Title battle hots up as Zelos takes maiden win in series

Third in the championship and with seven podiums across 11 races heading to last weekend’s second Brands Hatch trip of the season for the JCW Mini Challenge it was astonishing to think that Dan Zelos hadn’t won a race.

But the 21-year-old finally shrugged that monkey off his back with a maiden win on the GP loop.

The former Renault UK Clio Cup driver blasted away from pole ahead of championship leader Nathan Harrison, building up a healthy gap before William Hardy went off into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend and prompted a safety car.

Zelos had the legs in the first stint, but once the race went green two laps later it was Harrison who was in control. Zelos wasn’t able to build a buffer, and one mistake braking on the bump at Paddock Hill left him out of shape.

Harrison needed no second invitation to make the pass and looked set for his fourth win of the year.

But a messy tangle between Brad Hutchison, Tom Rawlings and Calum Newsham into the Paddock Hill kitty litter just seconds later forced officials to call a red flag and an early result.

That put the order back a lap to when Zelos was still leading, gifting him a first win of the year and a seventh consecutive podium finish.

He said: “We don’t like taking a win like we did. I feel like all my experience I shouldn’t be making those mistakes now, so I have just got to learn from it and put on a better show.

“It was a near perfect race but for the end bit. The gods were looking down on me.”

Zelos’ fellow ex-clio competitor

Lee Pattison got his season back on track with a first podium of the year, ending a three-race points drought.

“It was nice to be back on the podium,” he said. “I certainly haven’t got the pace of those two, they are on a different planet. We seem to be best of the rest.”

James Gornall admitted to struggling with a loose car during the trio of races on the Indy Circuit last month, resulting in changes to the gearbox and differential.

After only managing fifth in the first race, Gornall opted for a fresh set-up which paid dividends in race two when he held on for a fourth win of the year.

Max Bird began well from pole but it was James Loukes who looked to be on for his first series victory after a smart move at Paddock Hill Bend.

From there, Bird was unable to halt the chasing pack – including

Ben Palmer, Gornall, Pattison, Harrison and Zelos.

Loukes’ promise came undone in a strange incident where a touch with Palmer at Graham Hill Bend on the penultimate tour took the pair off.

Gornall found himself with a lead he could convert to another victory, but Harrison in third and Zelos in fourth means all is left to play for in the final two events.