The Power Maxed MINI Challenge series arrived in Kent’s beautiful Brands Hatch GP circuit, with the 2.43-miles track serving as the perfect ending to the 2026 season.
The weekend saw the final three twenty-minute races of the series, with Napa Racing UK duo Joe Tanner and Cameron Richardson intent on enjoying the season’s finale.
Race One (Round 18)
Saturday’s opening race was eventually won by EXCLER8 Driver Development Programme driver Nathan Edwards. Joe Tanner brought his Napa Racing UK JCW MINI home in ninth place, with Cameron Richardson finishing further back.
However Tanner was victorious in the Directors’ Cup race, but Will Crooks (EXCLER8 Motorsport) remained at the top of the JCW Directors Cup table with a sizeable lead.
Race Two (Round 19)
The penultimate Power Maxed MINI Challenge series race saw Tanner start well to take the lead going into the Druids hairpin on a cold, but sunny Sunday morning.
Championship protagonist Tom Ovenden (EXCLER8 Driver Development Programme) got by Tanner on the inside at Dingle Dell, before Pro Alloys Racing driver Max Edmundson followed the EXCLER8 MINI through to drop Tanner down to third.
He (Tanner) then had a good battle with Josh Porter (EXCLER8 Driver Development Programme) following a Safety Car restart, but the Napa Racing UK MINI ran wide at Graham Hill Bend to drop behind Sam Gornall (Pro Alloys Racing) in fourth place.
Fifth eventually became seventh, after Harry Campey (EXCLER8 Motorsport) and Archie Johnson (Jamsport Racing UK) got by before the chequered flag.
Meanwhile, Cameron Richardson drove a solid race to see the chequered flag inside the top ten.
Race Three (Round 20)
The final 20-minute race of the season was a rather processional affair for large portions, with both Napa Racing UK MINIs eventually finishing outside the top ten.
Joe Tanner started the race in 15th place on the grid, with teammate Cameron Richardson behind in sixteenth. Both were promoted a place after Alex Brandham (OX4Racing) pulled out with a problem on the formation lap.
By the end of the opening lap, Tanner found himself in 13th with Richardson right behind. They would remain that way until Richardson got by on the ninth lap. The duo then overtook EXCLER8 Motorsport driver Will Crooks on the next lap, before Ned Anthony (Pro Alloys Racing) got by Tanner on the penultimate lap.
As the final lap of the season reached the chequered flag, Cameron Richardson finished 11th and Joe Tanner two places back in thirteenth place.
The final JCW Drivers Championship table sees Tanner finish in tenth place with 480 points, while Richardson finished with 466 points in 11th. Tanner remained second in the JCW Directors Cup table with 768 points, while Napa Racing UK finished in fifth place of the JCW Teams Championship with 946 points.
By Chris Palmer
