Photo: Jim Moir
Alex Walker took victory in a thrilling opening BRSCC National Formula Ford 1600 race on the Brands Hatch Indy layout that featured a nine-car lead battle.
The Kevin Mills Racing driver passed title rival Max Esterson in the second half of the race before pulling clear to win by 3.4 seconds.
Low Dempsey Racing’s Esterson held off the returning Rory Smith (B-M Racing) and Chris Middlehurst (Team Dolan) to take second.
Esterson drew alongside poleman Smith off the line, and took the lead on the outside of Paddock Hill Bend.
The front three of Esterston, Smith and Chris Middlehurst were nose-to-tail at the end of the first lap, but a crash at Druids brought out the safety car.
Dolan’s Ben Cochran spun to a halt and was collected by Oldfield Motorsport’s Carter Williams, who was launched into a roll before landing back on all four wheels. Williams appeared uninjured after climbing from his stricken car.
Middlehurst tried to take second from Smith when racing resumed, but then lost out to Walker at Clearways, with the top nine drivers separated by just 1.7 seconds.
Smith lost second at Graham Hill Bend to Walker after running wide, but regained the place at the same corner next time by. Walker briefly dropped behind Middlehurst, before reclaiming third and resuming his battle with Smith.
The pair banged wheels exiting Druids, with Walker moving into second behind Esterson
The lead changed at Paddock Hill Bend with six minutes remaining, with Walker passing points leader Esterston and then pulling clear.
Esterson was left to fend off Smith and Middlehurst in the closing stages, the trio having edged clear of the next train of cars.
Thomas Mills (KMR) and Colin Queen (LDR) moved up into fifth and sixth late on after Don Hardman Racing’s Joey Foster had to avoid a lapped car exiting Paddock Hill.
Foster came home in seventh, less than a second clear of KMR’s Megan Gilkes. Jamie Sharp finished in a distant ninth for B-M after spinning out of fifth at Clearways during the race.
Race results (20 laps)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Walker | Kevin Mills Racing | 20m10.213s |
| 2 | Max Esterson | Low Dempsey Racing | +3.394s |
| 3 | Rory Smith | B-M Racing | +3.558s |
| 4 | Chris Middlehurst | Team Dolan | +3.705s |
| 5 | Thomas Mills | Kevin Mills Racing | +5.253s |
| 6 | Colin Queen | Low Dempsey Racing | +6.218s |
| 7 | Joey Foster | Don Hardman Racing | +6.422s |
| 8 | Megan Gilkes | Kevin Mills Racing | +7.140s |
| 9 | Jamie Sharp | B-M Racing | +11.398s |
| 10 | Ben Tinkler | +17.636s | |
| 11 | Benjamin Cochran | Team Dolan | +18.296s |
| 12 | James Tucker | Tucker Motorsport | +24.165s |
| 13 | Paul Tucker | Tucker Motorsport | +51.182s |
| Ret | Terry Walkingshaw | ||
| Ret | Noel Robinson | ||
| Ret | Lucas Romanek | Oldfield Motorsport | |
| Ret | Andre Lafond | Low Dempsey Racing | |
| Ret | Carter Williams | Oldfield Motorsport | |
| Fastest lap: Walker, 50.634s
Championship standings |
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