Friday – Finding the Pace

Friday testing began in damp conditions, but the Wera squad wasted no time getting up to speed. The drivers worked together to fine-tune their setups, and by the end of the day, all three were showing strong pace. Richardson impressed with quick lap times, while Garford and Mason consistently featured toward the top of the timesheets — a promising start to the team’s final weekend of 2025.

Saturday – Qualifying Drama

Saturday brought drying conditions and a bold call from all three drivers to switch to slicks for qualifying. With the surface still tricky, it was a test of balance and bravery. With just five minutes left on the clock, disaster struck — Murray Richardson lost control at Graham Hill Bend and rolled after digging into the damp runoff. Thankfully, he escaped unharmed, though the car required major repairs. Despite the disruption, the Wera drivers delivered an excellent session:

• Alfie Garford – P3

• Jenson Mason – P9

• Murray Richardson – P19

Race 1 – The Comeback

The Wera mechanics produced a herculean effort, repairing Richardson’s MINI in just two hours. Under bright skies and a buzzing crowd, Race 1 lived up to the hype. Garford charged as high as fourth before being caught in a mid-pack melee that briefly launched his car airborne — dropping both him and Mason down the order. Both fought back brilliantly, crossing the line sixth and seventh respectively, while Richardson impressed with gritty racecraft to finish where he started, completing an amazing recovery drive in a freshly rebuilt car.

Sunday – Race 2: Championship Showdown

Sunday morning dawned bright, with a sell-out crowd packing every vantage point around Brands Hatch for the penultimate race of the season. The energy was electric, and all eyes were on Garford, the only driver still with a mathematical chance of snatching the title from championship leader Alex Keens. When the lights went out, both drivers made strong starts, running firmly inside the top four. Garford knew he needed everything to go his way — and for Keens to hit trouble — but the title favourite drove flawlessly. As the laps unfolded, Keens edged into the lead and began to build a commanding gap, while Garford continued to push hard in pursuit. By the chequered flag, Keens crossed the line to seal the 2025 Mini Challenge Trophy title, with Garford finishing just behind in a composed and competitive drive. The young rookie was among the first to offer congratulations to his rival, a gesture that earned admiration across the paddock and perfectly reflected his maturity and sportsmanship.

Jenson Mason brought his car home in a brilliant P3 he also took the Rookie win and also fastest lap, and Murray Richardson finished P21.

Race 3 – The Grand Finale

The final race of the season brought the biggest crowd of the year — with monster trucks, live music, and fireworks setting the stage. Garford lined up P3, Mason P8, and Richardson P14. With just three points separating Garford and Rhys Hurd in the fight for Vice Champion, the pressure was on. At lights out, Garford held third while Mason and Richardson both gained positions, with spectacular lunges.  The early laps saw Garford and Hurd locked in an intense duel for second, with Hurd eventually slipping past and moving into the lead. Garford fought back hard, pulling off spectacular overtakes and showing pure determination. With five minutes remaining, an incident caused a red flag, but Garford was able to continue. On the restart, both Garford and Mason launched brilliantly, moving into second and fourth respectively. On the final lap, under yellow flags, Garford looked set to secure Vice Champion, but a rival dived inside, pushing him to fourth at the flag, while Mason stormed to a superb second place. Richardson’s drive through the field to finish 11^th, the youngster showing a never give up attitude, with lap times faster than the leaders, capped off an incredible performance in his debut season.

Team Commentary

Team Principal Pete Osborne said, “This year has been fantastic. These boys have shown maturity and improvement beyond what I expected. Alfie’s rookie title and third overall in his first year is an outstanding achievement. Murray should hold his head high — to take a race win halfway through his debut season and now be matching the front-runners is outstanding. Jenson has been superb all year — his pace and results in the final rounds show just how strong he’s become. All three lads have done me, the team, and our partners incredibly proud.”

Driver Reflections

Alfie Garford added, “This year’s been great. It’s our first year in the MINI Challenge, so we had a lot to learn, but from the start I knew we could be competitive. My goal was a podium finish in the championship, and that’s exactly what we achieved — plus the Rookie title, which feels amazing. Of course, there’s a bit of disappointment not to win the overall title, but I’m going away really proud of how I’ve driven and how much I’ve learned this season.”

