QUINN TAKES CAREER-FIRST CAR VICTORY
Alex Quinn was never headed as he claimed the first car racing victory of his career with victory from pole position, aided by a red flag which curtailed the final moments.
The Fortec Motorsports racer, who had earlier qualified at the front of the pack, was forced to deal with a rapid change of weather conditions as he and others drivers prepared for the race in parc ferme.
With hail falling, all cars were sent to the pit lane to switch from slick to wet tyres before the race start.
The Racing Steps Foundation-backed driver, who had struggled with his race starts at the opening round of the season at Brands Hatch, made a much more confident getaway on this occasion.
He led Arden’s Luis Leeds and Carlin driver Max Fewtrell throughout, building a lead of over 1.5 seconds, until a small mistake at the Old Hairpin brought him into the clutches of the chasing pair.
Quinn defended staunchly however, and an incident further down the field brought out the red flag and subsequent chequered flag with four minutes remaining.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” Quinn said. “We were quick in the slippery conditions here last Thursday, so that gave me confidence that I could produce a good result.
“I was lucky from the start and opening lap as others seemed to struggle with the tricky wet track.
Of course, leading also meant that I didn’t have spray from cars in front.
“The red flag was a relief, I was very quick in some areas such as sector three, but I’d struggled in the previous sector which was causing pressure from behind.
“We will see what the weather is like for races two and three, but it won’t stop me from pushing for the highest possible position.”
Quinn will therefore start the second, reversed grid race, from seventh position.
DONINGTON PARK: (3.185km / 1.979 miles): RACE ONE results (top 10)
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Driver (Nat)
Alex Quinn (GBR) / R
Luis Leeds (AUS)
Max Fewtrell (GBR)
James Pull (GBR)
Devlin DeFrancesco (CAN)
Petru Florescu (ROM)
Sennan Fielding (GBR)
Jamie Caroline (GBR)
Billy Monger (GBR)
Rafael Martins (BRA)
Team / Car
Fortec
TRS Arden
Carlin
Carlin
Carlin
Carlin
JHR
Jamun
JHR
TRS Arden
Time / Gap
15m 14.253s
+0.599s
+0.790s
+3.040s
+13.977s
+17.239s
+17.849s
+21.106s
+25.536s
+26.320s
Fastest lap: James Pull - 1m20.947s
Weather: Wet / Cloudy
R = Rookie
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Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography.
Copyright-free Racing Steps Foundation images are available for editorial use from the RSF Image Bank at http://www.jakobebrey.com/rsf
Report: Racing Steps Foundation - Russell Hayes, Racing Steps Foundation PR & Communications Manager
