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Lydden Hill Race Circuit welcomed Trackday Championship (TDC) for the first-ever time on Saturday June 15, for Round 3 of the 2024 season.
Heading into the day, the #46 Team Air Supply Volkswagen Golf topped the overall championship standings and driver Jonny Milner hit the ground running in qualifying, setting the initial early pace. Unique Racing’s Charlie Palk seized the initiative from there, repeatedly improving his best lap time to take provisional pole. However, the honour of first Lydden Hill TDC pole position would belong to Team Rebbieha’s Mchugh/Heslop pairing, courtesy of a storming lap time of 53.401secs. Milner narrowly bettered Palk to start in second, while Motion Motorsport’s Roberts/Drought rounded out the second row. 2023 TDC Champion Stewart Donovan (Donovan Racing) was the fastest qualifier in Class C, with Ollysport’s Oliver Owen recording a season-best qualifying result of P2 in class. MCS Racing’s Nathan Mcphail would line-up third in Class C. A highly impressive qualifying performance earned Greenstar Racing’s Burnham duo first in Class D and seventh overall. BC Cars Motorsport’s Alister Esam and Fiesta Clubracer’s Wright/Glover finished the session in second and third in Class D respectively.
The debut Lydden Hill grid was set.
An excellent getaway charged Roberts/Drought into the lead on the opening lap, with Milner and Palk maintaining second and third respectively. Also enjoying a fantastic start was Aindale Racing’s Wayne Cockerill. The Toyota Celica driver had launched from his grid spot to lead Class C after the opening lap, having qualified fourth in class. Greenstar Racing’s Burnham continued to show pace in Class D, fending off rivals to maintain the class lead throughout the early race exchanges. Out front, the Motion Motorsport Civic was really finding its rhythm, extending the gap to chasing pack each lap. Milner continued to hold off Palk, with Swaffer Racing’s Matt Swaffer surpassing polesitters Mchugh/Heslop to take fourth and apply pressure to the cars in front. In Class C, Cockerill was unable to prevent a storming Mcphail from taking the lead, while Donovan also found a way past fellow Celica Cockerill, to keep Mcphail in close proximity. A competitive Class D continued to be headed by Burham/Burnham, with Abbitt Motorsport’s Abbitt/McDonald pairing picking their way through the field to sit second in class, narrowly in front of the surging Fiesta of Wright/Glover.
As the race entered its second half, still Robers/Drought paved the way out in front. Palk had finally got the jump on Milner’s Golf to take second place, while Swaffer and Mchugh/Heslop continued to round out the top five in Class B. The leading duo in Class C, Mcphail and Donovan, were picking their way through the overall field, with Mcphail’s Civic remaining in front. Elsewhere, Wright/Glover had seized the lead of Class D, with a crucial overtake on the twentieth lap of the Kent circuit.
With the checkered flag rapidly approaching, second-placed Palk reeled in the Class B leader Roberts/Drought. However, the Unique Racing driver would come up just 0.667secs short as Roberts/Drought secured a vintage lights-to-flag victory – and their first TDC win of the 2024 season! Congratulations to both drivers for two excellent stints and the entire Motion Motorsport team for their efforts. Palk’s best finish of the season was richly-deserved, while polesitters Mchugh/Heslop recovered well to come home third in Class B. The battle in Class C went right to the wire, with an epic finish culminating with just 1.261secs separating the podium finishers over the line. Ultimately, Nathan Mcphail narrowly held off Donovan to earn his first class victory of the year, with Cockerill finishing just behind Donovan in third. Wright/Glover ensured they remained at the top of the Class D championship standings with an impressive class victory, having recovered exceptionally well from a tricky opening lap. Strong and consistent pace from Burnham/Burnham resulted in second place for Greenstar Racing, while Tylah Motorsport’s John Lyne finished third in Class D in his Renault Clio.
A huge congratulations to all.
Trackday Championship will return in August, at Snetterton.
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