Reigning Ginetta Junior Team Champions Douglas Motorsport have endured a mixed season so far in the 2013 Ginetta Junior Championship with their single Junior entry Keith Donegan. Almost becoming the main bridesmaid in the series with a run of four second place finishes, a debut victory had eluded the Irishman so far this season despite rarely being too far away from the action.
The championship resumed at Snetterton after the annual TOCA six week summer break. Now eager to get back on track, Donegan was keen to break the winning streak of championship leader Harry Woodhead.
The weekend didn’t get off to the best start however setting the seventh fastest time in qualifying putting him slightly down the order for the afternoon’s race one. Keith, who is a self-confessed wet weather fan was delighted to see the heavens open and his Douglas Motorsport crew quickly gave him an ideal setup for the torrential conditions. Struggling off the line initially, by the end of the opening lap Keith was now up to second and very clearly the fastest man on the circuit. By the third lap, Donegan had now caught and passed the only man to win a race in 2013, Harry Woodhead. Now leading, Keith continued to strengthen his advantage to over 12 seconds as the chequered flag waved and with it, awarding him his first race victory in cars and also, the first driver to beat Harry Woodhead in 2013.
Starting Sunday’s race two from seventh on the grid, Keith was keen to make his way up the order as quickly as possible to the head of the field. A good start off the line enabled Donegan to maintain his position during the opening laps of the race. Whilst challenging for sixth position, Keith ran wide coming out of the super fast Richies corner on the fourth lap putting him back to eighth position. With the lead pack starting to bunch up, Donegan was now able to make his way back up the order in the closing stages of the race. Benefitting from Will Palmers failed move to retain the lead and subsequently being shuffled down the order, Keith was able move ahead coming into Brundle corner for sixth position. Donegan did a superb job over the final few corners to defend the place crossing the line in sixth position and closing the gap to second in the championship to just four points.
A thrilled Keith Donegan added after the weekend, “this weekend has been great to be the first one to beat Harry this year and to win by such a margin was really special. Also in the wet we had really good pace and the Douglas Motorsport guys gave me an awesome car. All I had to do was peddle around to win so it was a really special moment for me with it being my first car racing win.”
Douglas Motorsport team principal Wayne Douglas commended Keith’s dominant victory, “Keith has done a fantastic job this weekend. His pace in the wet was sensational and I’m delighted that we could give him a car to break Harry’s winning streak. Keith has proven he can win now so we’re looking forward to Knockhill where we will be aiming to move into second in the drivers championship with two more strong results.”