[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_enable_image=”off” 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=”4.23″ header_font=”|||on|||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Max Hall secured a second pole position of the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy season after a chaotic qualifying session at Brands Hatch.<\/p>\n
Heavy rain showers that delayed the start of track action at the Kent circuit meant a packed field of cars headed out in challenging wet conditions for the 15 minute session, with two laps being completed under yellow flags before driver were given free reign to chase a time.<\/p>\n
Hall set his quick time early in the session for Westbourne Motorsport before the first of three red flags were thrown after the car of series debutant Joshua Wilby pulled off the circuit on the exit of Graham Hill Bend.<\/p>\n
At that point, Hall headed Nicky Taylor in the standings but on the restart, Alex Keens was able to jump ahead of his Graves Motorsport team-mate into second spot shortly before the action was again called to a halt to recover Reece Lycett – who had ground to a halt at the top of Paddock Hill Bend.<\/p>\n
Whilst the action would restart, the decision was taken to call a halt when Sophie Wright suffered a spin at Paddock Hill Bend and was almost collected by Jamie Keates.<\/p>\n
It meant Hall was secure at the front of the pack, to leave him leading the field away for race one this afternoon.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m really pleased with that as I\u2019ve always enjoyed the wet conditions,” he said. “With all the water and the spray, it was really hard to see and you just had to try and fight through.<\/em><\/p>\n “The red flags certainly played a part and getting the lap in early was the important thing. We\u2019ll see what we can do in the opening race.”<\/em><\/p>\n Second place for Keens marked his best qualifying performance of the season to date, with Taylor in third spot heading the championship contenders.<\/p>\n That only told half the story however, with Taylor forced to switch into the car of absent team-mate Daniel Armstrong after an accident in Friday testing and then limited to just four laps due to technical gremlins.<\/p>\n “It was going really well yesterday and we were quickest on the times but then I had an incident that basically wrote off my car,” he said. “We\u2019ve gone into Dan\u2019s car and it was mint for the opening laps but then there was a leak after the first red flag and we couldn\u2019t go back out.<\/em><\/p>\n “I had been on for pole on my final lap before the stoppage so it\u2019s a shame we couldn\u2019t complete that one and get the bonus points, but third is a good place to fight from.”<\/em><\/p>\n Alex Solley – currently second in the standings – will line up in fourth spot for the opening race of the weekend ahead of Sam Gornall, with the top six being completed by championship leader Tom Ovenden, who will hope to maintain his advantage at the top in the opening race of the weekend.<\/p>\n Jack Byrne, Harry Hickton, Nathan Edwards and Frankie Taylor rounded out the top ten.<\/p>\n Rookie Cup champion elect Rhys Hurd found himself back in 25th place on the after the Chandler Motorsport driver was forced to spend time in the pits having an issue fixed on his car, with Lee Pearce heading the Directors Cup runners in 13th as he looks to also wrap up class honours this weekend.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_position=”center_left” custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.minichallenge.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-11-04-at-12.12.13.jpeg” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2023-11-04 at 12.12.13″ _builder_version=”4.23″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.minichallenge.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-11-04-at-12.12.12-1.jpeg” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2023-11-04 at 12.12.12 (1)” _builder_version=”4.23″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Max Hall secured a second pole position of the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy season after a chaotic qualifying session at Brands Hatch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":24183,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1462,1466],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-cooper"],"yoast_head":"\n