Josh Webster On Route To His Thruxton Victory – Photo Credit: Simon Paice
After a disastrous meeting last time out at Rockingham, Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship front-runner Josh Webster got his 2012 title ambitions firmly back on track with a win and a second place at Thruxton.
The MSA Team UK member showed his potential from the off at the high-speed Hampshire circuit, securing a superb double pole position in qualifying. The opening race saw the 18 year old lead away from pole, however on lap three championship rival Scott Malvern found his way past. Webster had to settle for second place at the finish, but got the bonus of two points for setting the race's fastest lap.
The second race saw the Stowmarket-based racer lead away from pole once again and control the first couple of laps before the safety car was deployed. At the restart, Webster continued to lead for three laps until Malvern found his way ahead. Webster fought back and on the penultimate lap, an unfortunate collision between the two at the complex spun Malvern round, with Webster emerging unscathed to go on and take his second win of the season.
MGR Motorsport's Webster said: “There was a bit of contact there near the end. Scott] Malvern was in front, we both braked together into the corner but then he stopped on the apex and I had nowhere to go. It's unfortunate, I never like to have contact with anyone, but it was unavoidable and the race officials agreed with that.”
Webster's most successful weekend of the season so far saw him collect a combined haul of 62 points, the most of any driver over the weekend, moving him up to second in the championship standings.
The Nine Group, Admiral Solutions & Support and Integra ICT-supported racer added: “Thruxton has been 10 times better than Rockingham was. Starting off with the double pole position was great, the MGR guys did an awesome job with the car, and a win and a second place is almost as much as you can ask for. We've taken a big haul of points away so we're definitely back in the title hunt now.”
