Date: 25/04/2021
Track: Silverstone
QUALIFYING
With 18 cars on the grid both Defending Champion Lewis and his brother Bradley were under no illusions of the task ahead of them if they wished to take honours in TCR UK this year.
Both Lewis and Bradley were immediately on the pace with them trading position for pole on every lap. As the session drew to a close it was Bradley who looked like getting the better of his brother by taking pole at his first TCR meeting, but in the last few seconds Max Hart who was also driving a Hyundai i30N snatched pole position from Bradley’s grasp by 0.097 seconds,. With no points being awarded this year for qualifying it was not a major problem and brothers Kent knew they had to show what they could do in the race.
RACE DAY
Race 1: Lewis had his usual blinding start from 3rd going past Bradley and right on the tail of Max Hart. Going through the first series of corners Bradley went off, we subsequently found that he had picked up a puncture on the green flag lap and as soon as the tyre was put under load came off of the rim putting pay to his race.
Lewis continued to put pressure on Hart throughout the 25 minute race getting the gap down to 0.02 at one stage but he could never find a way through. As the race drew to a close, Lewis had to contend with 2nd place and eased off to cross the line 2 seconds behind.
Race 2: The top six finishers from race 1 took to the grid in reverse order as per the regulations with Lewis now starting in 5th place and Max Hart in 6th, Bradley was further back in 12th due to his non finish.
Again Lewis had a fantastic start moving into 2nd place by the time they had cleared the first corners, he the put pressure on Dan Kirby who had taken the lead and before too long Lewis was leading the field. Max Hart followed Lewis through and established himself in a clear 2nd position, Hart tried to get on terms with Lewis but with a clear track in front of him, Lewis controlled the race with his position never being threatened and crossed the line in a well deserved 1st place.
Bradley also had a storming race, fighting his way through the pack and getting up to 3rd at one point, he finished 4th and was deemed driver of the day by series sponsors Goodyear.
CONCLUSION
Lewis came away from Silverstone as joint points leader in both TCR UK & TCT Championships with 48 points, due to achieving one win, one 2nd place and a fastest lap.
At the next round on the 31st May at Castle Combe I expect both Lewis and Bradley to be at the front.
