Race ace Neil on the pace

Neil Newstead leads a trio of tightly bunched cars. Picture courtesy Dave Young Photographics

The Hastings driver is within two points of second place going into the final round of the Power Maxed Mini Challenge.

Newstead and the Oakfield Motorsport team headed to Silverstone’s world renowned grand prix circuit for the penultimate round.

With the car needing a complete new front end, bonnet, wing and door among other items after the previous round’s incident at Castle Combe, the car was off the pace during testing which led to the team replacing the turbo and fuel sensor overnight.

Newstead clearly found the car was still suffering for power and pace as he qualified in P8. Before the first race the team changed the high pressure fuel pump.

With Newstead fastest through the speed traps on sectors one and three, and second fastest through sector two, the team had obviously found that extra power Newstead desperately required as he finished in P4.

Starting race two in the same position, Newstead had high expectations. Power again seemed to be an issue, however, and he brought the car home in P5.

Race three was a reverse grid with Newstead on the front row in P2. He led for a while before dropping to second and was then hit in the rear, taking him totally off the track.

Newstead managed to get the car re-started, but the damage meant he could only nurse it home to P8 for some valued points. The final round is at Brands Hatch GP on September 13 and 14.