Hagerty Radical Cup UK Round 2 - Brands Hatch Pre-Race Report

Hagerty Radical Cup UK Round 2 - Brands Hatch Pre-Race Report

This weekend the 2023 Hagerty Radical Cup UK visits Brands Hatch, for it’s second weekend of action this season.

Image of author Peter Scherer
Peter Scherer

PRO SR3

Reigning Champion James Lay started the defence of his title at Donington Park in the best possible way, winning all three races in his RAW SR3. He will once again have RAW team mates John Macleod and Gavin McAlpine, McAlpine joining for his SR3 debut.

Last years SR1 Champion Daryl De Leon ran strongly too at Donington and currently lies second in the Championship with Valour Racing after three podiums, where he is joined by sixth placed Chris Preen, Haydn Chance, who made his car race debut at Donington, and Katrin Kristensen making her seasonal debut.

Ben Caisley made his SR3 debut at Donington too. The DW Racing driver was runner-up in SR1’s last year and was on the podium twice at Donington, to hold fourth in Championship. He is joined again this weekend by Peter Tyler, Andy Lowe and John Davis.

360 Racing are back up to four-cars too, having run Jason Rishover and Jacek Zielonka in the opening rounds. Rishover started with a strong third in the opening race at Donington, followed by fourth in the second, only to end his weekend by being taken out at the start of the final race. He is still fourth in the Championship though, despite his non finish. This weekend they are joined by two occasional participants, historic racer Neil Glover and Wesley Fongenie.

Jack Tomalin showed his pace on his Radical debut with Tim Gray Motorsport. He retired in the first race at Donington, after an oil pipe was ripped off running over debris, but showed his pace in the weekends other two races, taking fourth in the final outing for seventh in Championship.

Mark Williams only just missed out on the podium in the opening race of the season. The Doris Motorsport driver ran out of luck again in the other two races, so will be looking to improve at Brands.

Abdelmajeed Khateeb will be hoping for a better weekend too with North Motorsport, while Dan Headlam again starts the RJ Motorsport car, in favour of Father Chris.

Finally Scorpio Motorsport are due to give ex Formula Renault and European Open racer Hector Hurst his Radical debut.

PRO SR1

There are 11 drivers on the SR1 grid too, with Theo Micouris leading the way for RAW Motorsports/Hart GT. It was his car racing debut at Donington, and he came away with two wins and a second.

George Knutton is currently second in the Championship for Track Focused, where he has Father Darren as team mate.

They are not the only family team though, as Ashley and Bradley Gaunt are out again with North Motorsport, having debuted at Donington.

Oscar Joyce is the top Rookie and third in the Championship with DW Racing. He was heading for a third podium at Donington, when he spun off in the last race.

Former British GT driver Tom Wood is sure to be near the front too. He has recently signed to race in the ADAC GT4 Championship, with an Academy Motorsport Aston Martin.

Alex Spooner is racing with Doris Motorsport again, while Valour Racing have James Ockenden, Rob Greenwood and Kristian Brookes.

Qualifying is on Saturday morning at 11.35 for 30 minutes, with the first race over 30 minutes at 17.55, before Sunday’s races at 12.20 and 15.25.

Published by Peter Scherer for Radical Motorsport, April 27th 2023.