Jenson Mason said, “It’s been a strong finish to the season for us. The pace has really come alive in the last few rounds and to end the year with more silverware feels fantastic. The car felt great all weekend — huge credit to the team for all their hard work.”

Murray Richardson commented, “What a year! My first full season of car racing has been an amazing learning experience. Getting that first win earlier in the year and now running on the pace of the leaders gives me massive confidence heading into next season.”

Summary

It was the perfect conclusion to a landmark year for the Wera Alliance Mini Race Team — three drivers, one united squad, and a season full of speed, progress, and pride.

The post Fireworks, Fierce Racing, and a Rookie Rising — Wera Alliance Shines at Brands Hatch Finale appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Qualifying Drama

After strong pace in Thursday testing, the team hit qualifying with intent.
– Cam Richardson stunned the paddock early on with a lightning lap that put him P2, but a radiator issue forced him to the sidelines and he had to nervously watch the session unfold.
– Alfie Garford continued his consistent form, posting a strong lap to secure P4 on the grid.
– Murray Richardson, still only in his third race weekend, smashed his personal best to slot firmly into contention.

Race Action

Over three hotly contested races, the Wera Alliance machines were right in the thick of the action:

– Race 1 – Garford battled power issues but still hung onto the top 10, while both Richardsons banked strong finishes to set themselves up for Sunday fireworks.
– Race 2 – The moment of the weekend. Rookie Murray Richardson drove the race of his life. With inch-perfect racing lines and superb discipline, he kept his nose clean while rivals picked up time penalties. That composure paid off handsomely, as post-race penalties elevated him into a sensational maiden MINI Challenge Trophy victory! The paddock and grandstands erupted as the young star was confirmed the winner, underlining his huge potential.
– Race 3 – Not to be outshone, Cam Richardson produced his own heroics. Determined to match his brother’s magic, Cam held his nerve in a frenetic battle to claim a jubilant second place finish, cementing a fairy-tale weekend for the family duo.

Meanwhile, despite grappling with mechanical gremlins, Alfie’s relentless consistency saw him rack up valuable points across all three races – enough to vault him into 3rd in the championship standings with just two rounds to go.

The Crowd Reaction

The Donington GP loop produced thrilling racing all weekend, and the sight of the Richardson brothers delivering a win and a podium had the fans on their feet. The buzz around the Wera Alliance awning was electric as supporters and sponsors celebrated a landmark result.

Driver & Team Quotes

Murray Richardson (Race Winner):

“Honestly, I can’t believe it – my first MINI Challenge win, and to do it here at Donington in front of the BTCC crowd is just unreal. I focused on being clean and precise, hitting my lines, and it paid off. Others made mistakes and picked up penalties, but we kept it tidy and it’s amazing to come away with the win. Huge thanks to the team – this is a dream come true.”

Cam Richardson (P2 in Race 3):

“Watching Murray win gave me the motivation to really dig deep in the last race. I knew we had the pace, and to hold off the pressure and bring it home P2 feels amazing. To share this weekend with my brother and the team is something special.”

Alfie Garford (Championship P3):

“It’s been a tough weekend with the power issues, but consistency was key and we still came away with strong points. I’m really proud of what Murray and Cam achieved – it shows the strength of this team. To be sitting 3rd in the standings with two rounds to go gives us a great shot.”

Pete Osborne (Team Principal):

“What a weekend for Wera Alliance! Murray’s victory was just outstanding – inch-perfect driving that kept him out of trouble and gave him his first win of the season. Then for Cam to back it up with a podium was the perfect finish. Alfie’s consistency has kept our championship fight alive, and as a team we couldn’t be happier. The support here at Donington has been phenomenal – it feels like a turning point in our season.”

Championship Outlook

With the BTCC crowds still buzzing from the weekend, Wera Alliance leave Donington on a high:
– Alfie Garford now sits 3rd in the standings heading into the final two rounds.
– Murray Richardson announces himself as a future star with his maiden victory.
– Cam Richardson proves his pace and pedigree with a stunning podium.

The stage is set for an electrifying end to the 2025 MINI Challenge Trophy season.

The post Murray Magic at Donington as Wera Alliance Shine on BTCC Stage appeared first on Alliance Racing.

There’s still plenty more to come as the second half of the season unfolds.

