Abarth: Winrow wins twice at Snetterton

Ben Winrow won both Trofeo Abarth 500 GB races at Snetterton at the weekend to take the championship lead.

The 2008 Renault Clio Cup UK champion guided his Team Pyro-run car to a double-victory by avoiding a clutch of race 1 penalties and then race 2 contact with title rival Stefan Hodgetts.

Hodgetts started the opening encounter on pole position, but was one of several drivers to be handed a drivethrough penalty as the Norfolk circuit’s stewards took a strict line on driving standards.

That handed an easy win to Winrow, while Hodgetts recovered to finish second ahead of the ever-improving Josh Wakefield, who also survived a penalty to claim his first podium finish of the season.

In race 2, Winrow and Hodgetts arrived at the first corner together and the resulting contact put Hodgetts out and left Winrow clear to win again.

The incident caught out several of the front runners, handing Cassey Watson and Matt Shead the chance to shine. Watson grabbed her opportunity to take a fine second place for Lunar Racing, but Shead was less fortunate.

The CMS driver, who had scored a solid sixth-place finish in race 1, was caught and passed by Wakefield midway through the race and then went off in the closing stages to post a frustrating DNF.

“Unfortunately there was a touch at the first turn, but we were on pole and had the inside position,” said Winrow. “It’s unfortunate but that’s racing. Stefan is a great driver and there are some good drivers in the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB really getting on the pace.”

Winrow now leads the championship table from Charlie Butler-Henderson, who posted fifth and fourth place finishes, with Wakefield up to third.

Watch Trofeo Abarth 500 GB highlights from Snetterton on Saturday 10 July at 7:05pm (BST) on Motors TV.


Andy Wilkinson

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