare | 95 | Premiership Academy | +1 Lap |
| DNF | Dan Gale | 68 | Total Control Racing | +1 Lap |
| DNF | Gus Burton | 57 | Douglas Motorsport | +4 Laps |
| DNF | Zak Taylor | 23 | Alastair Rushforth Motorsport | +7 Laps |
Ginetta Junior Update 