Harry Hickton staked his claim as a serious contender for the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy title at Donington Park this past weekend (24-25 August) as he bounced back from a disappointing qualifying performance to score a fourth win of the season.
On what was a redemption mission for the Westbourne Motorsport driver on the Grand Prix layout of the Leicestershire venue, Hickton also added two sensational charging drives from the back of the grid to his race two triumph, the second of which placed him on the podium.
Those results now mean that the 18-year-old heads into the home stretch of the championship fight firmly in contention to battle for both outright honours and the Graduate Cup.
Taking centre stage on the British Touring Car Championship support bill, Hickton’s weekend couldn’t have got off to a worse start as a slight technical issue and an ever-drying track during qualifying meant that he could only muster 19th and 20th on the grid.
Fired up and with his sights set forward, Hickton was the driver to watch in the opening encounter as he utilised his talent behind the wheel to valiantly carve his way up the order; however it wasn’t without its fair share of jeopardy.
Very much in the thick of the action, Hickton was running as high as seventh at one stage before contact tumbled him back down the order. Showing his fighting spirit, the second-year racer dug deep to battle back to ninth spot at the chequered flag.
Race two would be a totally different race for Hickton - who is backed by Hysons Chartered Accountants, The Platform Lift Company, Vernham Labels, Addventure Leisure, Woodstock, Hippo Campers and Brandfixx - as he reigned supreme in style.
Starting from pole position for the reverse grid contest, Hickton made the ideal start to lead the field into turn one and despite having to contend with an early safety car, he was never troubled out front as he cruised to victory.
Tasked with starting at the back of the field once again for race three, the teenage sensation arguably saved his best until last under the flightpath of East Midlands airport as he made a flying start to feature inside the top ten by the end of lap one.
Producing a number of eye-catching moves in what was an all-time classic contest, Hickton continued to move forward as the laps ticked down, ultimately taking third place at the finish.
Harry Hickton: “Considering where we were on Saturday morning after qualifying, to come away with a race win and a podium is an absolutely incredible achievement. Things could have gone very differently so I’m glad we’re going home with what we have.
“We had the pace to be on the first few rows in qualifying so when things didn’t go our way it was important to remain positive, knowing that we had a car that could fight at the front. Race one was fraught but we managed to stay relatively out of trouble and make up ten places.
“Things fell our way to net us the reverse grid pole position and I knew I had to grab the opportunity with both hands. Then that last race was just manic, it was certainly exciting behind the wheel so I imagine it looked great on TV - and to come out of it in third was perfect.
“Huge credit has to go to the entire Westbourne Motorsport because they’ve given me a mega car all weekend. We’re very much in the fight so the aim is to score big at Croft and Silverstone next month ahead of the finale.”
The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy is next in action at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on the 7-8 September.
Image from Jakob Ebrey Photography.
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