Smalley delivers another Rookie podium despite hard weekend

JHR Developments driver Adam Smalley endured a tough weekend at Donington Park - still coming away with a Rookie Podium finish and 8th overall in the standings.

The Ginetta Junior pack was very closely matched throughout the weekend at Donington, where in qualifying a tenth made the difference between starting 5th or starting 10th!
Smalley qualified in 8th position in both qualifying sessions, giving him a row four start for races one and two which followed.

Smalley gained a position on the opening lap of the race to move up to 7th. Lap four however saw him forced wide and nudged down the incredibly tight pack - determined, he picked them back off in the remainder of the race, getting to the front of the train of cars he was battling, as he finished 7th and took 2nd in the Rookie class.

The second race of the weekend, again starting from 8th - however a first lap incident dropped the JHR driver to the back of the pack. With damaged sustained in the opening lap melee, Smalley's pace was severely hampered, yet he made the best of the situation to recover to 8th at the chequered flag, just missing another Rookie podium.

Race three and the final one of the weekend was another frustrating one for Smalley. Another messy start from the pack caused plenty of incidents and Smalley taking avoiding action. In doing so however, damage had required him to pit and have it repaired. The time involved in the repair meant he rejoined a lap behind - finishing 15th at the chequered flag.

Despite the misfortune in races two and three, Smalley retains a solid points haul and is 8th overall in the standings - lining up as the 2nd highest rookie in the championship.

The next round of the championship takes place on the 6-7 May at the high speed Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire.