Hutchison and Sam Laidlaw claim wins at Donington Park
Bradley Hutchison won the first race of TCR UK at Donington Park, with Sam Laidlaw securing his first career victory in Race 2. Newcomer Bradley Burns had crossed the line first in both races but lost the wins after a pair of false start penalties.
A consistent weekend for Adam Shepherd with a pair of podiums enabled him to keep the lead in the standings on 195 points, while Sam Laidlaw is now his closest rival, 45 points behind, with teammate and father Steven 62 points adrift.
Race 1 - Burns had secured the pole and led at the start, while Hutchison passed Shepherd for second. Callum Newsham attempted to overtake Shepherd but failed and was under attack from Steven Laidlaw. The pair made contact twice, with Laidlaw sliding wide, while his son Sam got past and moved up to fourth. Newsham then clipped the rear of Sam Laidlaw’s CUPRA, spinning him around; Newsham retook the position, and Laidlaw fell to the back.
Up front, Burns was controlling the pace, but it was confirmed that he would receive a ten-second penalty for a false start. With Burns only able to pull out a five second lead, he lost the victory and was demoted to fourth in the provisional results, with Hutchison awarded his first win of the season ahead of Shepherd. Newsham was initially classified third, but then he was penalised for both incidents with the Laidlaws and dropped to ninth, with Burns promoted to third.
Race 2 - With the top ten of Race 1 reversed, Harry Bloor would start from pole alongside Newsham, but the latter came into the pit at the end of the formation lap with a broken wheel nut. Steven Laidlaw too experienced a mechanical issue on the formation lap and so him and Newsham started from the pit lane.
Bloor bogged down at the start, which allowed Sam Laidlaw into the lead, followed by Luke Sargeant and Finn Leslie. Burns and Shepherd who had sprinted from P8 and P9 on the grid, passed Leslie and then Sargeant, beginning to close on the leader.
Sam Laidlaw nearly lost control of his car at the Esses and was able to keep it on track, but lost the lead to Burns who crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of Laidlaw. However, another ten-second penalty for false start dropped Burns to third behind Laidlaw and Shepherd.
The next event takes place at Silverstone on 17/18 May.
Race 1
- Bradley Hutchison (MPH Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 13 laps
- Adam Shepherd (Capture Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición), 2.256
- Bradley Burns (Area Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 5.428
Race 2
- Sam Laidlaw (Area Motorsport, CUPRA Leon VZ), 13 laps
- Adam Shepherd (Capture Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición), 5.498
- Bradley Burns (Area Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 6.312
Championship points
- A. Shepherd, 195 pts; 2. Sa. Laidlaw, 150; 3. St. Laidlaw, 133
Picture: TCR UK/Jakob Ebrey
