[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=”4.27.4″ 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=”4.27.4″ header_font=”|||on|||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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Alex Keens will look to add to his podium tally at Thruxton this weekend as he bids to close in on top spot in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy.<\/strong><\/p>\n Keens sits second in the standings after the opening two meetings of the season, including a first win of the year at Brands Hatch last time out – albeit after a post-race penalty for on the road victor Rhys Hurd.<\/p>\n The Graves Motorsport driver is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid this season and has enjoyed success at Thruxton in the past following a strong performance at the fastest circuit on the calendar last year.<\/p>\n Keens bagged a hat-trick of top four finishes twelve months ago, including a best finish of third in race two, and will hope for similar results this time around to overhaul Josh Wilby in the standings.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have the best start to the season at Snetterton, so to bounce back at Brands Hatch and be right up there in the standings is a big positive,\u201d he said. \u201cScoring a win and taking a decent haul of points means we are well placed heading to Thruxton, where I ran well last year.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis season is all about being consistent and it seems to tighter than ever near the front. That makes it tough because you can\u2019t make a mistake – like we saw at Brands Hatch where you had nine or ten cars all matching each other for pace.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to getting back out in the car for the third round of the season, and I\u2019m looking for more points – and more trophies!\u201d<\/em><\/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\/2025\/06\/Keens2.jpg” title_text=”Keens2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.minichallenge.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Keens1.jpg” title_text=”Keens1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ 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":" Alex Keens will look to add to his podium tally at Thruxton this weekend as he bids to close in on top spot in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":28772,"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-28769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-cooper"],"yoast_head":"\n