JHR Development’s Tom Gamble closed the gap to team-mate Sebastian Priaulx to just three points after a difficult Knockhill round for the Ginetta Junior championship leader.
Priaulx finished outside the top five in both races whilst Gamble took a fourth and third place finish. Title rivals Kieren Jewiss and Dan Harper also enjoyed strong weekends to keep the pressure on the JHR Developments duo heading into the final three rounds of the championship.
Elite Motorsport’s Harry King took his first win of the season in the opening race.
Harper and Jewiss locked out the front row. Jewiss got the better start to snatch the lead from Harper, only to run wide and hand the position back to his team-mate. King, Gamble, and Priaulx stayed close behind, making it a five way fight for the race lead.
After an early mistake, King broke free from the rest of the pack to take the lead. He eventually finished nearly three seconds ahead of Jewiss in second.
Jewiss managed to pull away from Harper and Priaulx, who were fighting for the final step on the podium. Priaulx took the chequered flag third, but exploited the track limits in the battle and he was handed a five second penalty, dropping him down to seventh.
Harper took third, ahead of Gamble and rookie Adam Smalley.
Jewiss started on pole alongside Priaulx for race two. The pair immediately pulled away from the battle for third. Priaulx stayed on Jewiss’ tail, but couldn’t find a way past before the safety car was brought out as Finley Green retired from the race.
At this point, King was running third ahead of Harper and Gamble.
After the restart, mistakes from King and Priaulx dropped them down the order, promoting Harper up to second. Harper kept the pressure on team-mate Jewiss, briefly snatching the lead in the closing stages of the race. Having taken seven second place finishes, Jewiss was determined to take a breakthrough victory and passed Harper on the final lap.
Harper followed Jewiss across the line, with Gamble completing the podium.
Jordan Collard took his best finish of the season with a fourth, ahead of Tom Wood and Priaulx.
Image credit: Caroline Rhea
