Totally Motorsport’s Junior Academy driver Kyle Hornby, from Stockport, was in action at Rockingham at the weekend, in Rounds 18, 19 & 20 of the 2016 Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship.

Hornby was quick in mid week testing at the Northants ‘speed bowl’ posting third fastest time. But following Qualifying for Race One he could only manage 12th on the grid due to the illusive important slip stream Ginetta Juniors rely so heavily on.

His JHR Developments prepared car was also not has he would have liked, with too much under-steer causing Kyle problems. This was, however, solved for the Race.

Hornby made one of his trademark ‘demon’ starts off the grid for Race One, and was up fighting with the pack by turn two, only to be pushed wide and knocked off track. But Hornby held on well and was soon back up to 9th and by the end of Race One had secured another position ending up 8th which is where he would line up for Race Two.

A torrential downpour forced the Series’ organisers to put back the ‘Juniors’ second Race of the weekend to Sunday morning, where it would take place under much sunnier conditions.
Another great start in Race Two, and again was up with the leading bunch. This time again he was pushed wide by his nemesis, Dave Wooder and then Daniel Harper which forced him in to a spin, dropping him to the back of the field. Never to give up Kyle fought back and eventually ended up in twelfth position.

As a result, Kyle starting in his finishing position from Race Two, was ironically where he started the weekend – twelfth. So again Hornby put the rest of the grid to shame with his catapult start, and again was mixing with the leaders and again was back in the wars and coming off worst. On the final lap he was, for want of another word, attacked by five cars. With so much damage being incurred by others during the weekend action, Kyle decided to adopt a ‘damage limitation’ approach and finish the race in a lowly fourteenth place, but with a car in one piece!