Boston doubles up as late drama hands McNeill Brands Hatch victory

Rob Boston continued his formidable on-track Class B form with another double victory at Brands Hatch during GoJapan, while Class A delivered a dramatic afternoon as Bob Barron and Fraser McNeill shared the wins in the penultimate rounds of the season.

Barron looked set to complete another double before a late technical problem brought his Race 2 charge to a sudden end, leaving McNeill to capitalise and ensuring plenty remains to play for heading into the Cadwell Park season finale.

CLASS A — McNeill capitalises as late drama denies Barron

Qualifying underlined just how close the Class A battle had become. Dave Buky produced a superb 51.692 late in the session to snatch pole position from Barron by just 0.141 seconds, with McNeill only another 0.040 seconds behind in third. James Alford continued his improving form with fourth.

Race 1 produced one of the moves of the season almost immediately.

Starting alongside Buky, Barron launched his attack around the outside into Paddock Hill Bend before completing the move through Graham Hill Bend. Once ahead, he controlled the race superbly as Buky came under early pressure from McNeill.

Barron gradually established enough breathing room to secure another Class A victory, taking the flag 1.579 secondsahead of Buky, with McNeill completing a closely matched leading trio just 0.752 seconds further back. Alford took fourth, while Danny Weston narrowly held off SRE entrant Sam Goward for fifth on the road.

The partially reversed grid transformed Race 2, with Goward and Weston sharing the front row and Barron starting back in sixth.

Weston initially grabbed the advantage before receiving a ten-second penalty for a false start, while McNeill produced a superb charge through to the lead. Barron was following closely behind, carving his way through from sixth before diving past McNeill at Paddock Hill Bend on lap four.

With Barron back at the front and setting the fastest lap of the race, another victory appeared to be within reach — until the entire complexion of the race changed in the closing stages.

Barron suddenly slowed entering Clearways on lap 12. McNeill swept through into the lead before Barron’s Civic stopped completely after a MAF sensor plug came adrift. The race was subsequently red flagged, leaving McNeill to take a dramatic victory ahead of Buky.

SRE entrant Goward was classified third on the road in the amended result, just 0.056 seconds ahead of Alford, with Weston dropping to sixth overall following his ten-second penalty.

👉 Key takeaway: Barron looked set for another Brands Hatch double, but his late misfortune handed McNeill a crucial victory and ensured the Class A story rolls on to the season finale.

CLASS B — Boston rules the road as Barker keeps delivering

Rob Boston once again provided the on-track benchmark in Class B, qualifying his S2000R on class pole with a 53.139, ahead of championship contender Lewis Barker and Spencer Fortag.

Barker made the better start in Race 1 and initially found a way ahead of Boston, appearing capable of taking the fight directly to the S2000R.

Boston responded with an attacking move down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend and, once back ahead, controlled the remainder of the race to take another Class B victory on the road.

Barker followed him home in second, while Fortag secured third after battling with Invitation entrant Ryan Barker in the sister Europa Racing Civic.

Race 2 presented a very different challenge, with Boston and Barker starting deep in the reversed order.

Boston wasted no time, charging through to the Class B lead by the end of the opening lap. Barker initially found himself caught behind a determined Fortag, but made his move on lap four and set about chasing the S2000R ahead.

There was no stopping Boston, however. He completed another Class B double on the road, with Barker second and Fortag once again taking third.

As an SRE entrant, Boston’s performances are recognised on track rather than in the championship standings, leaving Barker’s consistent Brands Hatch weekend an important one as the registered Class B contenders prepare for the final two races.

👉 Key takeaway: Boston remained the man to beat on track, while Barker delivered another strong weekend as the Class B championship heads towards its Cadwell Park conclusion.

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Next Stop: Cadwell Park — The Season Finale

It all comes down to Cadwell Park.