Some Standout Moments

From race wins to wild overtakes, maiden podiums to challenging battles, here are some of the standout moments so far this season.

Alfie Garford – Mini Challenge Trophy

Location: Thruxton – Round 3

“My best – and also favourite – moment on track was Race 1 at Thruxton. Qualifying didn’t go to plan, and I started 12^th on the grid. Then the rain came mid-race. Being on slicks in the wet around Thruxton made for some seriously exciting racing. I managed to make some great moves and picked up a podium, finishing in 2^nd place.”

A great start to the season with four podiums so far. It hasn’t been easy, but Alfie now leads the Rookie Cup and sits P4 in the championship. His focus is now on claiming his first win and pushing for the championship win.

Will Jenkins – Porsche Carrera Cup GB 

Location: Donington Park – Round 1 

“For me my best moment so far this season is absolutely the maiden pole position I took at Donington Park earlier on in the year. It was my first event in the car, first time out with the Carrera Cup, and we took that pole position by 1 thousandth of a second!”

Moving from the Porsche Sprint car to the Carrera is a big step and hasn’t been without its challenges, but Will has handled it brilliantly, securing pole position in his debut weekend in the Carrera Cup and a great P3 at Croft.

Max McRae & Cameron Fair – British and European Rally Championships

Location: Rally Hungary – Round 2

“A highlight of this year was ERC debut at Rally Hungary at the start of the year. We started the rally off with a bit of a downer, I made a mistake on the super special stage but then on the Saturday we clawed back around 40 positions to get just outside the top 10. That definitely showed resilience and what we can do when we’re in a good rhythm.”

New car, new challenge. Max and Cameron have been getting to grips with the Citroen Rally2, with Max stepping up from the Rally4 car last season. Each weekend brings more experience in a highly competitive grid, with Rally Hungary clearly showing what they’re capable of.

Jenson Mason – Mini Challenge Trophy 

Location: Thruxton – Round 3

“My best moment on track so far this season has to be winning at Thruxton. My maiden win in the Mini Challenge Trophy Championship. It was such a special moment in front of huge crowds on the BTCC weekend and live on ITV.”

Jenson’s season so far has had its challenges, but his fastest lap at Brands Hatch and brilliant win at Thruxton, following a weekend of strong pace, shows exactly what he’s capable of!

Rachel Robertson – Radical Cup UK

Location: Brands Hatch – Round 2

“My best moment so far this season is definitely finishing 3^rd, getting my first podium, at Round 2 of the Radical Cup.”

Only in her second-ever car race, following a background in karting, Rachel secured her first podium at Brands Hatch, followed by another at Snetterton. Her race pace and qualifying have improved significantly since the start of the year, and she’s aiming to build consistency and secure her first win in the second half of the season.

Hamish Forrest – Radical Cup UK

Location: Zandvoort – Round 4

“My best moment so far this season has to be last time out in Zandvoort when I got my first win of the season and first pole position of the season. It was a great weekend with a lot more progress made, just like every weekend so far.”

A dominant start to the season has seen Hamish pick up 12 podiums! He continues to learn and develop each week while remaining firmly focused on the championship fight for the remainder of the season.

Felix Tandy – Bambino British Kart Championship

Location: PFi – Round 4

“My best moment so far was Round 4 at PFi where I got pole, won both heats and superheats, and got a good start in the final where I went on to win it.”

Now known as #FastFelix, he’s been unstoppable, securing an impressive 21 podiums so far. With just three points separating him from his closest rival, he’s aiming to take the top spot and win the MightE Championship in the final round.

Chase Fernandez – British F4 

Location: Donington GP – Round 1

“My best moment on track so far in 2025 was the opening round of the British F4 Championship where I scored my first win in Formula 4. It was a super cool race! Went from 2nd on the grid, shot to 1st at the first corner and managed to lead from start to finish.”

Chase has had to adjust significantly, moving from Ginetta Juniors to the single seaters of British F4. He kicked off his first British F4 season with podiums at Donington Park and Oulton Park, and aims to continue his recent run of top-6 finishes.

Joe Marshall – Porsche Sprint Challenge GB

Location: Oulton Park – Round 3

“The best moment on track for me would’ve been when the rain came down at Race 1 at Oulton Park and we were all on slick tyres. I went from 7th to 2nd in three laps which ended up becoming 1st after another driver received a penalty.”

