Branson wins BRCA Nationals opener at Cotswolds

Kyle Branson has won the opening round of the BRCA British Touring Car Nationals.  The first of the 5 championship rounds was stages at the Cotswold track where in practice reigning champion Elliott Harper would break the track record with his prototype Schumacher, Branson also managing to break 21 laps.  In qualifying it was Branson who was fastest but only marginally over Harper.  Topping 3 of the 4 rounds, Branson posted a 21/5:07.13 compared to Harpers 21/5:07.49.  Behind Peter Eagles and Chris Grainger completed the Modified class Top 4.  In the finals, the British Championship running double A-Mains, Branson won the first by 2.5-seconds from Harper with Grainger moving up to third.  A2 would see Harper go for a gap but unfortunately spin out after side-by-side contact.  Setting the fastest lap of the harper would manage to finish second just behind the winner with Eagles in third but overall it was the veteran Grainger who competed the podium.  Round 2 of the championship will take drivers to Stafford on May 25th.

Image: Schumacher [Facebook]