Teenaged racer Steijn Schothorst showed a true pace to win the Dan Higgins Trophy this afternoon at Manfeild, speeding off the front row past pole man Alex Lynn and holding a lead of more than a second through the later parts of the race.

The race finished under a safety car period after British racer Jann Mardenborough spun backwards off the track at the infield ‘esses’ but Schothorst had been the pace-setter throughout and was unlikely to have been challenged in the final few laps of the race, Cassidy able to stay on the Netherlands driver’s pace but not able to get close enough to attempt a pass.

Defending champion Nick Cassidy was second overall, surging past Lynn at the start and having one lunge at Scothhorst as the field swept into the first corner. Lynn held on to third ahead of Lucas Auer.

Jann Mardenborough had survived a heart-stopping early-race ‘moment’ when he ran up onto the track edge and spun through 360 degrees before regaining the track, but he then slid backward off through the gravel trap at the esses on lap 16. His crash brought out the safety car and the race was declared two laps later, the field finishing behind the safety car.

Schothorst was the eighth different race winner in 13 races, and moves closer to the leading three with 640 points. Lynn holds onto third with 714 points; Auer second on 728 but losing ground on Cassidy who now has a 45 point advantage with 773.

Cassidy said afterward he was happy with the result, which extended his points lead in the championship over fourth-placed Auer, “but to be honest I’m more worried about getting good points out of tomorrow’s race” where he will start from seventh position alongside Schothorst.
Puerto Rico’s Félix Serrallés finished eighth today and thus has pole for tomorrow morning’s race.