Meridian Racing capped off a fantastic weekend with a double Scholarship Class podium for drivers Connor Mills and Ashley Sutton in Round 3 of the 2014 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain at Kent’s globally renowned Brands Hatch circuit (Sunday 30 March).
Heading into the final race of the weekend off the back of two DNFs for Upminster’s Mills and two successive Scholarship trophies for Ashley Sutton, the team was determined to get both drivers lifting silverware come the chequered flag.
The lights went out for the third and final time at Brands Hatch and all 15 cars made it through the dip at Paddock Hill Bend and up to Druids successfully.
Sutton shot off the grid, making up several places, and looked to threaten the top five. The 20-year old, who had a big accident in qualifying that damaged his car’s front end and his elbow, made up three places before the end of the opening lap and was setting times faster than that of race leaders Harrison Scott and Jayde Kruger.
Teammate Mills, who had his fair share of bad luck over the weekend, was determined not to let anything or anyone get in his way as he bid for a step on the Scholarship podium.
The 17-year old became embroiled in a fraught battle with Richardson Racing’s Ben Constanduros for tenth position early on.
The duel raged on for several laps before Mills took the plunge and claimed tenth position to put himself within contention for the Scholarship podium that had been staring him in the face all weekend.
Mills continued to improve as he found his feet and passed teammate Sutton to promote himself up to ninth overall and third in the Scholarship class.
A collision between Ricky Collard – son of Dunlop MSA British Touring Car star, Rob Collard – and Max Marshall gifted Mills second and Sutton third in the Scholarship Class.
As the laps tumbled and the chequered flag waved, Meridian Racing’s Mills and Sutton crossed the line ninth and tenth overall to claim second and third on the Scholarship podium, adding to the team’s rapidly expanding trophy cabinet.
“It couldn’t have gone any better today,” said a speechless Mills. “I am overwhelmed and really wanted to finish this race after yesterday’s mechanical issues and claim a Scholarship podium. To come home on the second step of the podium in the Scholarship is brilliant and I can’t thank the team enough for all the hard work they have put in this weekend and for it all to pay off with some solid results is the best way I can repay them.”
A delighted Sutton had a lot of positives to take away from this weekend and will be looking to build on an already stable platform.
Sutton said: “We had a good start again and I was able to go from ninth to sixth position, which was fantastic. Unfortunately, I dropped back to seventh the following lap and then for the rest of the race I held my ground, but I have been struggling a little with car setup and was slowly picked off. However, we have been on the podium in all three rounds this weekend despite my accident in qualifying so that’s a huge positive.
“From here, we plan to move forwards by doing a few more test days to perfect the car setup so that I’m happy with it and feel comfortable. A Scholarship victory is the main aim, but I’d love to get onto the podium in the overall race results at the next race meeting.”
Meridian Racing Team Principal, Paul Abercrombie, said: “It has been a very good weekend. I keep saying this, but we went into this weekend wanting Scholarship podiums and for both drivers to achieve that today, as well as two yesterday is fantastic! Our drivers have been faultless and are certainly showing the skill and pace needed to fight for both the Scholarship and overall titles.
“I’m really, really pleased with how this weekend has gone and it’s an excellent starting point for the rest of the season.”
The series will resume in three weeks’ time (19-20 April) at Derby’s iconic Donington Park circuit. The Meridian Racing team will be hoping to carry on the success achieved here at Brands Hatch.
For more information on Meridian Racing, please visit the officialwww.meridianmotorsport.com website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow@MeridianMSport on Twitter and Instagram.