Brands Hatch: Nelson King secures third place in Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE JCW in rookie season
Nelson King, a rookie in the 2023 Vertu Motors Mini Challenge JCW Championship, faced an entirely new challenge at the championship's grand finale held at the Brands Hatch GP circuit. With zero prior experience on this circuit and a mere eight testing laps under his belt, Nelson entered the Saturday morning qualifying session in uncharted territory, putting his racing skills to the ultimate test. Unfortunately, a sudden snap led him into the gravel trap, relegating him to a 12th-place start.
In his first race on the unfamiliar Brands Hatch GP circuit, Nelson's focus was on learning and understanding the track and maximising his car's setup. With skilled manoeuvring, he navigated through the field, ultimately gaining two positions to finish in 10th place.
By Race 2 Nelson was adapting quickly; despite starting 10th, he seized the opportunity when his championship rival encountered a setback, advancing to a commendable 6th-place finish.
In the final race, Nelson's skill and control came to the fore. Beginning from the 6th position, he fought his way to 4th, setting his sights on a place on the championship podium. The tension peaked on the last lap when a tyre blow-out threatened his championship aspirations. However, realising that a DNF (did-not-finish) would affect his final championship standing, Nelson's indomitable spirit prevailed as he nursed his damaged car across the finish line, securing the essential points for an overall 3rd-place finish.
This extraordinary accomplishment was not a solo endeavour. Nelson King expressed immense gratitude to Graves Motorsport for their unwavering support and hard work throughout the season. Additionally, he acknowledged the invaluable contribution of dedicated sponsors, including Laser Tools Racing, BHRV, CYB Glassfibre, Block and Clever, Walero, Jon Paul, and First Business Finance. Their backing played a pivotal role in Nelson's success, turning this season's victory into a shared celebration.
