Rounds 3 and 4 of the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy/TCR UK took place at Castle Combe Circuit in Wiltshire on the UK bank holiday Monday 31st May, where Wicklow driver Max Hart aimed to carry over his pace from rounds 1 and 2 at Silverstone in April. Having claimed an impressive first and second place on that occasion, Max qualified his Maximum Motorsport Hyundai i30 N TCR on pole position for race one at Castle Combe, despite carrying 60Kgs of success ballast.
Race 1: Max was beaten off the line by fellow front row starter Jac Constable, who was later deemed to have jumped the start and consequently received a penalty for his eager getaway. Unfazed, Max quickly moved into the lead and set fastest lap on his way to his second win of the season.
However, at post-race scrutineering, a technical detail meant that Max’s car was found to be non-compliant and he was consequently disqualified. An appeal has since been lodged as the infringement is not related to an increase in performance. As a result, the race results remain provisional.
Race 2: Having been disqualified from race one, Max had to start from the back of the grid. Again, he drove an impressive race and worked his way through the field to finish in third position and again, set the fastest lap.
Once again, Max delivered an impressive performance and now looks forward to rounds 5, 6 and 7 that take place at Brands Hatch on 19th & 20th June.
Many thanks goes to Max’s sponsors and supporters: Selco Hygiene, Adapt Paper Products, Dunshaughlin Motors, J.W Carnegie & Co Ltd, www.pbc.ie, Maximum Motorsport, Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing @HMSGOfficial, and Noel Roddy Racing.
