Rosland Gold Racing Triumphs with Double Delight at Brands Hatch Finale!
The season's grand finale at the iconic GP circuit of Brands Hatch delivered pure racing magic, with Rosland Gold Racing seizing the spotlight by clinching not one but TWO double podium finishes! It was an electrifying spectacle that culminated in Rosland Gold Racing by Century Motorsport claiming the Team Championship in only its second season in the Carrera Cup GB series.
Race One had James Kellett starting in P2 and Josh Malin in P3, promising a front-row spectacle for eager fans. With hopes of some decent points to be collected, the team was confidently assembled in the pit lane (with some having fingers crossed!). As the lights went out, the race was underway and both drivers executed perfect starts. James surged ahead to claim P1, while Josh, behind the wheel of the 'Pink Pig' car, solidified P3 as the cars rounded the Druids Hairpin after a breath-holding Paddock Hill Turn One. James lost P1 momentarily, but grabbed it back almost immediately.
Lap after lap, they maintained their positions, forging a gap from the chasing pack. The race wasn't without its drama, Behind the first 3 rows on the grid there had been some ‘elbows’ on Turn 3 on the first lap, further back from the front few, and then a couple more incidents followed as the race continued – with a couple of unrelated retirements soon following – and then there was another contact that sent one car into the tyre wall and the safety car was deployed.
Despite the disruptions, the safety car stayed out as marshals worked tirelessly to repair a damaged tyre wall. Eventually, the race concluded behind the safety car, with Kellett in P1 and Malin in P3. A stunning double podium in Race One set the tone for a memorable day.
Kellett, as the race winner, drew the grid position reversal number, and out came the 4-ball, ensuring that the top four finishers from Race One would swap positions for Race Two. This placed Josh in P2 and James in P4 on the starting grid for the season's final showdown. Perfect!
The lunch break was an opportunity to check the team championship points, and it became clear that a cautious and trouble-free Race Two would secure the Team Championship. As the sun began to set on the season, Race Two kicked off.
Both Rosland Gold drivers made strong starts, and the positions remained unchanged until around lap four when Josh was overtaken by the car in P3. However, the overtaking car had repeatedly exceeded track limits, rightly leading to a five second penalty.
Unaware of the impending penalty, the race continued to its conclusion. With the penalty applied to the offending car, it was another magnificent double podium for Rosland Gold Racing, with Josh in P2 and James in P3.
The result sealed the Team Championship for Rosland Gold Racing by Century Motorsport, cementing a fantastic weekend and perfect ending to the season. A massive thanks to the Century Motorsport Team guys.
The celebrations were jubilant in the Rosland Gold and Century Motorsport paddock, with photos, cheers, and applause echoing through the air. The weekend was the perfect conclusion to a remarkable season, with a special shoutout to both James Kellett and Josh Malin, who finished P2 and P3 in the drivers' championship.
While reflecting on the season, it's worth noting that James faced early-season setbacks through no fault of his own. In the first race of the season at Donington Park he was knocked off the track into the gravel resulting in steering rods being broken, then having to start at the back of the pros in the second race because of the DNF, which saw him work his way through the field in torrential rain, but obviously being nowhere near where he would have been unhindered. Then being knocked off at Thruxton that caused a pit stop and another poor finish – thus having to start down the grid for Race Two there as well. However, his remarkable driving and resilience saw him clinch P2 in the drivers' championship. As for Josh Malin, joining the team in the third race meeting and completing only 12 of the season's 16 races, his P3 finish in the drivers' championship is an extraordinary achievement.
Rosland Gold Racing's journey through the Carrera Cup GB series this season has been nothing short of extraordinary. The season's finale at Brands Hatch will be remembered as a day of triumph, camaraderie, and unbridled joy – a fitting end to a sensational season of racing.