Photo: PSP Images

Callum Newsham dominates final TCR UK race of the weekend

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Callum Newsham dominated the third and final TCR UK race of the season opener weekend at Brands Hatch, crossing the finishing line more than four seconds ahead of Brad Hutchison despite of an early safety car session.

The Hyundai driver started the race from pole and got away cleanly in bright contrast to Max Hall who bogged down from second on the grid and dropped down the order.

And things went from bad to worse for Hall as JH Racing driver driver Jac Constable moved over on him on Cooper Straight, resulting in a spin for the Audi driver while Hall had to take evasive action over the grass and lost further ground.

The safety car was called into action on lap two as Jeff Alden spun off in spectacular style at Druids, beaching his Hyundai in the gravel.

The race resumed with eight minutes left and Newsham quickly opened up a gap at the front ahead of Cupra driver Hutchison.

Rod McGovern hit trouble on lap 12 as his Cupra developed another misfire, forcing him to pit and retire from the race.

The fight for third place heated up on the penultimate lap between Jenson O’Neill Going and Carl Boardley as the latter launched an attack into Clark Curve with some contact.

The two went side-by-side for the next couple of corners, banging wheels, ultimately resulting in O’Neill Going going over the grass and dropping down to sixth place.

Newsham crossed the finishing line first after 19 laps, 4.2 seconds ahead of Hutchison, while Boardley was close to six seconds behind in third.

Jason Mason took his Vannin Motorsport-prepared Audi to fourth while Honda driver Max Hart was fifth.

O’Neill Going was classified as sixth ahead of Harry Bloor and Rick Kerry.

Hall’s nightmare race continued as he was hit with a 10-second penalty for a start procedure infringement, dropping him down to eleventh place ahead of Lynk & Co driver Lewis Kent who also received the same penalty.

O’Neill Going heads the standings on 86 points, Newsham is second on 77 points and Constable is third on 75 points.

The next TCR UK race takes place at Croft on May 2-3.