[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]Jamie Osborne admits he was delighted with the progression shown on track in 2023 after securing silverware in his second season in the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE.<\/p>\n
Running under the NAPA Racing UK banner, Osborne secured a breakthrough win in the series at Oulton Park and went into the season finale at Brands Hatch fighting with former Cooper champion Dominic Wheatley for the Graduate Cup title.<\/p>\n
When Wheatley was forced to retire from the second race of the weekend, Osborne was left in the box seat going into race three but there would almost be a sting in the tail when he damaged the splitter on his car – ironically whilst passing team-mate Lewis Selby.<\/p>\n
That resulted in a black and orange flag being shown to force Osborne into the pits for repairs, dropping him off the lead lap as rival Wheatley raced his way through the order from the back of the grid.<\/p>\n
As he moved towards the top ten, Osborne was left needing to finish the race to secure the crown and he would cruise around at the back to pick up the points required to become Graduate Cup winner.<\/p>\n
“I made things more difficult than they needed to be because my team-mate was letting me through and I just mullered the kerb – which meant I ripped the splitter off the car and had to pit,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I knew then that it was all about making sure I got to the finish and despite the car being a bit bruised and carrying damage, that was what I did to wrap up the title.<\/p>\n
“It was a bit unusual driving around ten seconds off the pace, but I actually enjoyed it as I had the window open and was just singing away to myself – which I guess was pretty embarrassing on the onboard cameras!”<\/p>\n
As well as wrapping up the class crown, Osborne ended the campaign in eighth place overall having picked up two podium finishes.<\/p>\n
“Apart from that last race, the pace and the results this season have shown the progression I\u2019ve made and how much I\u2019ve been able to learn the car,” he said. “With a new team this year, we\u2019ve been learning all the time and I\u2019m pleased with how the whole team has done.<\/p>\n
“The support from NAPA has also been fantastic this season as I wouldn\u2019t have been here without them. This has been the best season yet, and it would be nice to come back next year and try to go for the overall crown.”
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.minichallenge.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a8061697-6edf-4efa-81d5-af7f557af1e8.jpg” title_text=”Jamie Osborne – Napa Racing UK” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.minichallenge.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/f9c037a2-bd5e-4b8c-9c7d-06991b472718.jpg” title_text=”Jamie Osborne – Napa Racing UK” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.minichallenge.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0526a5e3-86d3-484e-8ca2-00d0f51c96a1.jpg” title_text=”Jamie Osborne – Napa Racing UK” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jamie Osborne admits he was delighted with the progression shown on track in 2023 after securing silverware in his second season in the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE. Running under the NAPA Racing UK banner, Osborne secured a breakthrough win in the series…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":23942,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
Jamie Osborne admits he was delighted with the progression shown on track in 2023 after securing silverware in his second season in the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE.<\/p>
Running under the NAPA Racing UK banner, Osborne secured a breakthrough win in the series at Oulton Park and went into the season finale at Brands Hatch fighting with former Cooper champion Dominic Wheatley for the Graduate Cup title.<\/p>
When Wheatley was forced to retire from the second race of the weekend, Osborne was left in the box seat going into race three but there would almost be a sting in the tail when he damaged the splitter on his car - ironically whilst passing team-mate Lewis Selby.<\/p>
That resulted in a black and orange flag being shown to force Osborne into the pits for repairs, dropping him off the lead lap as rival Wheatley raced his way through the order from the back of the grid.<\/p>
As he moved towards the top ten, Osborne was left needing to finish the race to secure the crown and he would cruise around at the back to pick up the points required to become Graduate Cup winner.<\/p>
\"I made things more difficult than they needed to be because my team-mate was letting me through and I just mullered the kerb - which meant I ripped the splitter off the car and had to pit,\" he said.<\/p>
\"I knew then that it was all about making sure I got to the finish and despite the car being a bit bruised and carrying damage, that was what I did to wrap up the title.<\/p>
\"It was a bit unusual driving around ten seconds off the pace, but I actually enjoyed it as I had the window open and was just singing away to myself - which I guess was pretty embarrassing on the onboard cameras!\"<\/p>
As well as wrapping up the class crown, Osborne ended the campaign in eighth place overall having picked up two podium finishes.<\/p>
\"Apart from that last race, the pace and the results this season have shown the progression I\u2019ve made and how much I\u2019ve been able to learn the car,\" he said. \"With a new team this year, we\u2019ve been learning all the time and I\u2019m pleased with how the whole team has done.<\/p>
\"The support from NAPA has also been fantastic this season as I wouldn\u2019t have been here without them. This has been the best season yet, and it would be nice to come back next year and try to go for the overall crown.\"<\/p>
OX4 SIGNS OFF WITH SILVERWARE<\/strong><\/p> The OX4 Racing team will hope to return to the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE for a second successive season after rounding out 2023 with a Directors Cuo victory at Brands Hatch.<\/p> The team, which operates from the MINI factory in Oxford, had sat out the 2022 season before making a comeback with Simon Reed taking over driving duties from Jim Loukes.<\/p> Having sat out the Oulton Park meeting due to commitments elsewhere, Reed and the team went into the final event of the season on a run of five top 15 finishes in six races.<\/p> The highlight of the final weekend would be a Directors Cup win in race two, with eleventh place marking the best overall of the year for the team.<\/p> \"It\u2019s excellent to get a trophy as a lot of hard work has gone in this season,\" Reed said. \"We started this year from nothing and we were off the pace, but a lot of hard work from everyone involved has allowed us to improve and ultimately get us onto the podium.<\/p> \"We all have day jobs so it takes a lot of commitment from people to then try and juggle racing alongside their regular work. It's a big ask, and I massively appreciate everyone giving up their time to allow us to do this.\"<\/p> Members of the team come from across the MINI factory, with Reed himself having worked on the car in other roles before getting behind the wheel.<\/p> \"We come from all over the business,\" he said. \"I work in maintenance and assembly, Sam [Drew - technical manager] works in logistics, Jonny [Light - team manager] works in powertrain so we have a broad mix of skills that we can use when it comes to racing.<\/p> \"I\u2019ve been with the team for a long time, starting out as a mechanic and even driving the truck, so having such a broad range of knowledge does work. The beauty of the team is that anyone interested in getting involved can come along and if they want to one day end up driving the car like I have, then hopefully we can work to help them get there.<\/p> Whilst the team has yet to confirm plans for 2024, Reed added that he hoped OX4 would remain part of the grid for next season.<\/p> \"I hope we can continue next year,\" he said. \"As always, we have to look at the options, and hopefully picking up some silverware is a step in the right direction towards impressing the people that matter.\"<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1462,1465,1468],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-jcw","category-mini-challenge"],"yoast_head":"\n