Harry Woodhead continued his perfect start to the 2013 Ginetta Junior Championship with his sixth successive win of the season at Thruxton.
The reigning Winter Series champion didn’t have it all his own way however, having to fight back after dropping to third early on, with his hardest fought win of the campaign so far extending his championship lead to 72 points.
Woodhead started the race from pole position, however a slow getaway allowed his HHC Motorsport team-mate Will Palmer to burst into the lead, with Woodhead just holding off Ollie Chadwick to slot into third behind Keith Donegan.
The championship leader was quickly on the offensive, passing Donegan into the Complex on lap two, before benefitting from Palmer putting a wheel on the dirt at Goodwood to slide through into first, with Palmer holding second ahead of Chadwick, who worked his way past Donegan on the way up Woodham Hill.
Woodhead was unable to break the tow though and Palmer challenged back for the lead at the Complex on lap six. Diving down the inside, Palmer looked to have the move made, but a lock up sent him straight on, with contact from Woodhead spinning him around, dropping him to sixth.
With Woodhead slowed down in the process, Chadwick took the lead. It lasted less than a lap however, with a slight mistake heading into the final chicane allowing Woodhead to drive around the outside and back to the front.
Despite Chadwick’s best efforts, Woodhead was able to stay ahead for the remaining three laps to secure the victory, with Chadwick taking his fourth podium of the season in second, while keeping out of trouble to take a great third was Tom Jackson.
Irishman Donegan fought back after a major sideways moment at Church on lap six to take fourth, with Palmer overtaking James Kellett on the final lap to finish fifth, Kellett coming home as the top rookie once again.
Jack Rawles took seventh ahead of Josh White and Ryan Hadfield, with Ben Pearson completing the top ten ahead of Jack Mitchell, the latter recovering after a tangle with Jamie Chadwick at the Complex on lap three, Chadwick finishing up last of the runners behind Connor Mills.
Provisional 2013 Ginetta Junior Championship Standings (After Rd. 6):
- Harry Woodhead – 218pts
- Will Palmer – 146pts
- Ollie Chadwick – 135pts
- Tom Jackson – 127pts
- James Kellet – 118pts
- Keith Donegan – 109pts
- Josh White – 75pts
- Jack Rawles – 73pts
Full race results can be found here: http://tsl-timing.com/toca/2013/131803gij.pdf
