Boardley leaps into TCR UK points lead with two wins at Knockhill
Carl Boardley has certified himself as a championship contender after catapulting into the lead of the TCR UK standings after a strong weekend at Knockhill, winning two races, and technically crossing the line first in all three in his CBM with Hart GT CUPRA Leon Competición.
Boardley secured two pole positions in Qualifying by setting the quickest and best of the second quickest times in the weekend which ran to a three-race format.
Race 1 - Boardley led from the lights to the flag ahead of Jac Constable and Joe Marshall in a race where the main story was track limits, with five cars handed time penalties for infringements. This included Marshall, who crossed the line third but was demoted to seventh, promoting Adam Shepherd to the last spot of the podium. Bruce Winfield, who went into the weekend as the points leader, was able to recover ground and made his way from ninth at the start to finish fourth, scoring critical points in his title challenge.
Race 2 - With the top ten of Qualifying reversed, Matthew Wilson’s CUPRA Leon was on pole position ahead of reigning champion Chris Smiley’s Restart Racing Honda Civic FL5. Smiley passed Wilson at Duffus Dip and was quickly building a lead before he suffered broken suspension on lap two and retired. Wilson now was back in the lead, but was under threat from Alex Ley and Jenson Brickley, who had made their way past Callum Newsham in the early stages. Ley and Brickley both passed Wilson at Taylor’s Hairpin on lap 7 and were soon joined by a charging Boardley. Brickley then knocked Ley wide at the hairpin on lap 26, with Boardley following him through. Boardley then made a move on the final lap at the same corner to cross the line ahead at the chequered flag, before he was handed a five-second penalty for track limits which dropped him to fourth. The Stewards also handed Brickley a one-second penalty, handing the victory to Ley.
Race 3 - The final was a more processional affair, with Boardley breaking away from pole to take a commanding victory ahead of Brickley, while Marshall this time was able to keep his podium after finishing third in his Rob Boston Racing Audi ahead of teammate Constable, who had moved up to fourth after passing Shepherd on lap 14.
Smiley’s title defence looks effectively over after his second retirement of the day, struggling with a handling issue in his Honda.
Carl Boardley now leads the championship on 273 points, 36 clear of Winfield, with Brickley third on 216.
The next event takes place at the Silverstone National circuit on August 19/20.
Knockhill – Race 1
1. Carl Boardley (CBM with Hart GT, CUPRA Leon Competición), 29 laps
2. Jac Constable (Rob Boston Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS II), 10.819
3. Adam Shepherd (Area Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 12.567
Knockhill – Race 2
1. Alex Ley (Area Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 28 laps
2. Jenson Brickley (J. Brickley Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 0.320
3. Adam Shepherd (Area Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 1.199
Knockhill – Race 3
1. Carl Boardley (CBM with Hart GT, CUPRA Leon Competición), 29 laps
2. Jenson Brickley (J. Brickley Racing, CUPRA Leon Competición), 3.236
3. Joe Marshall (Rob Boston Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS II), 4.072
Championship points
1. C. Boardley, 273 pts; 2. B. Winfield, 237; 3. J. Brickley, 216
Picture: Phil Laughton
