Double delight for Tipperary's Nicole Drought at races in Kent

An incredible 2024 season for Tipperary racing driver Nicole Drought continued last weekend at the iconic Lydden Hill circuit in Kent. Her Motion Motorsport team had worked hard on the car in the weeks since Brands Hatch and both Nicole and Justin Roberts had high hopes in the run-up to the event.

They qualified comfortably on pole position for the Trackday Trophy but in a red flag-interrupted Trackday Championship qualifying session, they ended up in fourth place on the grid.

With the championship race running first, it was decided that Nicole would start the race, with the aim of getting into the lead before handing over to Justin at half distance. On a decidedly greasy track, she took a brave run around the outside of the long first corner, somehow emerging in second place.

When leader Johnny Milner got a little out of shape at the Devil's Elbow, the EBC Brakes Civic was alongside and they stayed door-to-door up the hill to North Bend. Nicole then sat all the way around the outside, emerging in the lead, and all this in just three corners.

Before her pitstop, she had pulled away from her pursuers by almost seven seconds, but the track was drying and the tyres were past their best. Justin was well up to the task, though, and despite some late race pressure, crossed the line to take a popular win, and with it the championship lead.

The Trophy race was, if anything, even more straightforward. Justin rocketed off pole and handed over to Nicole, who was still in the lead some 25 minutes later. Nicole was on it immediately and extended the gap in the closing stages, crossing the line to do the double, well ahead of the nearest challenger.

Nicole and Justin now lead the championship by nine points with four rounds to go. The next round is at Snetterton on August 10.

Roscrea woman Nicole said "We have all worked hard for this. I was disappointed with P3 at Brands, having qualified on pole, but Justin and Motion Motorsport traced and eliminated the problem.

"We tested well on Friday and were confident all day Saturday. The car was spot on and it all fell into place for us. Big thanks, as ever, to Siltex Safety, Gem Oils, Joe Mallon Motors and ITM Digital for their support".