An outstanding drive from rookie Alex Quinn saw him hold off stiff competition from his more experienced compatriots and atrocious weather to take his first ever MSA Formula win. It also means he equals Dan Ticktum’s record for shortest amount of races as a rookie before picking up a pole and win.
With the Donington Park track visibly wet, it would be a challenge for the drivers as they had to quickly get use to the spray. Quinn was able to get away well, while second place Luis Leeds ran wide at Redgate, but despite the mistake, held off Max Fewtrell to keep his position.
There were some drivers that made the most of the conditions, wet weather specialist Jaime Caroline moved immediately up to sixth from fifteenth, but wide through the gravel later on in the lap, falling to the back. He would recover again, but only managed eighth.
Meanwhile championship leader Petru Florescu, who had started last, was quick to make up for lost positions, moving into ninth at the end of the opening lap.
The top five would soon break away as Billy Monger, who’d dropped positions off the start, was unable to keep up with the pace of the pack. A queue soon formed behind him for sixth.
At the front, the Carlin trio of Fewtrell, James Pull and the quick starting Devlin DeFrancesco battled over the podium places with Fewtrell even pressuring Leeds for second toward the end of the race.
The fight behind gave Quinn the opportunity to stretch his advantage, but a few mistakes and slow laps ensured that Leeds was never far from the front. Despite the pressure, the Racing Steps Foundation supported driver kept his calm to win by just over half a second.
Behind the Carlin trio, the flying Florescu finally made his way past Monger for sixth with only a few laps to spare. Sennan Fielding followed him through before Caroline eventually made it three positions in just as many laps. Monger would eventually finish ninth with Rafa Martins rounding out the top ten.
