Callum Newsham takes hard fought second TCR UK win of the year at Croft
Callum Newsham fought back from a slow start to take his second TCR UK victory of the season in wet conditions at Croft.
The JH Racing Hyundai driver lost out to Brad Hutchison off the line but made a strong comeback to catch and pass his Cupra rival in the closing stages.
Hutchison then survived a late challenge from defending series champion Carl Boardly to claim second at the flag.
In contrast to the morning’s qualifying, conditions were far from ideal as heavy rain hit the Croft circuit before the start. From pole position, Newsham bogged down and was immediately swamped by both Cupras of Brad Hutchison and Carl Boardley on the run towards Clervaux for the first time.
Newsham fought back and grabbed the inside line at the chicane to reclaim second place but Boardley prevailed in a lively side by side battle into the Jim Clark Esses to snatch the position by the end of the opening lap, which Hutchison led by over two second.
Hutchison, keen to take full advantage of Adam Shepherd’s absence in the opening race – the points leader had an issue with his Hyundai which forced him out of Saturday’s action, but hopes to compete on Sunday – quickly made hay as Newsham fought back ahead of Boardley to take second.
From there, it was a case of Newsham trying to bridge the gap to Hutchison in the remaining minutes, which he duly did after a series of blisteringly quick laps. Entering the final 10 minutes of the race, Newsham had caught Hutchison but could not quite find an overtaking opportunity.
That was, until Hutchison ran slightly too deep at Sunny In, which allowed Newsham to run up alongside the Cupra and minimal contact made. Newsham then had the inside line for Sunny Out, and made the move stick before immediately pulling clear.
Newsham made quick his escaped and, in the final five minutes, managed to extend his margin to over four seconds at the flag from Hutchison, who had to fend off a strong comeback from Boardley.
Behind Boardley and off the podium came Darron Lewsi, who brought his JH Racing Hyundai home comfortably ahead of Steve Laidlaw’s Area Motorsport Cupra.
Rick Kerry was the best of the Gen-1 runners in sixth, ahead of Sam Laidlaw and Mark Smith, while Bradley Thurston was ninth ahead of Stewart Lines who completed the top 10.
Will Beech was classified as 11th, but an early pit-stop at the end of the opening lap meant he was six laps down on winner Newsham.
Race two at Croft is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 12:10 BST, while race three will begin at 17:30 BST.
