It was a learning-oriented weekend for the Wera Alliance Racing Academy quartet as they participated in round three of the Mini Challenge Trophy at Pembrey.

Liona Theobald achieved a best result of 12th, while gaining valuable experience by lining up on reverse grid pole position for race two. Although a technical issue prevented her from reaching her potential during Sunday’s races, it was nonetheless a sign of her progress to earn a front row start.

Beanie Reece enjoyed a strong weekend as she spent the majority of race two racing inside the top-10. Completing the weekend with a highest finish of 13th, Beanie Reece finished all three races inside the top-15.

Both Lexie Powell and Ellena Reece experienced a more challenging event, however Powell displayed strong pace in race three while securing one top-15 finish, while Ellena Reece gained valuable knowledge with three lead lap finishes, including a best result of 17th.

The second round of the Mini Challenge Trophy brought further encouragement for the Wera Alliance Racing Academy quartet. Theobald maintained her excellent start to the season as the most experienced driver within the team climbed to 12th in the overall standings. Powell’s consistency saw her arrive at Pembrey on the fringes of the top-15 with the teenager racer looking to use her experience of the circuit to good effect.

Sisters Beanie and Ellena Reece encountered a more challenging second round of the season, however the rookie drivers were looking to bounce back as they tackled a new circuit which was sure to provide close racing and good overtaking opportunities.

With Pembrey a circuit unfamiliar to many, it was a significant learning curve for the Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers. In 2024, Powell competed at the Welsh track in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as she secured a best finish of 19th. However, for Theobald and the Reece sisters, it was set to be their competitive debut at the track with the Mini Challenge Trophy last visiting Pembrey in 2024.

To begin the weekend, the drivers participated in a number of short test sessions on Friday which were held in mixed conditions. Dry weather returned for Saturday’s qualifying session which provided good encouragement for the quartet.

Theobald secured a top-15 starting position with her fastest lap of a 1:09.095 placing her in 15th spot, less than a quarter of a second ahead of Beanie Reece. Despite limited running following technical issues on Friday, Beanie Reece bounced back to qualify in 17th position. Her sister Ellena Reece set the 18th fastest time with a 1:09.476, while Powell completed the lineup for Wera Alliance Academy Racing in 21st position.

Race one of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon and the grid positions were based upon the second fastest times set in qualifying. Therefore, Theobald lined up from 14th on the grid with Beanie Reece directly behind in 15th. Powell’s consistent qualifying session saw her start from 18th position with Ellena Reece lining up from 21st on the grid.

As the lights went out, it was an action-packed opening lap with Theobald maintaining 14th position while Beanie Reece climbed to 15th. Powell also gained one position to 18th, while Ellena Reece had a spin and dropped to 21st. Although there was minimal damage to her car, Ellena Reece was detached from the pack and she was now looking for a safety car in order to gain back time.

Powell’s strong start continued on lap two as she passed Finley Groom for 17th position while she began to catch both Theobald and Beanie Reece. After a quiet third lap, Theobald, Beanie Reece and Powell all moved up a spot on lap four after Isaac Doble left the road at the hairpin. After contact between Doble and Leo Richardson, the Irish racer slowed and by lap six, Theobald was up to 12th with Beanie Reece in 13th position.

The following lap saw Powell move inside the top-15 as she overtook Richardson, while Beanie Reece fell to 14th behind Blair Dryburgh. Misfortune then struck for Powell who spun at the hairpin, before coming to a halt on the following lap with a technical issue. It was an unfortunate end to a strong hard-charging drive from Powell.

On lap nine, Theobald gained a further position as she overtook Louis Fleet for 11th as she targeted her first top-10 finish. With Groom retiring on lap 10, Ellena Reece was now up to 19th position while also catching Doble who was struggling for pace following his early incident.

After a close battle on the final lap, Theobald lost out to Fleet as she took the chequered flag in 12th position which secured her reverse grid pole position for race two on Sunday morning. Despite extremely limited running in Friday’s free practice sessions, Beanie Reece raced superbly to cross the line in 14th position. Despite Doble just holding on by less than a second, Ellena Reece finished race one in 18th position, later promoted to 17th following a penalty awarded to Doble for his incident with Richardson.

The second race at Pembrey took place early on Sunday morning and with the top-12 finishers from Saturday’s contest reversed, Theobald lined up from pole position. Beanie Reece started from 14th position with Ellena Reece in 17th spot and Lexie Powell beginning race two from 19th.

As the lights went out, Theobald got an excellent initial launch before losing the lead at turn one. Theobald was then shuffled back through the field after encountering a technical issue and contact between Louis Fleet and Joshua Wilby saw a number of cars scatter in avoidance. At the end of the first lap, Theobald was down to ninth with Beanie Reece up to 11th. Both Lexie Powell and Ellena Reece also enjoyed good starts as they moved up to 15th and 17th positions respectively.

On lap two, Beanie Reece moved inside the top-10 for the first time at the expense of Theobald whose challenging start to the contest continued as she fell to 13th. The red flag was then displayed after the car of Jorrell Julius came to a halt on the circuit and his Excelr8 Motorsport machine required recovery.

With two laps of the race having been completed, the restart lineup was based upon the running order as opposed to the original grid positions. The race resumed behind the safety car with the revised duration of ten minutes owing to the delays from the stoppage.

It was a clean restart throughout the field with Beanie Reece in 11th position, Theobald in 13th, Lexie Powell in 14th and Ellena Reece in 19th position. On the second lap of the restarted race, Theobald was shuffled back to 16th position behind a recovering Wilby and Ashley Gregory, while Giovanni Santora then moved ahead on lap four.

Beanie Reece was enjoying her strongest showing to date as she ran lap times on par with those inside the top-5. After applying sustained pressure to Blair Dryburgh, Beanie Reece made a superb move on lap seven to move back inside the top-10. The slipstream effect prevented her from escaping this battle with Wilby also looking to gain ground, while Gregory started to close in.

On lap nine, Beanie Reece was shuffled behind this group as she encountered a small issue in the closing stages. Nonetheless, it was a strong drive for Beanie Reece who took the chequered flag in 13th position. After a good battle with Isaac Doble, Powell secured a 15th place result to bounce back from her challenging opening race on Saturday.

It was a tough race for Theobald who finished in 18th position after managing a technical issue throughout, however she banked valuable experience after starting from reverse grid pole position. Ellena Reece finished just half a second behind Theobald as she completed a clean race in 19th position with the Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers looking to end their weekend on a high in race three.

The grid positions for the final contest at Pembrey were based upon the results of qualifying with Theobald starting from 15th, Beanie Reece from 17th, Ellena Reece from 18th and Powell from 21st on the grid.

It was a clean opening lap throughout the field with Theobald dropping one place to 16th, while Beanie Reece remained on her tail in 17th. Powell passed Ellena Reece to move into 19th position with all four Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers inside the top-20.

The positions remained closely contested in the early stages, however there were few place changes as the drivers looked to force one another into mistakes. Theobald and Beanie Reece continued to run nose-to-tail as both female drivers looked to move ahead of Blair Dryburgh. Meanwhile, Powell was looking to pass Adam Curtis and Ellena Reece was defending well against Giovanni Santora.

On lap six, Powell’s pressure paid off as she overtook Curtis with Ellena Reece also following her through. Running in a competitive train of cars just outside of the top-10, Beanie Reece was showing excellent race pace and on multiple occasions she was faster than the overall race leader.

After passing Curtis, Powell extended her advantage over Ellena Reece while Lexie held the fastest race lap of the quartet. On lap 11, contact ahead saw Ashley Gregory retire with steering damage and this elevated the Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers up one position. Theobald was now inside the top-15 with Beanie Reece in 16th, Powell in 17th and Ellena Reece in 18th position.

On the penultimate lap of the contest, Beanie Reece passed Theobald for 15th and she maintained this position to the chequered flag to finish all three races at Pembrey inside the top-15. Theobald crossed the line in 16th with Powell completing her weekend with a 17th place result. Ellena Reece rounded-out the quartet with an 18th place finish after a solid and consistent drive.

It was another weekend of development for the Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers with three of the four visiting Pembrey for the first time. Theobald’s start from reverse grid pole position was a particular highlight in a weekend where the quartet battled hard for points paying positions. The next round of the Mini Challenge Trophy takes place on the weekend of 25th/26th July at Thruxton.

Race report from – https://www.racers-behindthehelmet.com

Race 1: P14 -> P12
Race 2: P1 -> P18
Race 3: P15 -> P16

Friday was the first time I saw the circuit, I completed x5 15minute sessions in mixed conditions which allowed me to get comfortable with the racing lines, curbs and also gain confidence in the car around the race track. I qualified P15, without a tow, but was
super happy with my lap being separated to pole by only a second on my first time here.

Race 1 was my strongest race of the weekend crossing the line in P12 which is progressing closer to my goal of a top 10! Great racing, great fun and lots of improvement. 

Race 2 I started pole which was a massive milestone for me. I completed the green flag but as soon as l headed down the grid to line up on pole, I unfortunately suffered some electrical issues which continued throughout the race. I bought the car home and finished so taking that as a positive but obviously disappointed.

Race 3 I can’t thank the team at Team Avago enough for getting me out and again happy to finish the race completing the weekend’s racing at Pembrey with a good haul of points.

As always, thank you so much to all my partners, family and friends. A special shoutout to Wera Motorsport, Alliance Racing and
Truck and Plant Assets. This wouldn’t be possible without you and it’s a pleasure to have your logo on my race car!

Now let’s get ready for the fastest circuit in the UK! See you soon Thruxton…

The weekend began in ideal fashion as Tye demonstrated exceptional one-lap pace, delivering a stunning double pole position in qualifying. The result underlined the pace of both driver and team, placing him in the perfect position to challenge for victories throughout the event.

Race 1 saw Tye convert his front-row start into a hard-fought second-place finish. Despite intense pressure throughout the race, he remained firmly in contention at the front and collected valuable championship points with an impressive podium result.

The highlight of the weekend came in Race 2. Starting from pole position, Tye produced a defensive masterclass to secure a superb victory. Under relentless pressure from behind for much of the race, he remained calm and composed, placing his car perfectly lap after lap and refusing to give his rivals any opportunity to attack. His mature racecraft and flawless execution allowed him to control the race from the front and convert pole position into a deserved win.

Race 3 completed an exceptional weekend as Tye once again battled at the sharp end of the field. A determined drive resulted in a third-place finish, securing his third podium from three races and capping off one of his strongest performances of the season so far.

With double pole positions, a race win, a second-place finish, and a third-place finish, Tye leaves MotorLand Aragón having showcased outstanding speed, consistency, and racecraft. The triple-podium weekend marks a significant statement in the championship battle and reinforces his status as one of the leading contenders in the Spanish F4 field.

The results see Tye climb to fourth in the championship standings, firmly in contention in what is proving to be an incredibly close and competitive title fight. With momentum firmly on his side following a near-perfect weekend at Aragón, he heads into the next round well placed to continue his charge towards the front of the championship.

Kimbolton Kart Circuit, Hunts June 14th

Felix Tandy added to his season points haul at Kimbolton kart track this weekend with victories in all three heat races and second place in a thrilling final. The Wera Alliance Academy driver has now extended his lead in the championship points table with half the racing season now contested.

Round 4

Heat 1  Start     Finish

            14th     1st      

Heat 2  Start     Finish

            3rd       1st

Heat 3 Start     Finish

            5th       1st

Final    Start     Finish

            1st       2nd                 

Once again three heats and a final awaited the competitors on Sunday, in the warm Huntingdonshire summer conditions.

Heat 1, Tandy was made to work hard from the penultimate row of the grid, but a determined fight from the Bedfordshire racer saw him overtake each rival he came across, eventually sealing the victory with a last lap pass.

The following two heat races of the event had Felix placed higher up the order on the grid, enabling him to round out the heat stages with another victory in each – his sixth, and then seventh in a row, at the Kimbolton venue.

Starting on pole position for the final the odds looked good. An extremely close fight for the front two positions with kart #57 ensued, and with two laps to go a brave move on the inside saw the 57 kart spinning across the front of Tandy, forcing him to go wide to avoid contact. This led to the third position driver sneaking through on the inside to take the victory, Tandy happy to stay on track and pick up another final podium of the season.

With half the series now completed, Felix sits in a comfortable position atop the points standing. With two rounds enabled to become dropped scores in the final tally, however, a thrilling run in to the season end is almost assured.

From the moment we hit the track, the pace was there. The team worked incredibly hard throughout the weekend, and we were consistently fighting at the sharp end of the field.

Race 1 was a fantastic start to the weekend. A strong performance saw us secure a P2, claiming a well-earned podium finish and valuable championship points. The pace was competitive throughout the race, and it was great to reward the team’s efforts with silverware.

In Race 2, we continued to show strong speed and racecraft, crossing the line in P5 after another hard-fought battle. While just missing out on the podium positions, it was another solid points-scoring result that demonstrated our consistency and competitiveness.

Unfortunately, Race 3 brought a frustrating end to the weekend. Running in P2 and looking set for another podium finish, our race was cut short following contact from behind, resulting in a DNF. It was a disappointing way to finish what had otherwise been a very positive weekend. 

Across the weekend, we showed excellent speed, fought at the front, and proved we have what it takes to challenge for podiums and strong results consistently.

A huge thank you to the team, sponsors, partners, and everyone supporting the journey.

Now the focus shifts quickly to Round 3 at MotorLand Aragón, which is just over a week away. We’ll take the lessons learned, build on the positives, and come back ready to fight once again.

See you in Aragón.

Round 4 of the 2026 MINI CHALLENGE JCW Sport Championship at Oulton Park delivered a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the Wera Alliance Academy pairing of Alfie Garford and Murray Richardson, but ultimately highlighted the strength of the team’s driver programme as Richardson secured a breakthrough maiden victory while Garford battled through significant mechanical issues to salvage valuable championship points.

Competing in mixed conditions around one of Britain’s most demanding circuits, both drivers arrived at Oulton Park eager to continue their development in the fiercely competitive JCW Sport category. By the end of the weekend, there was plenty to celebrate within the Wera Alliance Academy camp.

Richardson takes a major step forward

The standout story of the weekend came from Murray Richardson, who produced his strongest performance since stepping into the JCW ranks at the start of the season.

Showing impressive pace from the outset, Richardson made a significant leap forward throughout testing before carrying that momentum into qualifying. His reward was a breakthrough class pole position, the first of his JCW Sport career, underlining the progress he has made during the opening half of the season.

Richardson converted that speed into a series of highly competitive race performances, culminating in a superb maiden JCW Sport victory. Throughout the weekend he demonstrated improved confidence, racecraft and consistency, regularly finding himself fighting at the front of the class.

The result marks a major milestone in Richardson’s development and provides further evidence of the progress being made within the Wera Alliance Academy programme.

Garford refuses to give in

While Richardson enjoyed a breakthrough weekend, championship leader Alfie Garford was forced to overcome a series of frustrating setbacks.

A gearbox issue struck at the worst possible moment and prevented Garford from posting a representative qualifying time, leaving him on the back foot before the racing had even begun.

Unfortunately, the problem continued into Race One where the #88 MINI was left without the use of third gear, significantly compromising performance around the flowing Oulton Park circuit.

Despite the obvious disadvantage, Garford produced a determined drive to limit the damage and collect valuable championship points. As the team worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, the reigning Trophy Rookie Champion continued to fight his way forward whenever opportunities presented themselves.

Although the results sheet may not fully reflect his pace, Garford’s determination and refusal to give up highlighted the maturity that has helped establish him as one of the leading young talents in the championship.

Friendly rivalry driving both drivers forward

One of the biggest positives to emerge from Oulton Park was the increasingly competitive dynamic developing between the two Wera Alliance Academy drivers.

With Richardson now securing his first pole position and victory, and Garford continuing to set the benchmark within the team, both drivers are pushing each other to new levels.

The healthy rivalry is creating an environment where both youngsters are constantly improving, something the team believes will pay significant dividends as the season progresses.

As confidence grows within the Richardson camp and Garford looks to bounce back from a challenging weekend, the prospect of regular battles between the pair is becoming an exciting storyline within the JCW Sport category.

Driver Quotes

Murray Richardson

“Coming away with my first pole position and first win in JCW Sport is a really special feeling. We’ve worked hard all season and I feel like everything started to click this weekend. My confidence grew every session and I felt comfortable fighting at the front. Huge thanks to everyone at Wera Alliance Academy for giving me a fantastic car. Hopefully this is the first of many.”

Alfie Garford

“It wasn’t the weekend we wanted after the gearbox issues put us on the back foot from qualifying onwards. Losing third gear in Race One made things incredibly difficult, but the team worked non-stop and we kept fighting for every point available. Congratulations to Murray as well – he’s taken a massive step forward this weekend and it’s great to see the hard work paying off.”

Team Principal Pete Osborne

“Oulton Park showed exactly what this programme is about. Murray has been building towards this result for a while and to see him take his first pole and first win is fantastic. His confidence has grown massively and he’s proving he belongs at the front.

“For Alfie, it was a weekend of damage limitation. The gearbox issue was unfortunate and obviously affected his qualifying and Race One, but he never stopped fighting. The maturity he showed was excellent.

“What excites me most is seeing both drivers pushing each other. Competition within the team is healthy and I genuinely believe the battles we’re starting to see between them will help develop two very talented young drivers.”

Looking Ahead

The championship now heads into the summer break before reconvening north of the border at Knockhill for Round 5.

With Richardson carrying momentum from his breakthrough weekend and Garford eager to return to winning ways, the Wera Alliance Academy squad will head to Scotland confident of continuing their strong campaign in the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Sport Championship.

The weekend got off to the perfect start in qualifying. With the track caught between wet and dry conditions, Marshall and the team made the bold decision to switch onto slick tyres. While conditions remained challenging, the gamble paid off as the circuit dried just enough in the closing stages, allowing Marshall to claim double pole position for the weekend’s races.

Starting from pole for Race One, Marshall focused on generating tyre temperature ahead of the start and executed the plan perfectly. A strong getaway allowed him to establish a gap of over three seconds before a Safety Car period erased his advantage. Unfazed by the interruption, Marshall produced another excellent restart and controlled the race to the chequered flag, securing his first victory of the weekend.

Race Two saw an even more commanding performance. Reacting instantly when the lights went out, Marshall launched away from the line and built a 1.2-second advantage by the end of the opening lap. Carefully balancing outright pace with tyre management, he continued to extend his lead throughout the race. Crossing the finish line over eight seconds clear of the field, Marshall not only claimed his second win of the weekend but also set a new lap record in the process.

The final race of the weekend delivered more of the same. Another lightning-fast start gave Marshall immediate control at the front, allowing him to build a six-second cushion over his rivals. A late Safety Car once again brought the pack back together, but a perfectly judged restart ensured he quickly re-established his advantage. Marshall went on to take his third victory from three races while also recording the fastest lap, completing a flawless weekend at Oulton Park.

The clean sweep of pole positions, race victories, fastest lap honours and a new lap record underlined Marshall’s pace and consistency across the weekend, delivering one of the most dominant performances of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB season so far.

Reflecting on the achievement, Marshall said:

“What we are achieving this year as a team is something incredible and a testament to everyone for their hard work.

To share moments like this at my home circuit with friends, the team, family and my incredible Wera family is something I will truly remember forever. So thank you so much to everyone.

LET’S KEEP PUSHING!”

Leaving Oulton Park with maximum points and unstoppable momentum, Marshall now turns his attention to the next round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB season determined to continue his outstanding run of form. He is also now holds the record amount of wins in the championship since it started (12) and it currently on a 9 race winning streak going back to the end of last season!

Next up Knockhill in August.

Images – Porsche GB

Round 3 – Snetterton 300 | MINI CHALLENGE JCW Sport | 23/24 May 2026

The Wera Alliance Racing Academy arrived at Snetterton for Round 3 of the 2026 MINI CHALLENGE with momentum, expectation and two young drivers continuing to build their reputations in the JCW Sport class.

Following strong showings at Donington and Brands Hatch, the pairing of Murray Richardson #8 & Alfie Garford #88 – quickly becoming known around the paddock as Murfie – headed into the Norfolk weekend ready for another test.

And Snetterton delivered exactly that. Across three races on the long, fast and technical 300 layout, both drivers had to battle more than just the stopwatch. With hot, dry weather beating down across the weekend, cockpit temperatures rose, tyres were pushed hard, and concentration became just as important as outright pace.

For Garford, it was another weekend of calm execution and front-running control in the Sport Rookie class. For Richardson, it was another important step forward – with clear improvements, stronger pace and valuable race mileage in only his early stages of JCW Sport competition.

BUILD-UP – FROM MOMENTUM TO MANAGEMENT

Snetterton is very different to Donington and Brands Hatch. Long straights, heavy braking zones and technical sequences mean the car has to be balanced, the driver has to be patient, and mistakes can cost huge chunks of time.

For Garford, the aim was to keep stacking results and protect the momentum he had built over the opening two rounds. He arrived with confidence, but also with the pressure that comes from being the benchmark in the Sport Rookie class.

Richardson’s objective was equally important. After showing flashes of speed and bravery at Brands Hatch, particularly during the wet-weather Race 3 battle, Snetterton was about turning that confidence into consistency. In the heat, over a full race distance, there was nowhere to hide – unless you count hiding in a MINI cockpit slowly turning into a greenhouse.

QUALIFYING – SPORT ROOKIE BATTLE SET

Qualifying took place in sunny, dry conditions, giving both Wera Alliance drivers a clear opportunity to set the tone for the weekend.

Garford led the Sport Rookie classification, placing the #88 Wera Alliance MINI 1st in Sport, with a best lap of 2:10.203. Richardson backed that up with 2nd in Sport, recording a 2:11.829 as he continued to build confidence around the long Snetterton lap.

The second-fastest qualifying times, used for later grid setting, kept the same Sport order: Garford remained 1st with a 2:11.180, while Richardson was 2nd on a 2:12.325.

It gave Wera Alliance a clear platform: Garford with the class benchmark, Richardson close enough to keep learning, chasing and applying pressure.

RACE 1 – RICHARDSON BANKS STRONG MILEAGE, WHILE GARFORD CONVERTS

Race 1 was about survival as much as speed. With the track bright and dry, and the field tightly packed, Garford delivered exactly what was needed. Starting deep in the overall order among the mixed JCW field, he kept the race clean, controlled the Sport contest and brought the car home 1st, setting a best lap of 2:10.972.

Richardson also made important progress. He finished 2nd in Sport, gaining race mileage and producing his best lap late in the race with a 2:13.209 on lap nine, showing that he was still pushing and still improving even as the heat and tyre degradation made life tougher.

For Garford, it was another composed class win. For Richardson, it was a disciplined finish and another step in the right direction. The result was a solid Wera Alliance one-two in Sport Rookie – the sort of tidy team result that looks simple on paper but is anything but in a boiling hot race car.

RACE 2 – RICHARDSON LEADS EARLY, GARFORD TAKES CONTROL

Race 2 gave Richardson one of his strongest moments of the weekend. The #8 Wera Alliance MINI made an excellent early impression, leading the Sport class on the opening lap before Garford took over from lap two onwards. It was a small but important marker – proof that Richardson’s confidence and reaction in race conditions were moving forward quickly.

There was frustration too, with Richardson receiving a five-second penalty for an out-of-position start, but he still completed the race 2nd in Sport, setting a best lap of 2:12.914.

Garford then settled into his rhythm and managed the class battle with maturity. He finished 1st in Sport, recording a best lap of 2:11.586, again delivering the kind of controlled performance that has become a theme of his early JCW Sport campaign.

It was another strong two-car result: Richardson showing sharper race instinct and Garford showing the calm execution needed to keep a championship campaign moving.

RACE 3 – HOT TRACK, HARD WORK, AND MORE PROGRESSION

By Race 3, the weekend had become a real physical test. The final race was again run in sunny, dry conditions, and after two previous races the drivers were dealing with heat, fatigue and the constant demand of the Snetterton 300 layout. The long lap gives no real rest – fast straights, heavy stops, technical corners, then back to doing it all again while the cockpit cooks you like Sunday dinner.

Garford produced his fastest race lap of the weekend in the finale, setting a 2:09.645 on lap seven and 1st in JCW Sport. It was his sharpest race pace of the event and another example of how he can still find more as the weekend develops.

Richardson also found a clear gain, recording his best race lap of the weekend with a 2:11.798 and finishing 2nd in Sport. That improvement mattered. Across the races, his best laps moved from the 2:13s into the 2:11s, showing genuine adaptation and a better understanding of how to extract performance from the JCW Sport car.

Garford again delivered the result. Richardson again delivered progress. Together, they gave Wera Alliance another strong class finish and more evidence that the Murfie pairing is becoming a serious asset for the team.

DRIVER COMMENT – ALFIE GARFORD #88

Alfie Garford #88 “Really happy with the weekend overall. Snetterton was a proper challenge, especially with the heat in the car, but the team gave me a strong car and we kept getting the job done. The main thing was staying consistent, keeping it clean and taking the points when they were there. It is easy to make mistakes when it is that hot and the tyres start moving around, so I am pleased with how we managed it. Murray was pushing on as well, and it is good for both of us because we are always learning from each other and pushing the team forward.”

DRIVER COMMENT – MURRAY RICHARDSON #8

Murray Richardson #8 “It was a hard weekend physically, probably one of the toughest so far with the heat, but I feel like I made another good step. There were a few things to tidy up, especially Race 2, but the pace improved through the weekend and I felt much more comfortable by Race 3. Getting the lap time down and understanding the car better was the big positive. Alfie is obviously setting a strong benchmark, so having him there gives me something to chase. I am learning every time I go out, and Snetterton felt like another proper step forward.”

Liona Theobald continued her strong start to the season in her debut Mini Challenge Trophy season by securing a trio of top-15 finishes for Wera Alliance Racing Academy at Snetterton.

Lexie Powell achieved a best result of 16th in a weekend of progress for the young driver as she continued to battle in the competitive midfield.

It was a more challenging weekend for sisters Beanie and Ellena Reece who fought through adversity on their second outing in the series with Beanie achieving a highest finish of 17th, while Ellena took the chequered flag in 21st position in race three.

It was a positive start to the season for the quartet of Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers as they adapted to the challenges of the Mini Challenge Trophy at Silverstone. Holding down a top-15 position in the overall championship standings, it was Liona Theobald who secured the largest haul of points in the season opener as she finished all three races inside the top-15. However, it was Beanie Reece who achieved the best individual result of the quartet as the car racing debutant finished race one in 12th position.

Consistent points finishes were achieved by both Lexie Powell and Ellena Reece with Powell securing one top-15 finish at the home of British motorsport, while Ellena Reece completed all three races without incident as she banked valuable experience on her series debut. Now arriving at Snetterton, all four drivers were looking to collect further championship points while pushing towards the overall top-10.

The quartet hit the track on Friday for a pair of free practice sessions to work on car setup ahead of a triple header of races. Theobald was the leading Wera Alliance Racing Academy driver as she ended the day in 15th position overall, just a second away from the top-10. Powell was the driver to improve the most from the morning to the afternoon session as she completed the day in 17th position. Sisters Beanie and Ellena Reece were closely matched on the first day of running as they ended Friday in 20th and 21st positions respectively and were separated by just a quarter of a second.

Qualifying took place on Saturday morning with a thirty-minute session held in order to determine the starting positions. All four drivers immediately improved upon their free practice times in the early stages of qualifying with Theobald and Powell leading the way for Wera Alliance Racing Academy. Powell in particular was showing impressive pace with the former Junior Saloon Car Championship driver using her prior knowledge of Snetterton to good effect.

In the second half of the session, the times improved further with Beanie Reece jumping up to 18th position with just six minutes remaining. Improvements were difficult in the final stages of qualifying with Theobald retaining a solid 16th position with a quickest time of a 2:21.366 ahead of Powell in 17th spot on a 2:21.517. Beanie Reece secured 18th position with a 2:21.639 while her sister Ellena Reece set a new best time in the closing stages to qualify in 20th position on a 2:21.941.

The first race of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon and the grid positions were based upon the second fastest times from qualifying. As a result, Theobald lined up from 15th with Powell in 16th, Ellena Reece in 18th and Beanie Reece in 19th position. Theobald made a good start from the eighth row of the grid as she moved into 14th position with Beanie Reece gaining two positions as she climbed to 17th. Powell lost two spots on the opening lap, while it was a challenging start to the race for Ellena Reece who fell to 23rd position.

Theobald was enjoying a strong early portion of the race as she remained in contention with the top-10 drivers in pursuit of a season’s best result. Powell’s difficult start continued as she fell to 21st position by the end of lap three with Ellena Reece now behind after she overtook Blair Dryburgh. After losing out to Giovanni Santora, Beanie Reece was improving her lap times as she closed in on the Team Avago machine of Louis Fleet.

On lap four, Theobald was up to 14th position after Alex Keens went off the circuit while battling for a podium position, with the reigning champion rejoining just behind Liona. After a good spell of pressure, Beanie Reece overtook Fleet on lap five with Ellena Reece passing Powell for 21st spot. A close fight then broke out between Theobald and Daniel Patterson with the Wera Alliance Racing Academy driver completing the pass for 13th position on lap seven.

Although Keens passed Theobald on his recovery drive, Liona was able to learn from the Graves Motorsport driver as he looked to push towards the top-10. An issue for Ellena Reece on lap eight dropped her to 23rd position with Powell finding some late-race speed as she moved back to 21st spot.

A strong run to the chequered flag saw Theobald finish in 14th position as she secured her fourth top-15 result in as many races. Beanie Reece completed a solid opening race in 17th position with Powell crossing the line in 21st while setting a personal best time on the final lap. Ellena Reece ended race one in 23rd position as all four Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers finished on the lead lap without any significant incidents.

Race two at Snetterton was held on Sunday morning with the grid positions based upon the results of race one with a partial reversal at the head of the field. Theobald missed out on reverse grid pole by just two places as she started from 14th with Beanie Reece in 17th, Powell in 21st and Ellena Reece taking the start from 23rd position.

All four Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers made an excellent start with Theobald holding 14th position while Beanie Reece completed lap one just behind in 15th spot. Powell gained four positions on the first tour to move into 17th position while two places were gained by Ellena Reece as she climbed to 21st. After an issue for Joshua Wilby on lap two, both Theobald and Beanie Reece moved up a position before the pair were overtaken by Jonathan Wild on lap three.

