Brands Hatch Indy - Event Report

Trackday Trophy took to the circuit for one final time in 2025 on Saturday 15 November, with a capacity grid raring to take on the iconic Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

After a highly entertaining race, Unique Racing’s Charlie Palk recorded a hard-earned Class B victory, while Tommy Valentine (Burton Power Racing) and Alister Esam (BC Cars Motorsport) claimed the final Class C and D wins of the year.

The morning’s qualifying session was undertaken behind the safety car due to the fog at the Kent circuit, with the grid thereby determined by ballot.

Valentine would start the race from pole position, with Trackday Academy’s Jamie Mchugh second. Andy Burton was the highest Class D starter, beginning the race from sixth on the grid.

Race

Mchugh enjoyed a tremendous start to steal the lead through the opening couple of corners, with Valentine immediately tucking in behind. There was plenty of jostling between the 34-strong grid, including Valentine managing to retake the lead from Mchugh.

Burton was up to third, while both Roberts/Thompson (Motion Motorsport) and Coombs/Coombs (Miller Motorsport) had enjoyed tremendous opening laps to run well within the top ten. Palk was likewise starting to pick his way through the field, while trying to keep rivals like Michael Rawlings (Paddock Performance Racing) at bay.

Following a brief safety car period, Roberts/Thompson were right on the leaders case and immediately got to work seizing the lead from Valentine – though the #155 Fiesta driver was still leading Class C. Coombs/Coombs paved the way in Class D as the race headed closer to the mandatory pit window.

By the time the pit window did open, Palk and Rawlings had stormed their way into second and third. There was action aplenty throughout the grid, putting on a spectacle for all those watching on. As it always does, pit stop strategy would play its part with teams looking to utilise well-timed stops to get the jump on rivals.

Esam displayed a strong turn of pace to find his way to the front of the Class D field, while Valentine had resumed the Class C lead. With ten minutes left on the clock, it was clear a gripping battle for the race win was going to unfold. Palk had managed to secure the race lead, but with Roberts/Thompson and Rawlings in hot pursuit.

Hart’s Racing father and son duo of Phil and James Hart were pushing up the Class C order, as was Steven Kelly (Misty Racing) in Class D.

Out front, the gap continued to decrease. Thompson/Roberts were reeling in Palk, but also having to do everything to defend against Rawlings behind. With just over five minutes left, Rawlings made his move stick down the Brabham Straight to take second-place and now sit less than one second behind Palk.

Despite the constant pressure from Rawlings, Palk wouldn’t relinquish his lead to take the checkered flag first and secure the final Trackday Trophy Class B victory of 2025. It had been an exhilarating battle, with the gap to Rawlings eventually just 1.100s. Roberts/Thomspon weren’t far behind either, rounding out the Class B podium.

Valentine’s assured performance in Class C resulted in a great victory for the Burton Power Racing driver, with Hart/Hart’s consistent push through the order resulting in second-in-class. PRO-AM Racing’s Johansson/Dann completed the C podium, after gaining an impressive nine positions from where they started.

Esam didn’t look back after securing the Class D lead to make sure it was the BC Cars Motorsport driver who took the final top step of the year, ahead of his teammate Wells and fellow MX-5 driver Kelly.

Congratulations to all!

Photo: Gary Hawkins Photography