Photo: PSP Images

Dan Lloyd leads Jessica Bäckman in a WestCoast 1-2 in Brands Hatch Race 2

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Dan Lloyd led the second WestCoast Racing 1-2 of the season in the second race at Brands Hatch, finishing ahead of team-mate Jessica Bäckman, with SWR Honda driver Howard Fuller completing the podium.

The race was one of attrition with just six cars from the 12 starters finishing on the lead lap.

Carl Swift held the lead from pole position into Paddock Hill bend in his Maximum Motorsport Cupra TCR, while Josh Price launched up to second in his BMR Honda Civic ahead of the fast-starting Hyundai of Lewis Kent.

Kent’s great start didn’t match his race pace however, with the Essex & Kent Motorsport driver slowly dropping down the order, as he was quickly passed by Jessica Bäckman’s Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.

Lloyd was quickly scything through the field, passing both Stewart Lines’ Cupra and Lewis Kent’s Hyundai on lap three and was up to fourth behind Bäckman.

He then passed both Bäckman and Josh Price’s Honda in one move at Clearways to move into second, but then it took him four laps to pass Swift, who put up a valiant effort to keep the lead, with the move eventually being made at Graham Hill bend on lap ten.

Price’s Race 1 issue resurfaced on lap eight and he pulled into the pits with an engine cut-out on lap eight, which promoted Bäckman to third.

She then closed on Swift, making her move on the Cupra with minor contact at Clearways on lap 19.

Her brother Andreas looked set to make it a WestCoast 1-2-3 when he worked his way forward, passing Stewart Lines on lap 24 and then made a move on Swift’s Cupra on lap 26 at Druids, but sustained damage to his left-rear suspension and had to retire.

Swift retired also with damaged suspension soon after, handing Lines third, but was passed with four laps to go by Howard Fuller in the Sean Walkinshaw Racing Honda.

With a number of cars also pulling out of the race with technical difficulties, just six cars finished on the lead lap, with Lewis Kent rejoining the race to finish three laps down.

Dan Lloyd now leads the championship by 99 points over Ollie Taylor, with Andreas Bäckman 130 points behind and sister Jessica three points further behind heading to the next round of the 2018 TCR UK championship takes place at Castle Combe on July 14th-15th.