Oulton Park glory snatched from Hand

Charlie Hand has led races at times all year and looked to be heading for his first win in the Junior Saloon Car Championship at Oulton Park.
Charlie Hand, in the orange car, at Oulton ParkCharlie Hand, in the orange car, at Oulton Park
Charlie Hand, in the orange car, at Oulton Park

Qualifying went well andhe secured pole position for both races.

“There were a few slippery corners and I had a few moments, but I knew where the dry bits were and when to push,” said the Crawley teenager.

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“I could see the others all together, but stayed focused to get a quick lap, I did it on the last lap and just got the drizzle that had started out of my head,” he explained.

Going for Oulton Park gloryGoing for Oulton Park glory
Going for Oulton Park glory

He made an excellent start from pole, but with red flags out after a multiple shunt at the first corner, he was forced to line up again.

At the second attempt he lost out to Lewis Saunders, but settled into second, under pressure from Alex Solley, in an early four-car break.

“My first start was great, but the second was terrible, too much wheelspin,” he said. Cresting Hilltop for the second time Hand was pushing hard for the lead and was ahead by the end of the second lap, only for Saunders to take it back into Old Hall.

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Solley started to challenge again and for a while the top six were line astern. They battled on, allowing Saunders to build a lead.

Charlie Hand leads at Oulton ParkCharlie Hand leads at Oulton Park
Charlie Hand leads at Oulton Park

After they exchanged places for second on lap five, Solley edged clear and claimed the win, which left Hand duelling with Saunders for second.

On the last lap there were inches between them heading along Lakeside. “When we got to Island Hairpin I got forced wide and couldn’t turn in, so spun,” Hand said after dropping to fifth.

From the wet of the first race it was dry for the second, but it was close from the moment the lights went out.

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Heading into Cascades Hand and Saunders were virtually rubbing door handles and continued to run close along Lakeside, with Solley in their wheel tracks too.

Saunders led over Hilltop before Solley was in front into Knickerbrook, but Hand was quicker on the exit and charged ahead up Clay Hill.

By lap four he was well clear and left his rivals fighting for second. “Everything just came together for me, I had a big pace difference over Lewis

Saunders and Deagen Fairclough and even when Alex Solley caught me I came out on top, so my first win was looking inevitable,” he explained.

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Hand led until he completed his sixth lap, when he was forced to pull off at Old Hall Corner, out of the race with a broken throttle cable.

“When I came across the line I just lost all power, I was absolutely gutted. But we live and learn from the experience,” he concluded.