Joshua Smith claimed victory in a memorable Gerrit Van Kouwen 200 Formula Ford Festival Grand Final at Brands Hatch this afternoon. Poignantly, Smith crossed the line in car #200, replicating the 1984 achievement of Van Kouwen, whose life was being celebrated at this year’s event.
Chris Middlehurst led the race initially from pole position as the field splashed through Paddock Hill Bend at a very wet Kent circuit, Jordan Kelly was at the front before too long. Drama struck early however as Kelly and the attacking Jason Smyth spun on the entry to Clark Curve.
Middlehurst managed to keep it between the white lines and remain on the road in second, but Smith managed to jump them all to claim an advantage at the head of the pack. Behind that, Hugh Esterson occupied third on the road as the race settled, but there was plenty of movement further back as two-time Festival winner Joey Foster worked his way into the top-10 from 22nd on the grid.
Luke Cooper moved into podium contention with a move on Esterson at Druids on lap seven. And Foster continued his charge as the race moved towards the halfway point of the initially scheduled 20 laps. However a Safety Car period following an off for Leanne McShane at Clearways briefly halted any movement, whilst the race was also extended to 23 laps.
Foster passed Esterson just prior to the Safety Car and immediately fired around the outside of Cooper with a ‘high, wide and handsome move’ at Paddock Hill Bend to move onto the podium when racing resumed on lap 15. He repeated the feat a lap later to go second ahead of Middlehurst and immediately set about hunting down Smith before the Safety Car reappeared following an off for Kelly at the same corner.
The result of the Safety Car’s second spell on the track was a further extension of the race distance to 25 laps, with six to run when full-speed action returned on lap 20. Foster immediately attempted his signature move on the outside at Paddock Hill Bend, but Smith defended hard to hold the lead.
Over the next two laps, Foster remained firmly on the attack sizing up a switchback on the exit of Paddock Hill Bend, but each time he made an attempt the car in front firmly closed the door. Foster’s bid for a history-making third Festival crown came to an end on the 22nd lap when he ran off the track whilst pressuring Smith for the lead.
This left Middlehurst as the only real opposition for the win, but Smith resisted the pressure over the final laps to cross the line first. Middlehurst was second past the flag with Cooper completing the rostrum, taking his first Festival podium in the process. Behind the leading trio, Esterson drove home to fourth whilst Morgan Quinn completed the top-five.
Gerrit Van Kouwen 200 Formula Ford Festival Grand Final
- Joshua Smith, Van Diemen JL13
- Chris Middlehurst, Van Diemen LA10, +0.143s
- Luke Cooper, Swift SC20, +0.818s
- Hugh Esterson, Ray GR, +2.571s
- Morgan Quinn, RF99, +2.710s
- Rory Smith, Medina Sport JL18, +2.980s
- Jonny McMullan, Medina Sport BH23, +5.403s
- Tom Nippers, Van Diemen RF01, +9.208s
- Charlie Mann, Ray GR20, +9.703s
- David McArthur, Medina BH19, +10.204s
Click here to view the full results from this event.