Slater cruises to second victory

Freddie Slater takes his second win of the 2022 Ginetta Junior Winter Series while team-mate Luke Watts is handed a time penalty.

Slater took a convincing victory in the third race of the weekend at Brands Hatch, finishing comfortably ahead of P2. Fellow R Racing driver Watts crossed the line second but dropped back to eighth in the corrected times.

It was another race that was red flagged after the opening lap.

Slater had taken the lead off the line with pole sitter Alisha Palmowski second when a spinner in the mid-field collected Thomas Spragg. Spragg was left stranded on track just after Druids, with fluid leaking on track, prompting the stoppage.

On the restart, it was another perfect start from Slater who pulled away into the lead.

Palmowski had McKenzie Douglass on her tail, who was able to get a better start on the second time of asking. The pair were joined by Luca Hopkinson and a charging Watts, who had started seventh on the grid. Palmowski was shuffled to the back of the group before Watts came forward and took second.

As Slater pulled away, Watts and Hopkinson battled for position. They briefly pulled a gap to Palmowski and Douglass, only to draw the pair back in as they fought.

Palmowski managed to get past Hopkinson on track and was close behind Watts when Watts was handed a five second penalty on the final lap. She remained behind him on track but was classified second.

Douglass briefly passed Hopkinson but the R Racing driver was able to get back through to take a podium finish.

Mikey Porter was just able to beat Reza Seewooruthun to take fifth, with Finn Harrison just close enough to the battle to jump up to P7 once Watts’ penalty was in place.

Sid Smith and Charlie Hart completed the top 10.