Consistency is key for Joe. He’s yet to finish outside of the top 5, with 5 podiums already, and is in good contention for the championship as three rounds remain.

Garry Pearson & Hannah McKillop – British Rally Championship

Location: Carlisle Stages – Round 2

“Highlight of the year so far has to be the Carlisle Stages podium. That was our first podium for the BRC for the year. We’ve had two wins outside of the championship as well which has been really good for the confidence and we’re looking forward to the next event at the Grampian Rally in August.”

Our academy mentors, Garry and Hannah, have shown strong pace throughout the season and secured a podium early on. Now in their second year in the car, they’re focused on claiming more podiums, with top 3 finishes well in their reach.

Murray Richardson – Mini Challenge Trophy

Location: Brands Hatch – Round 2

“I have to say Brands Hatch Race 2 was my best moment. I made a nice little move around the outside cutting back inside, it was a nice switch back around Druids and it was my first proper overtake of my career.”

Murray, new to racing, jumped straight into the Mini Challenge Trophy in his first year. Everything is new, but he gained experience each round. In only his second race weekend, he was not just finding his feet but was fully involved in the action, performing great overtakes and battling hard in the tight mid-field. His racing journey is just beginning!

Kian Burnard – Junior Karting

“Hi, I’m Kian Burnard, representing the Wera Alliance Academy 2025. This is my mid-season report.”

Best moment on track so far:

“My best moment on track this season has to be representing Wera at the GP Kartmasters. Starting 28th on the grid, with just 4 minutes to go, I took the lead! Definitely my best ever moment!” I also received the Delta Award for making up an incredible 26 positions – the most positions gained in all the categories finals. 

How do you feel the first half of the season has gone?

“The first half of the season has had its highs and lows, but it’s been full of learning to make me a better driver.”

What are your goals for the second half?

“The aim is simple – to keep improving and get better and better every race.”

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt so far?

“Never give up.”

How have you had to adapt from last season to this one?

“Last season I was representing the UK in the FIA Academy Trophy in Europe. This year, I’ve had to adapt to a very competitive Junior Rotax category – and it’s been a big but exciting challenge.”

“It’s been amazing being part of the Wera Alliance Academy – the support has been incredible, and I’m really looking forward to the next part of the season.”

Dominant Weekend for Loughborough College Rallycross Team

The student-led Loughborough College race team, competing in the BTRDA British Rally Cross Championship, enjoyed a hugely successful weekend at Pembrey.

Saturday began with three dominant heat wins, made possible by the impressive preparation of the student crew. Lecturer and driver Alex Fletcher started strong in the final, leading the race until the last lap when contact with another driver dropped him back. Recovering well, he brought the car home in 3rd place to round off an impressive day.

Sunday proved even more successful, with the young team’s preparation paying off once again. Fletcher dominated the final, finishing P1 with a 10-second lead! 

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025

For Academy drivers not racing on the weekend of the 10th July, it was four days of action of a different kind as they joined the Wera Tools UK team at Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

From games to sightseeing (including some spotting their own cars on the stand), there was plenty to take in.

Jenson Mason topped the timing board for the Wheel Change Game, while it seems Garry still has some practice to do!

Towards the Finish Line

The first half of the season has had its ups and downs. Some great highs, alongside mistakes, mechanical problems, and a bit of bad luck. But the drivers have shown their determination, all the hard work is clearly reflected in their results, and they’re far from finished.

We look forward to seeing what the rest of the season holds, with plenty more podiums well within reach.

Keep an eye out on all of our socials, ITV, and YouTube for all the remaining action.

Wera Motorsport Instagram | Alliance Racing Instagram | Alliance Racing Website | 

The post There has been pressure, there have been setbacks, but there have also been 48 podiums – wera alliance racing academy mid season report appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Saturday

Qualifying

I found qualifying a bit of a struggle, as I was unable to find a tow, which, at Thruxton really does matter, being worth around 2 seconds per lap. That being said, I placed myself in P21.

