The curtain came down on an incredible 2025 Mini Challenge Trophy season at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit, as the Wera Alliance Mini Race Team returned with its familiar trio — Alfie Garford (#88), Murray Richardson (#8), and Jenson Mason (#185). The season finale, held alongside the legendary Truck Racing and Fireworks Spectacular, drew a sell-out crowd to cap off another thrilling year of MINI action.
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 11th, 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.
