TCT/TCR UK: Hart Heads Qualifying to deny Constable Maiden Pole

Max Hart overcame the odds in the second half of a red flag-interrupted qualifying to secure pole position in the Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK. Joining him on the front row will be Jac Constable, who had been on course for a surprise maiden pole until the closing stages at Castle Combe.

The fog of the morning has cleared with the sun started to peak through the Wiltshire clouds, as the flag went green for qualifying. Jac Constable was the early time leader throughout, pulling out a half a second gap to the Kent brothers as the cars found their feet.

Constable remained in front as the red flags came out with 10 minutes still remaining. A strong debut at Silverstone looks only to be getting better for the 23-year-old, who has previous proved his craft in Ginetta’s and Radicals. Racing the Cupra TCR, Constable had a 1min 07.510 and a half a second advantage to Max Hart, who had taken second just before the stoppage. Racing at the same time as the VW Racing Cup, Chris Wallis in the Golf had crashed near Quarry corner, which brought stop to the session as his car was recovered.

News prior to the weekend meant the Hyundai’s of Hart and the Kent brothers would be handed an extra 60kg of ballast as allocated by the WSC. This would be a godsend for the Cupra’s, Mercedes and the rest who were now challenging for pole position.

Not to be outshone, title leader Max Hart narrowly pipped Constable to pole, setting a 1min 07.329. The time was indicative of the pace the Selco-sponsored driver had shown all weekend, irrespective of the ballast he had been handed to him before.

Another driver celebrating after qualifying was Dan Kirby. The Cupra TCR driver, who had been on pole at Oulton Park last season, will be eager to get back to winning ways and could yet benefit as ballast affects those around him.

Pulling in before the chequered flag would be the Lewis and Bradley Kent. While the defending TCR UK champion managed to beat his brother in qualifying for the first time in 2021, it would not be the result either of them wanted, especially with their Maximum Motorsport rival leading the way. Darelle Wilson continued the run of drivers within a second of each other as he completes the third row on his return to TCT/TCR UK in his Vauxhall Astra TCR.

Leading the fourth row was Bruce Winfield. The Cupra DSG proving his Free Practice pace was no fluke. Rounding out the top ten was rookie Alex Kite and William Butler both in Cupra TCR’s as well as Darron Lewis, the highest TCT runner.

The first 20-minute race gets the green light at 14.00 with the second at 17.10. All of the action, together with driver interviews and exclusive behind the scenes insights, will be live streamed on the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy and TCR UK Facebook pages and You Tube channel.