Race One

Race one was the trickiest race I have done yet. With a mixture of conditions; starting on slicks in P21 before an early safety car and the the first signs of rain brought the deliberations of whether to pit for wets or not. Despite the conditions, we decided to stay out on slicks and I was having a good race and managed to work my way up to P16! However, unfortunately I was collected by a spinning car and, while trying to avoid it, ended up off the track a little. Nobody’s fault, just due to the conditions. I made it back to the pits where we discovered there was some damage on the door and it wouldn’t close. This kept me in the pits for longer than was ideal, but we did make it back out to take the chequered flag. A little in vain, however, as I ended up not classified.

Sunday

Race 2

I started race two in P22 and I got a great start, I think my best yet! Huge thanks to everyone for getting me to the airfield to practice! I made it up a place before turn 2 and kept it clean for the whole race, despite a couple of moments of contact and swapping places back and forth. Seeing the ‘last lap’ board I had my last lap move planned! Moving onto the back straight in P17, with two cars close in front, I used the slipstream of the cars ahead to slingshot past P16 and go side by side into the last chicane with P15. However, there was contact on entry, sending me the long way around the chicane, breaking my steering but I managed to cross the line P15 on track!

Race 3

Again in race three I got a good start and made some early moves. Unfortunately, at the last corner I wasn’t left enough space before another driver turned in on me sending himself across the grass. Later in the race there was significant contact, that I couldn’t avoid, due to another driver breaking very late and very hard and this left me with damage to my engine and my car struggling for power. A finish, but not a great experience.

Not the end to the weekend I wanted and with such a long wait now until Donington, I’ll be itching to get back in the car and make everyone proud.

All in all this was a mixed bag of a weekend but the experience has been great and, again, I have learned a lot.

As always, thank you so much to everyone at the Wera Alliance Racing Academy, your support is amazing and much appreciated. Thank you also to all the guys at Alliance Racing & NAPA Racing who helped get us on track, keep us on track and for supporting us all weekend.

It means the world!

Thank you.

Murray

The post Highs & Lows Of Racing – RACE REPORT: MURRAY RICHARDSON appeared first on Alliance Racing.

The Wera Alliance squad delivered their most exciting weekend yet at Thruxton, with a maiden win for Jenson Mason, a podium for Alfie Garford, and a breakout performance from rising talent Murray Richardson. With huge BTCC crowds and live ITV4 coverage, the stage was set — and the team delivered.

Qualifying – A MIXED BAG

Saturday qualifying saw both Alfie and Jenson place outside the top 10. But eyes were on Murray Richardson, entering only his second-ever car race weekend — and already showing signs of serious progress. He closed the gap to the midfield and prepared to go racing, not just to survive, but to compete.

Race 1 – ALFIE AND JENSON STORM THROUGH THE FIELD, MURRAY STEPS UP

With dark clouds looming, race 1 would provide a mix of driving conditions to sort the men from the boys!

Race 1 set the tone. Alfie Garford, starting from P12, wasted no time carving through the pack, executing brave overtakes and showing his trademark cool under pressure. He crossed the line P2 — another superb podium and top rookie result to boost his championship campaign.

But it was Murray Richardson who caught the paddock’s attention. Just one round ago, he was learning the ropes — now, he was racing hard in the pack, making clean, confident passes and beating experienced competitors. His rise is rapid, and his potential is turning heads.

Jenson delivered a remarkable 23^rd to 6^th making mincemeat of the opposition and filling himself with confidence to go into Sundays 2 races.

Race 2 – MASON MAGIC BRINGS FIRST WIN

The moment everyone will remember — Jenson Mason’s maiden Mini Challenge Trophy win. After solid pace all weekend, Jenson delivered the perfect drive. Calm, controlled, and fearless at the front, he soaked up pressure and led to the flag, securing an unforgettable victory. A huge moment for both driver and team.

Murray once again showed real grit, getting stuck into tight midfield battles and crossing the line with another big step forward in both pace and racecraft.

Race 3 – Points All Round, Momentum Maintained

In the final race of the weekend, both Alfie and Jenson secured more solid top 10 finishes — valuable championship points and another chance to show their consistency and competitive edge.

Murray, meanwhile, continued to impress — not just keeping up with the pack, but racing them. He finished ahead of far more experienced drivers, proving he’s no longer just finding his feet — he’s now part of the fight.

