Dan Brown fended off Phil Wright for the win in the Racing Hondas Championship’s opening race of the day at Donington Park as Jake Hewlett and Ryan Cunningham ran out the winners in classes B and C.

Brown took over the lead when his Class A rival Liam Collins, starting from pole position, ran wide at the opening bend, Redgate.

Several grassy moments for Collins on the opening lap led to his car Integra DC2 overheating and he pulled up into retirement shortly after.

Brown was then expected to clear off in the lead but instead found himself under race-long pressure from a resurgent Philip Wright who was just three tenths of a second adrift at the chequered flag.

Notably, 2023 Champion Wright set the race’s fastest lap time which means he will start the day’s second race from pole position.

“That was tough work,” reflected Brown. “My car was without the aero splitter after it was damaged in qualifying so I was a bit hobbled and Phil was in my mirrors all the way. I couldn’t afford to put a wheel wrong.”

Wright said: “We were so evenly matched – he couldn’t pull away but I couldn’t catch him. But it’s great to be back on the podium – my first since the opening round at Anglesey back in April!”

Kevin Talbot came out on top of an equally intense scrap with James Allen to take third position. Behind Rich Hockley, James Alford, Ryan Jenkinson and Will Murfin also battled mightily as they completed the top seen finishers.

Hewlett and the fellow non-scoring Paul Taylor took the top two places in Class B. Dave Buky was third after a dramatic couple of final laps in which positions swapped and changed repeatedly amongst the leading B runners.

Nick Charlier and B points leader Alfie Jeakins, next up, were both within half a second of Buky at the finish (it was that close) as Simon Waite and Tommy Knight(fighting for the podium places until late on) followed behind.

Ryan Cunningham remained ahead of his rival to take his ninth win of the season in Class C, despite a safety car period allowing them to close up and have a crack at him in the closing stages.

David Lawrence and Spencer Fortag completed the C class podium.

CLICK HERE for race results and race 2 grid line-up.

Pic: Rob Atkin