FOSTER ON FORM AS HE DOMINATE SIN SCOTLAND Ginetta Junior
Fourwinsfromfivekeepshistitlebidaliveasbrowningalsostars
Louis Foster only describes a “mathematical chance” of winning the Ginetta Junior title. But regardless of where the Elite Motorsport racer finishes in the final standings, he is certainly the form teenager in the series at the moment.
The rookie claimed another two victories at Knockhill – taking his run to four from the last five races – to keep the pressure on points leader Adam Smalley.
The first few corners proved the key to his opening Scottish win. Although his getaway was no better than poleman James Hedley’s, his approach to Duffus certainly was. Despite the wet conditions, Foster was able to brave it out around the outside of his team-mate and made the move stick.
From there, he wasn’t to be stopped. Even an early safety car didn’t derail his charge as he headed Smalley and James Taylor home.
While Foster’s drive was impressive – any win by over five seconds in the often-chaotic Ginetta Junior series certainly is– he wasn’t driver of the race. That honour instead fell to Luke Browning.
His race got off to a miserable start as he was tagged into a spin at Clark’s by Fin Green, who also spun but was unable to get going and brought out the safety car. That led Browning to pit at the end of the first lap so his Richardson Racing crew could check his car. But the crucial factor was that he never went a lap down and, as soon as the race began, he quickly started to pick off other drivers. By the flag he was an incredible fourth and right on the rear bumper of Taylor.
“I couldn’t believe it, coming from last to fourth!” said a delighted Browning, who entered the meeting second in the points. “I’m trying to get my title back [he was disqualified from a race win earlier in the year]. This is helping my championship and I want it to rain every round now!”
Sure enough it was wet again in a truncated race two. And Browning was again in the thick of the action. Starting fourth he was ahead of Hedley by Duffus and then produced a stunning move down the inside of the hairpin to pass Smalley. But he could do nothing about Foster up front, who was able to manage the race despite two safety cars caused by Green and series returnee Harry Dyson.
“The safety cars made it a bit more interesting,” said Foster, son of former British Touring Car racer Nick. “It was a perfect weekend and we’ve now taken four wins out of the last five races. I still have a mathematical chance of winning the overall title and anything can happen.”
He now sits 32 points behind Smalley, with Browning a further 15 back, with the title fight interestingly poised ahead of the final six races of the season.