Harry Hickton Fights Back On Busy Oulton Park Weekend

Harry Hickton endured a rollercoaster visit to Oulton Park this past weekend (June 6-7) as he competed in both the Power Maxed MINI CHALLENGE and Classic Touring Car Racing Club Pre-83 Championship.

Taking centre stage at the Cheshire venue for the fourth event of the season - and the last before the annual summer break - the 20-year-old was on double duty as he hopped between two very different cars, enjoying varying success along the way.

In the MINI CHALLENGE, the Hampshire racer had hoped to be challenging for front-running honours like previous rounds but that aspiration was frustratingly extinguished during Saturday’s all-important qualifying session.

Looking on course to start as high as fourth at one point, Hickton’s Mannpower Motorsport machine ground to a halt on circuit with a mechanical issue, which in-turn caused a red flag stoppage.

As per the regulations, his fastest times up until that point were subsequently taken away from him, which meant that he would start from the back of the grid for both races.

Determined to bounce back from that setback, Hickton showcased his overtaking prowess in each contest as he moved up to 12th in race one before then going one better in race two.

Hickton did enjoy success in the Pre-83 Touring Cars though, which was making a first-ever appearance on the support bill of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Driving his father’s Opel Kadett, the former MINI CHALLENGE Trophy champion wowed the crowds as he slid his way to fifth in race one and then a podium finish in race two.

Harry Hickton: “It’s been a really tough weekend and had I not been driving my Dad‘s Opel, there’s no doubt I’d be leaving in a far worse mood than I’m currently in - and that’s saying something.

“We’re not quite sure what’s going on with the MINI at the moment because there is something no quite right that we can’t put our finger on. I’m proud of my performance to fight from the back and onto the fringes of the top ten but that’s not where we want to be ultimately.

“I absolutely loved driving the Opel though and it was a great feeling to be standing on that podium in what is my Dad’s car. You can’t not have a smile on your face when you’re behind the wheel and I certainly had one from ear-to-ear when I was out on-track.

“We’ve got a long summer break now - which is handy because I’m knackered after jumping between two cars all weekend - so we’ll take stock of everything and aim to come back fighting in the second half of the season."

The Power Maxed MINI CHALLENGE season continues north of the border at Knockhill on August 8-9.