21st May 2018
Louis Foster produces stunning recovery for home podium. For Immediate Release: 21 May 2018
Young racer Louis Foster produced a storming recovery drive to pick up another podium finish from his home round of the Ginetta Junior Championship season at Thruxton.
Fresh from a breakthrough victory last time out at Donington Park, Louis headed for the fastest circuit on the calendar in confident mood, and a fine performance in qualifying saw him secure a place on the front row of the grid.
As is the norm for the popular one-make series at the high-speed Hampshire circuit, the opening race would prove to be an action-packed affair as drivers diced for position at the head of the field.
Although he was shuffled back to fifth in the early skirmishes, Louis was soon firmly embroiled in the battle for top spot as he fought his way back towards the front.
Holding second place going into the final lap, the 14-year-old Lord Wandsworth College student from Odiham made his move for the lead going into the Complex but having got into top spot, was then tipped into a spin going into the right-hander at Segrave.
Fortunate to keep his car out of the tyre wall, Louis rejoined and took the chequered flag in eighth spot, with a trip to the podium as third placed rookie being little reward for his performance.
The second race saw Louis lining up in pole position but an issue with the gearbox on his car meant he was forced to try and take the start in second gear, meaning he was slow away as a result.
Squeezed towards the inside of the circuit as the field headed into turn one, Louis was again tipped into a spin that dropped him to the rear of the field with his chances of a strong result having seemingly gone.
A brief Safety Car period provided the opportunity for Louis to close on the pack ahead and when racing resumed he quickly set about making up places; climbing up to eighth within three laps.
Continuing to pick off his rivals ahead, Louis went into the final lap with a podium finish in his sight and was able to complete a memorable recovery drive by battling into third spot for his fourth overall podium of the year.
Louis ends the weekend second in the championship standings, just ten points behind leader Adam Smalley, ahead of round four of the season at Oulton Park in early June.
“I feel a bit frustrated at the end of the weekend but at the same time, I’m also pleased with the way I fought back in the second race to get a podium,” he said.
“After qualifying well, I was confident of a strong result in race one and I feel we were robbed of a win in that one by a disappointing move that didn’t need to happen.
“Going to the grid in race two we had a problem where I couldn’t get the car into first gear and it meant I had to try and take the start in second. That meant I was slow away and I got squeezed into turn one which spun me into the pit exit. From there, I didn’t think we’d get any kind of decent result.
“The Safety Car helped me catch up with the field and I thought we might have a chance to get into the top ten, so to make up 13 places and get onto the podium was great and means I’ve been able to salvage some good points.
“As ever, I want to give huge thanks to my sponsors and to the team for their support, and to be ten points away from the championship lead after three rounds is something I’m really happy with. Hopefully I’ve got my bad luck out of the way this weekend and we can come out fighting at Oulton Park.”