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The 2025 Trackday Championship season got underway at Snetterton on Saturday 15 March.
Reigning Overall and Class B Champion Nicole Drought (Motion Motorsport) started her title defence in superb fashion, by claiming the first victory of the year.
Abbitt Motorsport’s Dan Abbitt and Independent’s Stephen Docker also had an opening round to remember, claiming the win in Class C and Class D respectively.
Qualifying
Once the first representative laps in each class had been set, it was Swaffer Racing’s Matt Swaffer who had the quickest time on the board. Swaffer bested his own benchmark on a couple of occasions, before a strong lap time of 2m11.542s claimed pole position for the Honda Civic Type R of Drought.
Swaffer would have to settle for second on the grid, missing out by just 0.090s. Two Unique Racing Renault Clios formed the second row, with Adrian Pottinger outqualifying teammate Charlie Palk.
Dan Abbitt would start highest on the grid in Class C, with Algar Racing’s Roe/Murphy and MCS Racing’s Nathan Mcphail second and third in class respectively.
Docker enjoyed a highly impressive session to start the race eleventh overall and first in Class D. James Burnham (Greenstar Racing) would start second in class, with Steven Orant (STAL Powered for Racing) starting third.
Race
A tremendous race start and opening lap saw Swaffer take the lead overall, but with polesitter Drought hot on the tail of the BMW 130i driver. Drought retook the lead during the second lap, signaling the start of a race-long battle.
Abbitt and Docker continued to lead their classes, but there was plenty of overtaking happening throughout the field. Mcphail and Jason Rogers (JR Racing) were two of the drivers looking to pick their way through Class C and stake their claim on the class podiums.
As the race reached the half-way stage, competitors tried to utilise strategic pit-stops to make inroads up the order. Swaffer stopped earlier than Drought, but was unable to leapfrog the #1 driver once both had completed their mandatory stops.
Despite Swaffer pilling on the pressure, Drought continued to fend off the advancements to take the first checkered flag of the year just 3.954s ahead of her rival – claiming the season’s inaugural win. Swaffer had given it his all and was rewarded with second place, while local driver Jordan Honeybone (Apple Car Centre) put in a strong and consistent performance to complete the Class B podium.
Abbitt shone in a competitive Class C, leading every lap in the class but one. The Honda Integra DC5 driver taking home a large helping of championship points along with his winners trophy. Mcphail and Rogers’ push earned the pair second and third in class, with Roe/Murphy fourth.
Docker completed a tremendous season opener with the top step of the Class D podium and enjoyed some competitive battles with higher-classed cars on the way. Burnham fended off challengers to finish second in D, while A.L.E Racing’s Hornigold duo claimed the final class podium spot in their MG ZR.
Drought’s lap time of 2m11.558s completed a tremendous Snetterton hattrick for the Irish driver – pole position, race win and fastest lap.
Attention now swiftly turns to the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on Sunday 6 April for Round 2 of the 2025 season.
Entries for the upcoming race can be made here.
Photo: Gary Hawkins Photography