The Preptech UK team enjoyed a solid start to the new Ginetta Junior Championship season at Oulton Park, scoring three top-ten finishes and showing strong pace despite challenging on-track conditions.
The Hampshire-based squad made the trip to Cheshire for the traditional Easter Weekend meeting fielding a three-strong line-up led by Henry Joslyn, who finished twelfth in the standings last season in his rookie campaign.
Having raced with the team in three meetings last season, Alfie Davies was embarking on his first full season in the series, with American newcomer Ethan Carney lining up for his debut in the championship.
The weekend started in positive fashion as Henry posted the fifth quickest time in qualifying, with Alfie equalling his personal best as he went twelfth fastest. Despite losing his first two laps to track limit infringements, Ethan was able to sneak into the top 20, setting the 19th-best time.
Wasting little time in moving up a spot when race one kicked off, Henry was part of a train of cars dicing for the podium positions when he suffered an unfortunate spin at Old Hall, which dropped him down outside the top 20. Henry recovered well to come back through the field to twelfth, setting the fastest lap in the process.
Henry’s dramas meant it was Alfie who led the Preptech UK challenge in the opening race, working his way forward with a mature drive to take the flag in ninth spot for his best result in the series to date.
Ethan meanwhile looked set to kickstart his season with a top 20 finish before an error late on cost him time, but he was still able to take the flag in 21st having lapped quicker than in qualifying.
Race two, which kicked off the action on Easter Monday, would take place in vastly different conditions after the arrival of heavy rain, providing an extra challenge for the three youngsters.
From fourth on the grid, Henry enjoyed a storming opening lap and a fine move at the final corner saw him pass two of his rivals in one go to hit the front. A small error at Cascades that saw him run off across the grass would ultimately drop him out of the victory fight as he finished the race in fifth, with Alfie in eleventh following an action-packed race in the midfield.
Like Henry, he had made up places on the opening lap to climb four spots into the top ten, but then lost ground after a moment on lap two dropped him back down to 15th place. A number of quick and consistent laps allowed him to work his way back up to 13th, and he was able to overhaul both Jude Peters and Torrin Byrne on the final tour to take eleventh.
Lining up back in 22nd spot having failed to set a second fast lap in qualifying, Ethan drove well in the challenging conditions to climb up to 17th by the time the chequered flag dropped.
The poor weather conditions continued into the final race of the weekend, which would be affected by two safety car periods as a result of incidents on track.
Moving up a spot from fifth on the grid on the second lap, Henry showed solid pace once again as he equalled his best result in the series to date with fourth, whilst Alfie again displayed his overtaking prowess despite the conditions as he worked his way up from eleventh to eighth for his best result of the weekend.
Although he was shuffled back down outside the top 20 on the first lap, Ethan’s debut weekend would also end with a personal best result as he fought his way back up to 16th place by the finish to cap a solid opening weekend for all three drivers.
Next up for the trio is a trip to Silverstone on the full GP circuit at the end of the month.
Henry Joslyn said:
“There are lots of positives to take away from the weekend, and setting my first fastest lap in the series shows I have the pace.
“Unfortunately, a small error in the second race cost me my first win and then I didn’t really have a chance to make my way back to the front in race three with the safety car being out a lot. However, we’ve put solid points on the board and it’s early in the season, so this is a good starting point.”
Alfie Davies said:
“I have come away from the first round feeling much more confident. My pace was up there at the sharp end from winter testing, but until the lights go green for the first time, you never know what the competition can do.
“I’ve learnt a huge amount this weekend which I can carry forward to Silverstone and hopefully push my way into the top five. The team have been amazing, and I can’t thank them enough for all their support.”
Ethan Carney said:
“It’s so exciting to have started my car racing career at Oulton Park and I learned a lot over the course of the weekend, particularly with the mixed weather conditions.
“I’m already eager to get back in the car at Silverstone so that I can try and build on my debut weekend and push higher up the grid.”
Oliver Barnard, Team Principal said:
“Overall a strong start to our campaign. The tricky conditions just caught our drivers off guard in Race 2, which hampered results slightly, but it is clear to all the pace we have in our cars and drivers now as we head to Silverstone next.”
“The team is working hard behind the scenes to make sure Silverstone nets us some silverware.”
