Stuart Middleton has maintained his place at the top of the Ginetta Junior Championship standings with a third victory of the season at Thruxton, but was left to rue what might have been after being edged onto the grass whilst disputing the lead in race two.
Having picked up victories on each of the opening two weekends at Brands Hatch and Donington Park, the 16 year old headed to Hampshire in confident mood and very nearly took pole position in qualifying, missing out by the smallest possible margin – 0.001 seconds.
Middleton would soon take the lead in the opening race however, squeezing past into the complex on the opening tour. Whilst he did briefly lose the spot to Seb Perez, the Douglas Motorsport ace was soon back in front.
A titanic battle for victory soon developed with Will Tregurtha, the duo wowing the packed Thruxton crowd as they traded positions lap after lap around the fastest corners in the UK, with Middleton holding on to take the victory.
From pole position in race two, Middleton was once again embroiled in a fierce fight for the win with Tregurtha, though this time they were joined by Dave Wooder. Incredibly running three abreast through the back of the circuit, Middleton was edged out wide onto the grass.
Recovering quickly to the circuit, Middleton was able to underline his pace as he set the fastest lap of the race en-route to ninth place at the finish, a result that gives him an eleven point lead in the standings heading to Oulton Park for Rounds Eight and Nine next month (04/05 June).
“It’s obviously great to have won again and to be leading the championship still, but we should’ve been challenging again for the win in race two. We had the pace to win the race and I proved that with fastest lap at the end,” said Middleton.
“Oulton is next and another good circuit for us, we had good pace there last year and I was on for third until I had an unfortunate spin. It’s another track I enjoy driving so I’m looking forward to it and aiming to do well.”
