Brands Hatch, home to some of the most legendary races in British motorsport history, hosted the second race weekend of the JCW Mini Challenge Cup as part of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Eighteen-year-old rookie Will Orton arrived at Brands Hatch as the championship leader, after an impressive debut weekend at Donington Park. The pressure was on for the young driver to deliver yet again.
Qualification and Race 1 – From P3 to P2
Orton showcased his talent by topping the final practice session before qualifying third in wet conditions. Despite the rising expectations from his team, Orton remained focused and determined. During the first race, held in heavy rain, he climbed from third to second place, though the leader proved too far ahead to catch. Nevertheless, Will demonstrated his exceptional skill on the wet track.
Race 2 – Starts P2 and takes the win
The second race of the weekend saw Orton starting in second place. Pushing hard throughout the race, he eventually claimed first place, securing his second win of the season. The third race featured a reverse grid, placing Will in the sixth position. The pressure mounted as the track dried, and the sun came out. Will's team expressed confidence that he could clinch the win, and he didn't disappoint.
Race 3 – From p6 to take the WIN!
Orton moved from sixth to third after just three turns, then skillfully navigated from third to first place to secure another victory. He set the fastest lap in both the second and third races and broke a Mini Challenge record in the second race with the biggest-ever winning margin in the cup's history.
In his own words, Will described his final race: "Started 6th, good start, went round the outside of turns one and two, which was pretty brave (laughs), took the lead after a few more laps, I hope the cameras caught it, it was a good weekend!"
Will's team, along with his ever-present and supportive parents, were amazed by his ability to handle the challenging Mini JCW car and extract the best performance from it. With two more wins under his belt, Will Orton extends his lead in the championship, and all eyes will be on him as the series moves to Snetterton in two weeks for the next race weekend.
See the weekends journey on video here:
Video produced by @stacksfs
Supported by CREATIVE in TiME
#Motorsport, #motorsportuk, #jcwmini, #jcwminichallenge, #minichallenge, #miniracing, #jcwchallenge, #britishtouringcar, #btcc, #porscheracing, #ukmotorsport, #willorton, #willortonracing, #doningtonracetrack, #2023season, #minichallenge2023, #brandshatch