Championship Watch

• Alfie Garford remains firmly in the title picture, now 4th in the championship and holding 1st in the Rookie Cup.
• Jenson Mason takes a huge leap with his first win — full of confidence and climbing the table.
• Murray Richardson is the breakthrough story — racing hard, improving fast, and now a serious part of the midfield mix just two rounds into his racing journey.

Pete Osborne, Team Manager:

“That was a mega weekend for the whole team. Jenson getting his first win was a huge moment and Alfie’s P2 shows he’s right in the title hunt. But the standout for me was Murray — only his second-ever weekend in a race car, and he’s already in the pack, overtaking, fighting, and beating some seriously quick drivers. We’re proud of all three – and we’re only just getting started.”

Next Up: Croft – 28-29 June

The Wera Alliance squad heads north for Round 4 at Croft, a technical circuit that always delivers drama. With the team in top form, confidence high, and momentum building, all eyes will be on the blue, black and green MINIs as they go hunting for more silverware.

The post MASON TAKES THE WIN AS WERA ALLIANCE SHINE AT THRUXTON! appeared first on Alliance Racing.

FP1 went well, all things considered. We mainly used FP1 to acclimatise to the new car setup and the resurfacing of the track, which made more of a difference than I expected; making the car more prone to understeer. Despite this we managed to claim P20.

FP2 wasn’t as great. With my confidence high, as I had placed higher than I expected, I was hoping to be around P19, instead I was dead last, but not all was lost, as I still managed to set a new PB of 57.6 I also picked up that my engine has a slight lack of power, though not drastic, was enough to be influential. Before the start of FP3 I spent some time with Cam & Alex, looking at my data and onboards from FP1 & FP2 and, with their help and insight, we believed a 57.4 to be possible.

All in all all three sessions were good and I thoroughly enjoyed being in the car.

Saturday – Qualifying & Race 1

Qualified: 23

Lap Time: 57.408

Race 1: P22>P20

Fastest Lap: 57.308

Qualifying
Qualifying didn’t go quite as well as I had hoped. In my initial 10 minute stint I struggled and was around 7 tenths off P22. After pitting and taking a breather and focusing on polishing up clearways, I took another few tenths off my best time, bringing me into the 57.4s Qualifying ended with me in P23, but only 2 tenths off of P22 and I was into the 57.4s which I was happy about.

Race 1

Preparing for race 1: I watched my footage from Free Practice and drilled each corner into my head to try and maximise my consistency. My first EVER race start went……well, horribly which I blame completely on my lack of experience and this put me about 8 seconds behind the pack into turn 2. Soon after I found my rhythm and put in some good lap times, even managing a 57.3 and consistently hitting the 57.4s. Slowly I noticed the cars ahead were losing their gap, while Ashley Gregory (who started form the pits) was slowly catching me.

Sunday – Race 2 & Race 3

Race 2: P20>P14
Fastest Lap: 57.606
Race 3: P23>P19
Fastest Lap: 57.681

Race 2

Race 2 and the first time I found myself sitting in the car feeling nervous! Maybe because I was starting P20 and had cars behind me. Despite the nerves, once I had lined up on the grid my mind was made up, I was going to get my elbows out! Once the lights went out, I managed to get a decent start, but lost 1 position. The race had a couple of safety cars (great experience) and incidents, yet we kept it clean and battled for position, successfully completing 2 switchbacks in 1 lap to claim P16 on the final corner of the last lap. After the race I was promoted to P14 due to other drivers’ penalties and disqualification.

Race 3

I started P23 (qualifying time from Saturday) and got my best start of the weekend! Unfortunately at turn 2, what would turnout to be a faulty valve on my front left, gave the feeling of a slow puncture and made me lose time to the competition and resulted in a pit stop for a tyre change on lap 2. However, as I was in the pit lane the safety car came out for a separate incident, so I rejoined a lap down and behind the safety car, but was determined to keep racing. Not long after the red flag was shown and we all were held for a while awaiting a decision on the restart. The race was finally restarted and, with luck, put me back on the lead lap. With only a few minutes of racing left, I managed to overtake on the very last corner to reach P19.

