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Jamie Sharp wins Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch on event's 50th anniversary

Jamie Sharp emerged as the surprise victor of the 50th Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch on Sunday, climbing from sixth on the grid to take the coveted crown in a dramatic final.

The 20-year-old, who had only won one race at national level in the category before the event, ensured his B-M Racing team secured back-to-back victories having guided Rory Smith to the title last October.

A qualified HGV Class 1 driver on the road, Jamie Sharp, 20, won the closely fought final in his Medina Sport JL17. Picture: Simon Hildrew
A qualified HGV Class 1 driver on the road, Jamie Sharp, 20, won the closely fought final in his Medina Sport JL17. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Former British F4 racer Sharp initially inherited the lead of the 20-lap final when two-time event winner Joey Foster made an uncharacteristic mistake at Clearways at half distance, dropping his Firman into the gravel.

Earlier, the duo's chances had been boosted when second-place runner Oliver White collided with Irishman Niall Murray on the approach to Druids on lap four, with Murray's Van Diemen spearing into 16-year-old Tom Mills.

All three were out on the spot, with Foster leading from Sharp and Kevin Mills Racing driver Neil Maclennan as the safety car was called.

But when Cornishman Foster was caught out on a damp patch at Clearways, his bid for a third Festival crown was over and Sharp was the new leader.

Spectrum driver Maclennan grabbed top-spot at Druids three laps later, but the manoeuvre was completed under a yellow flag as former World Rally Championship driver Robert Barrable and British GT star Matt Cowley had crashed up Hailwood's Hill.

Niall Murray's event ended at Druids, with his Team Dolan-run Van Diemen suffering heavy damage. Picture: Joe Wright
Niall Murray's event ended at Druids, with his Team Dolan-run Van Diemen suffering heavy damage. Picture: Joe Wright
Dane Jan Magnussen, the 1992 Festival winner and former Grand Prix driver, finished 11th in the Festival final. He's seen here in the very wet first semi-final aboard his Low Dempsey Racing-run Ray. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Dane Jan Magnussen, the 1992 Festival winner and former Grand Prix driver, finished 11th in the Festival final. He's seen here in the very wet first semi-final aboard his Low Dempsey Racing-run Ray. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Former BTCC racer Chris Goodwin, from Sevenoaks, finished third and claimed fastest lap in class in the Historic Formula Ford Final in his original 1989 Van Diemen RF89. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Former BTCC racer Chris Goodwin, from Sevenoaks, finished third and claimed fastest lap in class in the Historic Formula Ford Final in his original 1989 Van Diemen RF89. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Goodwin turns into Druids on Sunday. He has recently bought back the Van Diemen, with which he won the 1989 Champion of Brands series. He narrowly missed a top-six place and getting into this year's Festival final after finishing seventh in the Last Chance Race. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Goodwin turns into Druids on Sunday. He has recently bought back the Van Diemen, with which he won the 1989 Champion of Brands series. He narrowly missed a top-six place and getting into this year's Festival final after finishing seventh in the Last Chance Race. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Max Esterson climbed through the field in the final, and was joined on the podium by team-mate Andre Castro
Max Esterson climbed through the field in the final, and was joined on the podium by team-mate Andre Castro

The Scotsman didn't give the place back, and was later excluded from the results for the overtake, but Sharp won the race on the road regardless after passing Maclennan at Surtees with just three laps to go.

"I still can’t believe we did it and after a difficult weekend making a few costly mistakes in the build-up races, it was the last thing I expected lining up sixth for the final," Sharp, from Rochdale, said.

"Well done to everyone who raced, it was a serious grid and great racing all weekend.

"It's an honour to now be on the same list as the amazing people who have previously won the Formula Ford Festival."

From 13th on the grid, Team USA Scholarship star Max Esterson took an impressive second-place finish, with team-mate Andre Castro third and Foster eventually classified seventh.

Double champion Joey Foster, pictured here in the assembly area before the main race of the day, started the final from pole but made a rare mistake at Clearways
Double champion Joey Foster, pictured here in the assembly area before the main race of the day, started the final from pole but made a rare mistake at Clearways
Roberto Moreno, the 1980 Festival winner and former Grand Prix driver, didn't make the semi-final after being involved in incidents during his heat race and progression race. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Roberto Moreno, the 1980 Festival winner and former Grand Prix driver, didn't make the semi-final after being involved in incidents during his heat race and progression race. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Neil Maclennan's best result at the Festival came in 2017 when he finished third behind Foster and Keith Donegan
Neil Maclennan's best result at the Festival came in 2017 when he finished third behind Foster and Keith Donegan
Sharp scored his first Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship victory at Anglesey earlier this year; he's pictured leading a train of cars through Graham Hill Bend during Sunday's final. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Sharp scored his first Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship victory at Anglesey earlier this year; he's pictured leading a train of cars through Graham Hill Bend during Sunday's final. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Low Dempsey Racing's Dennis Lind, the 2010 Festival winner, finished ninth on his return to Formula Ford 1600
Low Dempsey Racing's Dennis Lind, the 2010 Festival winner, finished ninth on his return to Formula Ford 1600
Rob Fenn, from West Kingsdown, was a clear winner in the second AMOC Intermarque Championship race in his Lotus Motorsport Elise GT. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Rob Fenn, from West Kingsdown, was a clear winner in the second AMOC Intermarque Championship race in his Lotus Motorsport Elise GT. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Newly crowned British GT champion Dennis Lind was ninth, with his uncle and former Formula 1 driver Jan Magnussen 11th – almost three decades since his Festival victory in 1992.

Circuit owner and ex-F1 racer Jonathan Palmer was joined at the post-race celebrations by Scott Dixon, the six-time IndyCar champion, and Bruno Giacomelli, who took part in 82 Grands Prix.

The 1999 F1 runner-up Eddie Irvine also attended the event, which was hit by heavy rain on Sunday morning and attracted a huge 98-car entry list.

For an archive feature on the history of Brands Hatch, click here

Read more: All the latest sport news from Kent

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