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Sport

Tom Ovenden targets 2022 Mini Challenge Trophy title after maiden victory at Silverstone

By: Dan Wright dwright@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 30 September 2021

Updated: 08:54, 30 September 2021

Tom Ovenden is targeting next year's Mini Challenge Trophy title after claiming a dramatic maiden victory at Silverstone on Sunday.

The Adisham ace, 17, snatched the win by just 0.010sec in the final race of the season, beating Nelson King and Louie Capozzoli to the line.

Tom Ovenden celebrating his first Mini Challenge Trophy win at Silverstone on Sunday

The former Canterbury Academy pupil, son of British Rallycross star Tristan, has now set his sights on the 2022 crown in what will be only his second season of circuit racing.

"I believe I can fight for the title next year after gaining a lot of confidence in the last two rounds, and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in," Ovenden said.

"I always believed we had the pace at the weekend to go for the race win but I knew it would be incredibly difficult from where we started and I can’t believe we did it.

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"I’m delighted to finish sixth in the standings in my first season and to end the campaign on the biggest high of the year is amazing."

Ovenden, who won two titles in Junior Rallycross last year, had started the reversed-grid race in eighth and claimed the fastest lap during his charge through the field.

Ovenden, pictured here at Thruxton, finished sixth in the Mini Challenge Trophy this year and will return in 2022

He had earlier taken two third-place finishes in his EXCELR8 Motorsport-run Mini having shown great speed throughout the weekend.

"I was just trying to hold third on the last lap of the final race and somehow found myself racing to the line for the win due to an insane last two corners," Ovenden added.

"I was 99% sure I had the win when we crossed the line and what a way to end the year.

“I’ve had two good weekends to end the season when my dad is racing himself and not watching, so maybe he should stay away a bit more!”

Tristan was competing at Knockhill in Scotland in rounds four and five of the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy.

Will Ovenden enjoyed strong results at Knockhill at the weekend; he will race on his home circuit at Lydden Hill next month

The Citroen DS3 driver finished third in the Supercar class on Saturday before dropping to fifth in round five on Sunday.

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Tom's younger brother, Will, enjoyed success in the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross category, taking a second-place finish on both days.

The next round of the British Rallycross Championship will be held at Lydden Hill on November 6-7, featuring night racing and a fireworks display. For details, click here

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