George Jaxon takes maiden TCR UK victory

George Jaxon produced a solid drive in tricky weather at Snetterton to score his first win in TCR UK during the final race of the weekend.

The reverse grid race kicked off in wet conditions with Harry Bloor’s Cupra on pole position but he failed to get away properly off the line – with Will Beech instead grabbing the lead from Jaxon.

Jaxon tried to make a move for the lead at Agostini on the opening lap and managed to move ahead, with Brad Hutchison following him through into second spot.

Further back, Adam Shepherd was on a charge after his race one win – moving up into sixth on lap one and then grabbing fifth from Steve Laidlaw at the start of lap two.

Max Hall had also got away well at the start to vault up four spots into fourth place, and moved into the podium positions on lap two when he swept ahead of Beech at Agostini, with Shepherd quickly following him through on the run onto the back straight.

Newsham was bidding to follow his title rival up the order and tried to take fifth from Steve Laidlaw at Brundle only to see the Cupra retake the place immediately. As Sam Laidlaw looked to get involved in the battle, he looped his car at the Bombhole to drop to the lower reaches of the top ten.

Jaxon continued to lead the way ahead of Hutchison and Hall, but there would be drama behind when Newsham and Steve Laidlaw got caught up together and were both forced to retire.

By the end of the third lap, Hutchison had closed on the rear of Jaxon and had Hall right his tail to make it a three-way fight for the lead, with Shepherd taking a watching brief in fourth.

Hall getting involved with Hutchison enabled Jaxon to edge slightly clear, and he moved further clear when Hall and Hutchison made contact going onto the back straight – with Hall moving ahead as Hutchison was forced to content with his car going sideways.

Having got up into second spot, Hall tried to close down Jaxon ahead but he was unable to catch the Cupra as Jaxon instead held on to take his first victory in the series ahead of the debutant.

Hutchison dropped back into the clutches of Shepherd but he was able to retain third spot during the final lap of the race, with Sam Laidlaw more than 14 seconds behind that fight in fourth having recovered from his earlier spin.

Post race, Hutchison would be promoted back into second spot when Hall was handed a time penalty that dropped him back behind his rival for the earlier contact.

Will Beech took sixth ahead of race one retiree Luke Sargeant, with Bloor, Mark Smith and Gen 1 winner Jeff Alden rounding out the top ten.