The R&G British Talent Cup returned to the Snetterton 300 Circuit in Norfolk at the weekend, in what turned out to be great (yet contrasting) conditions for competitive racing.
Sullivan Mounsey, Harrison Mackay and Ben Jolliffe had all previously competed at the circuit, providing vital knowledge on what is known to be a complex, technical circuit. Qualifying on Saturday saw the session halted midway with a red flag, with the team able to regroup and push for position ready for Race 1.
Qualifying Results:
5th – Sullivan Mounsey – 2:04:672
14th – Ben Jolliffe – 2:05:992
15th – Harrison Mackay – 2:06:002
With the riders ready for Race 1 in scorching 27°C conditions, it was an action-packed race with Mounsey battling it out for a podium and Jolliffe & Mackay were jostling for position further back. Mounsey would neither gain or lose positions, finishing Race 1 in 5th place. Jolliffe, crossing the line in 14th, had his best finish in what is his debut year on the Moto3, while Mackay would finish further back in 18th.
As Race 2 on Sunday rolled around, the rain set in. With Wilson Racing’s riders placed in in the final race based on best lap times in race 1, the stewards made the call to declare it a wet race, which saw the team opt for wet tyres. The wet conditions, however, didn’t last for long. After a few laps, the track had dried out considerably due to the humid conditions.
By the end of the race, the team (and the majority of the field) were running wet tyres on a bone-dry track. Mounsey crossed the line in 10th with a best time of 2:16.020, McKay in 17th with a time of 2:13.722, and Jolliffe finished in 20th with a time of 2:15.309.
What did the weekend provide the Wilson Racing team?
More points, valuable experience in the wet and competing in humid conditions would provide the whole team with wisdom going into Round 5 at Brands Hatch on 21st July.
