Holdbrook Weathers the Storm

Round 2 of the 2011 Junior League saw 16 drivers take to the track with Harry Holdbrook looking to stretch his advantage after a brilliant win at the opening round. Matt Baisley, who celebrated his 15^th birthday on the night, was hoping to give himself a great birthday present and close the gap to the championship leader. Aiden Durrant and Cameron Rutledge both returned to the action having missed the first round through injury.

Just before the opening race the heavens opened making the track resemble a swimming pool rather than a race track. Dominic Oliver lead the field off from pole position but it was Arnold Lincoln who got the jump from row 2 to take the early lead. Baisley made a tremendous start from 13^th and was soon chasing down the leader. Jak Warner also made a rocket start and found himself in third by half race distance. Holdbrook was having a harder time in the traffic and lost touch with the leading pack. With two laps to go Baisley caught and passed Lincoln for the lead which he held to the flag. Warner maintained third with Holdbrook fighting his way through to fourth.

Heat 2 saw Holdbrook on pole with Baisley alongside and the two drivers soon broke away at the front to have a private battle for the lead. Rookie drivers Alex Ready, Rutledge and Charles McGregor were enthralled in a race-long battle for third. Warner meantime was having a luckless race struggling with handling difficulties after a clash with Lincoln, he would end the race in 10^th. At the front Holdbrook got the better of Baisley to take the win ahead of Baisley with Ready winning the battle for third.

Heat 3 and it was Rutledge leading from pole this time with Lewis Fenn on the front row. At the start Rutledge flew into the lead followed by Ready and Durrant. They were soon caught by Holdbrook and Baisley who found their way through to once again run 1-2. Warner was again struggling in the traffic but soon found a clear route to finish sixth at the flag. Lincoln, who had changed karts following his heat 2 crash, had a difficult race and could only manage 13^th place. At the flag it was Holdbrook who clung on for his second win of the night ahead of the consistent Baisley and Rutledge.

The final saw Baisley on pole alongside Holdbrook but at the start it was Ready who stormed into the lead which he held round the opening lap. On lap 2 Holdbrook and Baisley both passed Ready and once again pulled out a big advantage. Warner had more work to do from seventh on the grid and he found himself in a large squabble for third with Ready, Durrant, Rutledge and McGregor. Ready spun out of third on lap 4 and was followed by Rutledge, who would suffer a number of spins which would ultimately drop him to tenth at the flag. The battle for the lead was eventually decided by the backmarkers with Holdbrook finding a clearer route through and pulling out a 5 second lead. He would hold that advantage all the way to flag to make it two out of two and stretch his championship lead. Baisley maintained second with Warner prevailing in third. McGregor took another fourth place ahead of Durrant, Lincoln, Ready, Sam Cordner, Fenn and Rutledge rounding out the top 10.

Round 3 takes place on Thursday 30^th June with the annual ‘Dads and Lads’ event at 7pm on Saturday 18^th June. For more information on either event please contact the circuit on 01502 717718.

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