Will Palmer continues his learning curve in the Juniors - Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
HHC Motorsport boss Charlie Kemp praised his drivers as the team enjoyed a far happier Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship than at Donington two weeks ago.
Charlie Robertson won both races from pole position, setting fastest lap along the way, and the team's weekend was made even better by the performances of Thruxton debutants Will Palmer and Tom Jackson.
Kemp, delighted with all three youngsters after a tricky day's racing, said: “This is a great way to bounce back from our disappointments at Donington. The weather today was horrible and all the guys brought back their cars without drama.
“Charlie drove really well and never let his concentration slip. To master the conditions as well as he did shows real star quality.”
The Hampshire circuit is the fastest on the Ginetta Junior calendar, but rookies Palmer and Jackson learned quickly and ensured all three HHC cars finished Round 5 in the top ten. Palmer qualified seventh and battled his way up to fourth while Jackson, who qualified 12th, made up two places in the race to finish 10th.
Conditions changed dramatically for Round 6 as the rain, which had threatened earlier in the day, came down hard.
The nine lap race began under the safety car but Robertson was never headed, building a decent cushion over Niall Murray in the early stages to become the first driver to take a clean sweep in 2012.
Palmer finished sixth on the road but after contact with Sennan Fielding on the opening lap was penalised two seconds, dropping him to seventh place. Jackson, in his first wet race, kept a cool head to take 12th.
Kemp commented: “Will was unlucky to be penalised for tagging another car on the opening lap, which was inevitable in the wet and slippery conditions, but again he proved his pace is good and it won't be long before he is a podium finisher.
“Tom did a solid job, learning about a daunting circuit and ghastly weather and he did what we needed, which was to bring home the car and gain experience.”
Robertson's wins have given him a five-point championship lead heading into the six-week break before Oulton Park on June 9/10, with Jackson 11th and Palmer 13th.
