Callum Newsham secures TCR UK title with victory

Callum Newsham secured the TCR UK title in fine style with victory in the final race of the season at Brands Hatch.

From pole, Max Hall was slow off the line and that allowed Newsham through into the lead of the race, with Max Hart getting away well further back to jump up into the top five.

There were dramas behind however, as Harry Bloor suffered a spin at Paddock Hill Bend to drop down the order before Jenson O’Neill-Going and Rod McGovern got together on the back straight.

That resulted on O’Neill-Going and McGovern spinning and brought out the safety car, although both cars were able to rejoin under their own steam and continued before ultimately heading into the pits.

When the race got back underway, it did so with Hart having been hit with a ten second penalty for his car being worked on beyond the allotted time on the grid, although he quickly set about making up ground on track at least as he quickly rose up to third.

Whilst Newsham continued to lead the way, Hall put in a number of quick laps to start closing in on the leader, with Hart unable to match the leading pair as he slowly slipped away from the fight for the lead on the road.

By lap 15, the lead pair were together on track with Newsham continuing to lead the way from Hall knowing that he had one hand on the championship title with Hart’s penalty effectively taking him out of contention.

Bloor was the next to fall as he brought his Honda in to pit, with Hart following suit soon afterwards with the Audi after a slow lap – although he was able to rejoin having dropped off the lead lap.

Hall continued to keep Newsham honest at the front but the Hyundai man was able to stay ahead and secure the title, having gone close twelve months ago.

Hutchison took third in his Cupra ahead of the race long battle for fourth between Russell Joyce and Barry-John McHenry, with Hart rounding out the finishers in sixth.