Brands Hatch Successfully Hosts Opening Races Of The Ferrari Challenge UK 2020 Series

July 27, 2020 by Ferrari North Europe

Brands Hatch, Sunday 26 July 2020 – The Ferrari Challenge UK 2020 series kicked off at Brands Hatch over the weekend, and was one of the first motorsport events to welcome visitors following the suspension of motorsport activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Saturday

First Win. Lucky Khera (Graypaul Birmingham) managed to convert his pole position into his first win in a thrilling opening race of the season, which ended behind the safety following a spin from Paul Hogarth (Stratstone Manchester) and a downpour of rain.

Trofeo Pirelli. The drivers provided exciting action right from the start, as Paul Hogarth reacted quickly from the rolling start to pass Khera for the lead going into Paddock Hill bend. Khera would not give in, though, taking the fastest lap and staying within half a second of Hogarth for the majority of the race. The constant pressure from Khera eventually took its toll on Hogarth, who lost control of the rear end going into Paddock Hill bend just after the rain had started to fall, and ended up stuck in the gravel. This allowed Khera to retake the lead and also bought H. Sikkens (H.R. Owen London) into the top three, who had stayed with the leaders throughout, and eventually finished second in class ahead of Hogarth who kept third spot despite his spin.

Coppa Shell. Graham de Zille (Meridien Modena) made a flying start to the race, and established a strong class lead as he fought for the outright podium places with Khera, Sikkens and Hogarth. Battling the leaders for the entire race, de Zille also took the fastest lap in the class as he successfully held off the challenge of Sikkens to finish second overall in the race and first in the Coppa Shell. Jamie Thwaites (JCT600 Brooklands Leeds) pulled off a good move to take second place from Alex Moss (Graypaul Birmingham), who came home in third after defending the position following pressure from Paul Simmerson (Graypaul Birmingham).

In the Pirelli Ferrari formula classic, run by the Ferrari Owners' Club GB, Tom Mogridge won the first race in his Ferrari F355 Challenge, ahead of James Cartwright in second with his Ferrari 328 GTB, and Wayne Marrs in third, also driving a F355 Challenge.

Sunday

Second Win. Lucky Khera (Graypaul Birmingham) managed to convert his pole position into his second win of the weekend, in a race where drivers had to contend with a downpour for the second time in two races.

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Trofeo Pirelli. Lucky Khera showed his pace right from the start as he quickly established a healthy lead from Paul Hogarth (Stratstone Manchester) in second place. However, Hogarth fought back, taking the fastest lap of the race, and at the halfway point of the race the gap was down to just three-tenths of a second. Khera, though, was not fazed by the pressure and eventually came across the line more than three seconds ahead of Hogarth. H. Sikkens (H.R. Owen London) came home third in class, despite a spin at Druids following the downpour.

Coppa Shell. Graham de Zille (Meridien Modena) made a fantastic start for the second race in a row, and pulled out a strong class lead as he fought for the outright podium places with Sikkens. Following the spin from Sikkens, de Zille had a comfortable second half of the race, taking the fastest lap and dominating the Coppa Shell class to take his second win of the weekend, ahead of Jamie Thwaites (JCT600 Leeds Brooklands) in second place. Paul Simmerson (Graypaul Nottingham) and Alex Moss (Graypaul Birmingham) engaged in a thrilling duel throughout the entire race, with Simmerson just beating Moss to the final podium spot.

In the second race of the Pirelli Ferrari formula classic, Wayne Marrs beat Tim Mogridge to the top step of the podium, with Tristan Simpson coming home in third place in his Ferrari F355 Challenge.

In the third race of the weekend, Tim Mogridge won ahead of Wayne Marrs in second, and Tristan Simpson once again completing the podium.

The next Ferrari Challenge UK event will take place at Donington Park on 29-30 August.