The first two rounds of the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy/TCR UK took place at Silverstone yesterday, and young Irishman Max Hart started the season in style.
Carrying over his impressive pace from testing, the 19-year-old qualified his Maximum Motorsport Hyundai i30N TCR on pole position.
Race 1: Max made an excellent start to lead the race, and controlled the pack when the safety car was deployed on the first lap. When the lights went green, Max held off the pressure from the reigning TCR UK Champion Lewis Kent – also driving an Hyundai i30N TCR – to the flag. Max also set the fastest lap of the race.
Race 2: The top six finishers from race 1 were reversed for the start of race 2. Lewis Kent started 5th took the lead, closely followed by Max who started 6th and despite closing to finish within 1.5 seconds during the race, Max had to settle for 2nd on this occasion. With Lewis Kent taking the race’s fastest lap and an extra point, both he and Max are joint championship leaders after the opening two rounds.
It was a very impressive weekend for Max, as his got to grips with his new Hyundai i30N TCR. Following the two races he said:
“This was a great way to start to the season. To win the very first race in this new era of the championship was fantastic. Bearing in mind my limited experience in a TCR car, I’m very pleased with the results and it’s clear that the scene has been set between Lewis and I for the rest of the year. Exciting times ahead!”
The next two rounds of the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy/TCR UK take place at Castle Combe on 31st May.
Many thanks go to Selco Hygiene, Adapt Paper Products, Dunshaughlin Motors, Maximum Motorsport, and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing @HMSGOfficial