Race 1: Qualified 4th, Finished 3rd
Race 2: Qualified 3rd, Finished 2nd

After a fantastic weekend at Rockingham last time out, Duncan faced a tough time to better his own results and expectations.

Thruxton brings limits on running time and so, with no practice, all drivers faced qualifying without any time in the car on the circuit this weekend. Despite struggling with oversteer, and without benefiting from a tow like the others ahead, Duncan managed to set times fast enough for second row on the grid for both races.

Duncan’s Race 1 pace was good – but not quite enough to make it back onto the top step. From his fourth-place start he didn’t wait long to make a move on Jeremy Metcalfe. It wasn’t easy and there were two laps of position swapping before Duncan managed to finally claim third.

From there he managed to create a gap behind but did not find enough to close up on his two team-mates just two seconds ahead. Light damage from his dicing with Metcalfe was found after the race, which explained the missing two-tenths per lap that hampered his efforts to catch up. Ater 16 laps he took the chequered flag to claim his 5th consecutive podium.

For his second podium visit he had to work hard again. Although he got a good start and the opportunity to challenge Dean Smith for second , he was squeezed and Dean managed to get a tow onto Adam Christodoulou and pass for the lead. It was then Duncan’s turn to get a tow and pass Adam going on the inside and outbraking him to get by. Although Dean was held up and the gap closed, Duncan wasn’t close enough to challenge before taking the flag.

Duncan said: “I got a good start for the first race and slid into third but got boxed in at the Complex. Jeremy went back on the outside but then I got him back by getting a good run into Church. He got me back so I had to do the same again and from there it was a Fortec 1-2-3.”

“My start was OK for the second race but I was watching out for Nathan Caratti behind. I got a decent run out of Goodwood to get behind Dean in second and just as I lost out he managed to pass Adam. My tow was good onto Adam the next time and I could pass quite easily. There was a gap to Dean by then and I hoped I’d be able to catch him when he was slowed by a car with a problem, but it wasn’t to be.”

“It’s good to be leading the Championship but it’s hard when your rival is your team-mate and you’re trading places and points. It was the same as my year with Charlie Donnelly in Formula Ford. This time I want to win the title as well as the races.

“I’m hoping the next races at Croft will help. Undoubtedly Dean has a strong engine but Croft is a driver’s circuit – it’s bumpy and technical – so I hope to do well there.”

Duncan’s next event is at Croft, North Yorkshire on 3rd June.

•   Filed under: Formula Renault UK
•   Tagged as: Dean Smith, Fortec Motorsport, podium finishes, Thruxton