Charlie Butler-Henderson scores podium finish at Brands Hatch

Charlie Butler-Henderson got just rewards for his fighting spirit in the two MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit last weekend, with his results elevating the former champion to second in the points table.

CB-H came into the weekend sitting eighth in the standings and on a mission to close the gap to the top three in the championship.
After two frantic races in Kent, the MINI UK Brand Ambassador secured a top-five finish and another podium appearance to soar up the points table.
“Brands GP was a great weekend for me, and superb for the championship,” said CB-H. “I have to thank all of my investors, sponsors, supporters and friends who have helped me so far.”
Qualifying was made tricky when heavy rain soaked the track just before the field was due to head out. Charlie handled the conditions well and sat second fastest before the session was stopped for cars in the gravel.

When qualifying resumed, Charlie slipped to fifth fastest after he caught traffic on his fastest lap.
Regardless, CB-H got a superb start to the first race to run around the outside of the pack at Paddock Hill Bend and slot into third. Sadly his hard work was ruined after the race was stopped for a multi-car tangle at the back of the field.
“I was gutted to see the race stop as it undid all of my good work,” said CB-H. “You never get the chance to go around the outside at the start twice, so I had to take a different approach for the restart.”
The stoppage meant the grid was reset, putting CB-H back to fifth for the remaining 10-minute sprint. But he never got much chance to progress as the safety car was called after two laps when two more cars went off at turn one.
“Race one was a bit of a non-event after the restart,” said CB-H. “I got boxed in at the start and couldn’t do much before the safety car arrived. Still, it’s useful points.”
Fifth is usually a good finish to benefit from the reversed-grid draw, during which the race winner randomly selects a number between 4 and 6 to reverse the top finishers. However, this time card 4 was selected, meaning Charlie just missed out.
Charlie again got a good start to run fourth, and then began to pressure the hard-defending Sarah Moore for third. There was drama when Charlie’s team-mate – and race one winner – Rob Smith misjudged his track position and moved across on Charlie through the last turn. There was contact and Rob was spun out.
“The last thing we wanted was contact, but he came across on me and I had nowhere to go,” said Charlie.
The melee allowed Charlie into third, a place he held until the race finish. The result has helped Charlie climb up to second in the points.

“I went to Brands with the mission of moving up the championship table, and I’ve done that, but it wasn’t quite mission accomplished as I still want to win,” said Charlie.
“We’re back at Oulton Park next, which is one of my favourite tracks. Brett Smith [championship leader] may be a way up the road, but I’m not writing off this championship until it’s mathematically impossible.”

Witham Motorsport and Motul are proud sponsors of Charlie in the MINI CHALLENGE JCW Championship.  For updates on Charlie’s progress you can follow him on Facebook