The battles for positions on the fringes of the top-10 were remaining close and on lap four, Theobald and Beanie Reece both overtook the Excelr8 Motorsport machine of Jorrell Julius. Following his earlier issue, Wilby was now battling with Powell who was displaying stronger pace in the second race of the weekend. Meanwhile, Ellena Reece was enjoying a quiet race while she remained in contention with the group ahead who were battling just inside the top-20.

As the drivers completed lap five, Theobald was up to 12th position as she ran side-by-side with Wild as the duo continued their close battle. After a good fight with Julius, Beanie Reece fell back 15th while sister Ellena Reece rolled her car over a kerb after avoiding an incident involving Curtis. Fortunately, Ellena was unharmed and she was able to climb from her car unaided. Beginning lap six, a technical issue for Beanie Reece saw her retire from the race with the safety car then deployed to retrieve the cars of the Reece sisters along with Curtis.

Due to the long lap at Snetterton, no further green flag racing could be completed and therefore the race ended at a reduced pace. Theobald lost out to Wild and Julius prior to the safety car period as she secured another solid 14th place result, before a penalty for Chris Doble elevated her to 13th. Powell took the chequered flag in 18th position, before later being promoted to 17th following a false start penalty applied to Louis Fleet. After unfortunate retirements for Beanie and Ellena Reece, the team were hard at work in attempt to fix their cars for the final contest.

The final race of the weekend took place on Sunday afternoon and the grid positions were based upon the results from qualifying. Theobald led the way for Wera Alliance Racing Academy as she lined up from 16th position with Powell starting from 17th on the grid. A great job from the team allowed Ellena Reece to take her position on the grid in 20th position. Unfortunately the short turnaround between the races meant that Beanie Reece was unable to start in race three.

As the lights went out, it was another excellent start from Powell who climbed to 14th position at the end of the first lap with Theobald directly behind in 15th. In a repaired car, Ellena Reece completed lap one in 21st position as she aimed to bank valuable championship points to round out her weekend.

After the positions remained stable on lap two, a slowing Josh Selvadorai allowed the Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers to gain ground with Powell completing the third lap in 13th position. After briefly being shuffled back to 16th, Theobald also passed Selvadorai to begin lap four, before catching Powell as the drivers entered Brundle and Nelson. Using her racecraft to good effect, Theobald made a superb move as she climbed to 13th while Powell slipped to 15th with Louis Fleet splitting the two female drivers.

Despite a recovering Richard Jepp dropping Ellena Reece to 22nd, she was back into 21st position after Selvadorai pitted his MRM machine. As the second half of the race unfolded, Jepp caught the pack including Powell and Theobald and by lap eight, the PRO-AM Racing driver made his move. In a close final lap, Theobald took the chequered flag in 14th position with Powell enjoying a strong showing in 16th. Despite being hindered by some damage as a legacy of her race two incident, Ellena Reece completed a clean race in 21st position.

It was another exciting weekend of action for the Wera Alliance Racing Academy drivers as they all continued their adaptation to the competitive Mini Challenge Trophy. Theobald once again displayed her consistency, while Powell took good steps forward in performance from the season opening round. Beanie Reece consistently challenged for top-15 results while sister Ellena Reece gained further knowledge as she adapts to modern circuit racing.

The next round of the season takes place at Pembrey on the weekend of June 20th/21st.

Race report from https://www.racers-behindthehelmet.com/

Day 1

Lots learned today and I’m really happy with the progress and pace in qualifying. I didn’t quite manage to string my best lap together, but it was great fun regardless.

Race 1 wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for. I had a poor start, but some fun battles followed and I managed to gain two places before an unfortunate slide on the second-to-last lap. Still, I learned a huge amount and can’t wait for tomorrow!!!

Day 2

Not quite the day we had planned!

I had a good go at the beginning of race 2 until unfortunately I couldn’t avoid a spun car on the exit of Nelson which led to a big roll! but I’ve genuinely got the best team in the world, @team_avago worked miracles getting my car out for race 3 and I’m glad to have brought him back home in one piece at the end of the weekend.

Lots learned this round, and I’m happy with the potential in pace in quali and had some fun overtakes and battles over the weekend. Moriarty isn’t too happy about his headache though!

Biggest thanks to the incredible team of people at @team_avago @weramotorsport @allianceraceuk , being a part of an event like this means everything. also a big thank you to the marshals and medics!!

and of course to @james.black53 for slaying all day everyday.

and a big well done to my incredible teammates and academy drivers over the weekend for the mega results.