All in all this was a great weekend and I can’t believe my first ever race weekend is behind me. So many lessons learned this weekend and I can’t wait to do it all again. As always, thank you so much to everyone at the Wera Alliance Racing Academy, your support is amazing and much appreciated. Thank you also to all the guys at Alliance Racing & NAPA Racing who helped get us on track, keep us on track and for supporting us all weekend. It means the world! Thank you to everyone who sent messages of support over the weekend too, especially to Stu Jones, it meant a lot that you were following along. A special thanks to Pete; you make us feel like anything is possible!

Thank you.

Until the next race, Murray

The post MURRAY’S DIARY – BRANDS HATCH RACE WEEKEND appeared first on Alliance Racing.

The event marked an exciting new chapter for the team as they expanded to a three-car line-up, bringing Murray Richardson into the squad for his first ever car race. Lining up alongside regular drivers Alfie Garford and Jenson Mason, Murray impressed everyone with how quickly he adapted to the pressure of racing in front of thousands of fans. With every lap, Murray grew in confidence, bringing the car home safely in all three races — a fantastic start to his journey in circuit racing, showing great natural ability and racecraft on one of the UK’s most iconic circuits.

Jenson Mason was quick straight out of the blocks, showing fantastic pace from Friday testing, and carried that speed into qualifying with an excellent P4 on the grid. He backed it up with two hard-fought top-10 finishes, keeping himself right in the championship mix. The highlight of his weekend came when he set the fastest lap of the entire event and collecting the ‘SUNOCO driver of the day’ in the process, proving just how much outright speed is in the Wera Alliance package — making it back-to-back fastest laps for the team after Alfie achieved the same in Round 1.

It was Alfie Garford who once again delivered the team’s biggest result of the weekend. After a solid start, Alfie stepped it up in Race 2, fighting his way to a brilliant 2nd place finish, securing another podium and claiming Top Rookie in that race. It was a statement drive in front of packed grandstands, reinforcing his status as one of the rising stars of the championship and adding another trophy to his growing collection.

Speaking after the weekend, Team Manager Pete Osborne commented:

_“That was our strongest weekend yet as a team. It’s a big step to expand to three cars, but everyone stepped up and delivered. Murray impressed us all with how well he handled his debut, Jenson showed fantastic speed and deserved that fastest lap, and Alfie once again proved he’s right up there with the best in the championship with his podium and top rookie award. We’re really proud of the whole team and excited for what’s to come.”

With another trophy in the cabinet, another fastest lap on the board, and all 3 drivers showing fantastic progress, Wera Alliance leave Brands Hatch with their heads held high and momentum firmly on their side.

Next up – Thruxton!

The team now turns their focus to the fastest circuit in the UK as they prepare to take on round 3 at Thruxton on 7-8 June. Known for its high speeds and close racing, its set to be another spectacular weekend as the championship continues to heat up.

Stay tuned as the Wera Alliance team go again – pushing for more podiums, more points, and more success.

The post Wera Alliance Mini Challenge Trophy – Brands Hatch, RACE REPORT appeared first on Alliance Racing.

My first Media Day and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I really experienced a lot, including: mechanical issues, tracking shots, a different driver coach, being towed, practice start (with lights!) and being on two wheels!!!

Firstly, Stu wasn’t available for today, so I had a different driver coach, Coach Marc. Marc was great and obviously very good at what he does. His driving style, however, was very different to my style and the style I have been developing with Stu, but I was still learning a lot and progressing throughout the day.

Mechanical issues: For the first time I experienced misalignment. Early in the day I thought the car felt “weird”, but I couldn’t put my finger on it, I just knew something felt “off”. As the morning sessions progressed the issue revealed itself when the car failed to go into gear while on track. I pulled over, off the track and waited to be towed back (another first) to the pit lane. We examined the issue and, thanks to the amazing team, we were able to get back on track. Immediately I could feel the difference in the car, it felt so much better and I was able to improve on my lap time, consistently hitting times in the 2:22s Another practice start at Snetterton, this time with lights (yup, another first!). This start was much more successful with no stalling. However, I still need to work on these.

Finally, a mistake in my last run of the day involving over-rotation in the second to last corner ended with me hitting the sausage curb into the last corner, sending me up onto two wheels and close to flipping. Fortunately all was good and the car returned to its designed four wheels.

All in all, another really positive day out where I learned a lot and all of the experiences will be crucial in my development as a racing driver.

Murray

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