Despite being on the pace in terms of lap times and always being in contention to score top results at Donington Park (9-10 Oct), “Lady Luck” ultimately deserted the Norfolk squad.
Unusually, Elite failed to claim an outright podium which leaves Seb Hopkins third in the Driver’s standings and out of the title race, Will Jenkins drops a place to fifth, Josh Rowledge remains seventh overall, third in the Rookie class but unable to the claim the “crown”, while Joe Warhurst slips a place in Rookies to seventh.
Hopkins ran inside the top-three until the last corner of Race 1, ultimately finishing 10th, placed fourth in Race 2 in a six-lap “sprint” after a Red Flag then 10th in the final race. Jenkins battled his way up from 11th to seventh in Race 1, two Safety Car periods restricting his progress further. He made up three places on the opening lap of Race 2, taking eighth. Having survived an opening lap grassy moment in Race 3, Will came home seventh.
Rowledge enjoyed a strong weekend at Donington, recording three top-eight overall placings and Rookie podiums in the first two races and fourth in the other. Josh actually led a GJ race outright for the very first time (Race 2) but slipped five places from the lead starting the final lap – finishing less than one second behind the winner before spending much of Race 3 dicing for P3 overall, ultimately netting sixth (fourth in class).
Joe Warhurst ran fifth overall in Race 1 but spun down the leaderboard at mid-distance after a racing incident and in Race 2, having moved up to fourth early on, was involved in another skirmish resulting in damage and a DNF. He was on a charge again in Race 3 but spun exiting the chicane, finishing 14th in class.
Jack Sherwood posted only his second DNF of the season in Race 1 having made a lightning start. He posted 19th in class in Race 2 and survived a grassy moment in Race 3. Max Hall raced strongly in Race 1, making up five places in the Rookie class to finish ninth, recorded 12th in Race 2 then 16th in the last race, both Sherwood and Hall slipping places in the championship standings.
Eddie Ives, Team Owner & Manager
“Despite all of the hard work put in by our drivers and team, the cards just didn’t fall for us over that weekend at Donington.
“The racing is so close that can see a failed overtake punished by a loss in multiple places and that’s what we suffered in the main at Donington.
“We’ve dusted ourselves off and hopefully can end the season on a high at Brands this weekend.”
