Andy Burgess, at the wheel of the #57 East Surrey College Peugeot 107, took pole position for Round Eight of the 2022 Student Motorsport Challenge, an inter-series within the BRSCC Nankang Tyres City Car Cup Championship, with a 2:38.355, just under half a second ahead of Challenge newcomer Ben Creanor in the #77 OBU Student Challenge entry.
Missing from the qualifying grid was the #65 MET Motorsport Peugeot 107, currently leading the standings and driven by Richard Jepp. The #65 car failed scrutineering due to an issue with the roll-cage. The #65 car will be missing for the first race pf the weekend but the team intend to be back out on track for rounds nine and ten on Sunday.
Third quickest on the six-car Challenge grid was the #23 Coleg Gwent Blaenau Peugeot with Dan Lockett behind the wheel. Lockett lapped in 2:42.415.
George Jones, behind the wheel of the #9 Coleg Gwent Newport Citroen was fourth quickest in class with a 2:44.377 with Leon Wilde in the #26 West Suffolk College Toyota fifth in class, lapping in 2:45.504.
Newcomer to the Student Motorsport Challenge and making his racecar debut in Norfolk, Alex Walker rounded out the six-car class grid with a 2:46.439.
Class pole sitter Andy Burgess was pleased to be quickest but believes there is still more pace to be found.
“We had a bit of a misfire which is why I came in on the last lap,” said pole sitter Andy Burgess. “We also had a bit of understeer so we have some issues to address.”
Ben Creanor, second on the class grid and with racing experience behind him, was delighted at how his first competitive track session in the SMo Challenge had gone.
“Yes, I’m pleased with that after just six laps in the car,” said Ben Creanor. “We’ve learned very quickly but these guys have given us a great car and we can work well together so yes, we are really pleased with that and we know where the time is to close the gap to the guys in front. We can physically see where it is (on the video and data) so we’re really happy going into this race.”
The lights go out for the 15-minute Race One, Round Eight, at 12:05.
