Mini Challenge - Career best results for Ronan Pearson at Knockhill

- William Waugh (Edinburgh) Ltd and Cobra Sport backed racer shines with career-best results and maiden Rookie podium at home event.

- Scottish rising star banks three solid points finishes – P11, P10 and P8 at Knockhill, thrilling the ITV2 audience on Sunday.

- Next Quaife MINI CHALLENGE returns to action at Silverstone, Northants, on 26-27 September.

LUX Motorsport with William Waugh (Edinburgh) Ltd.’s Ronan Pearson put in a career-best showing in the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE – including a maiden Rookie podium – at his home event at Knockhill last weekend [29-30 August]. Pearson, back on the grid after a monumental team effort to repair his fire-damaged #66 JCW challenger following the season opener, arrived the 1.26-mile Fife circuit in good spirits, and qualified a respectable 11th in a highly-competitive 28-car field.

The Scottish rising star, backed by loyal supporters Rentec Autocare, Apex Networx, Cobra Sport Exhausts, D&J Recycling Machinery, Johnston’s Rigging Fife, Forth Tech IT Solutions, Network Cabling Direct, OEM Group, Edricorp and EP Engineering maintained that spot for the opening race - then went one better on Sunday morning, claiming a maiden top-ten finish in only his second weekend in the category.

Reversed onto pole position for the ITV2-televised finale, Pearson then completed a hat-trick of strong finishes, and a maiden Rookie podium, despite a late-race brake problem that left the 18-year old using the gearbox and braking early to bring the car home in eighth overall.

To be fighting at the sharp end of the field in such a hotly-contested series, and in his maiden season, means both Pearson and LUX Motorsport are already exceeding expectations for the year, and looking ahead with optimism to building on it further at the next event. Pearson’s next stop on the high-profile British Touring Car Championship support bill will be at Silverstone (National) over the weekend of 26-27 September.

Ronan Pearson (#66) said:

“My home event at Knockhill was great – being able to sleep in my own bed and go home every night was a highlight, for sure!

“We bagged a maiden top-ten finish on Saturday and followed it up with another – plus a maiden Rookie podium – on Sunday. To have results like these in only my second weekend in the championship, and compared to where we were three weeks ago, is cracking.

“My performance across the weekend was good, but there’s a lot to review ahead of Silverstone, it’s the only way to keep learning and improving! I’m always very critical of my own performances to make sure I’m always better the next time out, so I can say with no doubt we’ll be back even stronger. “We’ve got a month to regroup now, and I’ve never been happier.

It’s been a crazy few weeks, but it has all been worth it. I’m pleased with my outright pace and race pace at this stage, and I’ll keep chipping away to find that extra little bit.

“The team gave me a superb car all weekend, which always helps instil some confidence, and helped me push on each time.

A huge thank you to all my incredible sponsors, and to my family and friends for their ongoing support. It means so much!”