Joshua Jackson, at the wheel of the #27 QE Motorsport Citroen C1, took both overall and class pole positions for the opening round of the 2024 Student Motorsport Challenge, the inter-series within the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship.
Jackson, on his debut for the team entered by Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate and the only squad featuring team members of school age, lapped the 4.7 kms of the Snetterton 300 circuit in 2:37.958 on his fourth lap.
Second in class, and joining Joshua Jackson on the front row of the overall grid, was double title holder Richard Jepp driving the #65 Team Northbrook Racing Peugeot 107. Jepp put in a 2:38 542 on his fifth lap.
Completing the top three in the Student Motorsport Challenge class was Brady Pollock in the #12 West Suffolk College Toyota Aygo. Pollock is making his debut in the Challenge. Currently completing his final year at the college before he embarks on a career in professional motorsport, Pollock has graduated from karts and Snetterton will be his first competitive outing in the WSC Toyota.
“I’m delighted,” said pole-sitter Joshua Jackson. “It’s a really good way to start the season and the session went very well. Looking ahead to the race, as long as I can make a good start, it’s looking good that I can do well.”
“It’s amazing,” said QE Motorsport Team Principal Helen Snuggs. “Joshua has done a lot of work round the circuit over the last few days and he’s been using the sim to get completely focused. Haydn (driver of the sister #72 Citroen C1) had a small problem with the exhaust for which he had to come in so that broke up his momentum slightly. Once we get that sorted, I’m sure he will be on the pace.”
Richard Jepp, 2022 and 2023 Student Motorsport Challenge champion for Team Northbrook Racing, qualified second. Jepp sees the competitive bar being raised for 2024.
“It’s looking like much more of a challenge this season which is great,” said Richard Jepp. “You can see the college teams pushing forward. The last two per cent of pace is difficult to find and it’s great to see the Challenge teams pushing. Fair play to Joshua Jackson for putting it on pole. Student Motorsport taking first and second overall in qualifying is crazy!”
Brady Pollock, making his debut in the Challenge, was delighted to qualify third in class.
“I’m very happy,” said Pollock. “I didn’t expect it but it sets us up very well for the race and hopefully I can bring it home in the top three for the Student Motorsport Challenge and top ten overall. The car felt good. The track was a little bit green because we’ve had a lot of rain but the car felt perfect.”
12 of the 13 Challenge cars got out for qualifying but the #26 City College Norwich Peugeot 107 driven by Leon Wilde was unable to make the session due to a scrutineering issue.
The first race for the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship, incorporating the Student Motorsport Challenge, gets underway at 1.45pm on Saturday April the 6th.