PRO SR3
Despite the competitive nature of qualifying, where the top four were separated by just 0.500 seconds, Lulham, racing for Valour Racing, narrowly claimed pole position by edging DW Racing’s Oscar Jouce by a mere 0.257 seconds.
"We made some tweaks to the car's balance from practice to qualifying. It was all about fine-tuning, but my goal is to finish the season as a winner, even though the reverse grid race might pose a challenge," Lulham said post-qualifying. Joyce echoed the competitive spirit, stating, "The car felt clean and quick, but I’m eager to see if I can overtake in the race."
James Pinkerton’s development car followed closely in third, just ahead of rally star Max McRae, making his UK racing debut with Wera Academy. "It’s been a challenge adapting to the car, but I feel better than expected. I'm still getting used to the track," McRae commented.
Peter Tyler of DW Racing posted an impressive time, just 0.002 seconds behind McRae, making him the fastest among the Fangio Trophy title contenders. "I outpaced my rivals and had a strong run, but Brands Hatch is tough for overtaking, so the start will be crucial," Tyler remarked. Valour’s Jack Yang slotted between Tyler and Fangio rival John Macleod in the RSR car, rounding out the close battle.
Race 1:
Lulham had a strong start, pulling away cleanly from Joyce and McRae as they charged through Paddock Hill Bend, followed by Tyler, Yang, Denning, Macleod, and Pinkerton. Tyler and Denning ran wide through the gravel on lap two, promoting Yang to fourth place.
As Lulham stretched his lead, Joyce began to feel the pressure from McRae but managed to maintain his position. Lulham extended his advantage to over 13 seconds at the finish. "I just focused on my race and kept pushing," Lulham said. Joyce held on to second, despite mid-race struggles with his setup. "I had to push hard, but Max kept me honest," Joyce explained.
McRae, in third, reflected on the race, "It was a good battle, but Lulham got away. Still, rallying is more tiring!"
Yang finished a solitary fourth, while Tyler held off Macleod for fifth after a brief off-track moment, securing the Fangio Trophy Class win. Denning came home in seventh, quipping, "It seems all the Fangio drivers had a date with the Paddock gravel today."
Race 2:
Once again, Lulham, Joyce, and McRae broke away from the field at the start, with Macleod chasing in fourth. Despite McRae’s efforts to close the gap, Lulham managed his tyres perfectly, winning by a comfortable 11.8-second margin. "It was a bit closer at the start, but I controlled the race well," Lulham said.
Joyce finished second once more, managing to keep McRae at bay despite some balance issues. "I made a small mistake but held on for second," Joyce commented. McRae acknowledged his own struggles, saying, "I got too close to Joyce, and my tyres started to fade."
Macleod secured fourth and the Fangio Trophy win, praising his RSR team for providing him with a strong car. Denning withstood pressure from Yang to finish fifth, with Tyler and Pinkerton rounding out the finishers.
Race 3:
The final race of the weekend was red-flagged early after a heavy crash involving Tyler and Pinkerton, reducing the race length to 15 minutes. On the restart, McRae took the lead, but Lulham quickly passed him to secure his third win of the weekend, marking an incredible 16 wins from 18 races this season.
"I feel a bit sad the season is over, but it’s been an amazing year with a great car and team," Lulham reflected. McRae finished second, pleased with his weekend debut, while Yang celebrated his podium finish in third.
Joyce, despite car alignment issues from early contact, held on for fourth. Macleod's fifth-place finish secured him the Fangio Trophy title, while Denning completed the top six. "It’s been a thrilling season, and this weekend was a fitting end," Macleod concluded.