Keith Donegan excelled in tricky wet conditions at Snetterton to storm through the field and secure his maiden victory in the Ginetta Junior Championship, in the process ending Harry Woodhead’s 100% winning streak this season.
The Irishman was in a league of his own in the Norfolk rainfall, running around three seconds a lap quicker than his rivals as he stormed into the lead early on before streaking away to take a dominant first win by over ten seconds.
Will Palmer started the six lap encounter from pole position, however his advantage didn’t last long, with his HHC Motorsport team-mate Woodhead quickly taking the lead. The championship leader went on to build a lead of over five by the end of the opening lap, thanks in part to a lot of position changing behind as Donegan scythed his way through from seventh on the grid into second.
The Douglas Motorsport driver’s attention turned to the lead and with his superior pace, Donegan quickly slashed Woodhead’s advantage, eventually taking the lead on lap three. With Woodhead unable to match his pace, Donegan stormed clear to take victory by 12.2s, with Woodhead left to watch his winning run end in a lonely second.
Palmer briefly lost third place to Jack Rawles early on, however the rookie was to fall to the back of the field on lap three, giving Palmer back the place which he held until the finish for his sixth podium finish of the season.
Jamie Chadwick looked set to secure a season’s best finish of fourth after a superb drive through from ninth on the grid, however the reigning Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner found herself tagged into a spin by Jack Mitchell on the final lap, dropping her to a finish of ninth.
This promoted her brother Ollie Chadwick into fourth at the finish, the JHR Developments driver having battled back after being spun round himself on the opening lap, with Mitchell slotting into fifth ahead of fellow rookie Ben Pearson. James Kellett took seventh ahead of Jamie Chadwick, with Ryan Hadfield and Rawles completing the finishers.
Full race results can be found here: http://tsl-timing.com/toca/2013/133103gij.pdf
