TOCA support championships shine at Snetterton

Four TOCA support championships served up an action-packed weekend of racing at Snetterton this past weekend (August 3/4) as the second half of the 2019 season kicked off in sensational style.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at the Norfolk venue, edge of the seat entertainment took place across each and every race over the course of the weekend – keeping fans captivated.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship enjoyed an exciting two days as it played host to a staggering four encounters. Adding the postponed Croft race to the timetable, this years crop of teenage racers had plenty of opportunity to shine.

Saturday’s two races belonged to in-form driver Will Martin as he powered his Richardson Racing machine to victory on both occasions, the second win being the rescheduled Croft race.

Whilst Martin was the driver to beat on Saturday, Sunday belonged to Zak O’Sullivan who scored a breakthrough Ginetta Junior victory, and then subsequently backed it up with a second later in the day.

There was high-drama in the Renault UK Clio Cup as the battle for supremacy in the championship reached fever-pitch as Jamie Bond and Max Coates scored victory.

Bond’s maiden win in the one-make series came after Jack Young was handed a time-penalty for contact with Coates during the opening encounter of the weekend. As the pair scrapped for the lead, contact from Young dropped Coates down the order and the Northern Irishman was subsequently penalised.

Race two would see Bond take the chequered flag on the road however he would find himself in trouble with officials too as he was adjudged to have made a false start, picking up a ten-second penalty and dropping him to fourth.

Young therefore inherited the victory afterwards but he once again was hit with another post-race penalty after making further contact with Coates, thus handing the latter a crucial victory in the overall title battle.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge made its second appearance on the TOCA support bill this season and with the business end of the year approaching, a frenetic battle between the main protagonists took place.

Scott McKenna reigned supreme in the opener after starting on pole position whilst Geri Niscosia left it until the very last lap before snatching victory in race two ahead of Josh Malin and Gordie Mutch.

Rounding out the weekend action were three pulsating races from the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Sebastian Alvarez enjoyed a return to form with a double-winning performance whilst Tommy Foster had a share of the spoils as he claimed his maiden victory in the single-seater category.

For the full classification of results from all championships and sessions, click here.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, Renault UK Clio Cup and returning Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, along with the F4 British Championship, will all be in action in less than two weeks as the TOCA package returns to Thruxton on August 17/18.

Advance tickets to the seventh TOCA event of the season are available to purchase by heading to https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or by calling 01264 882200 (Option 1).