Summarize

Rookie racer Aqil Alibhai once again impressed as the Michelin British Ginetta Junior championship raced at Donington Park over the weekend. It was yet another tough learning weekend for the South African youngster out of Ormonde in Johannesburg, in a cauldron of one of the toughest Junior racing series out there as he raced to ninth in the opening race, 17th in the second and 13th in the final heat.

“That was another eventful weekend and some hard committed racing!” former SA karting star Aqil admitted. "Qualifying was unfortunately a bit of a mess up — we had better pace than that, but I managed to get caught up in traffic on every flying lap, but I put in my fastest lap on the last tour when I more or less got it right with a bit of clear air to put it 15th for first race and 16th for the second. 

“I made several great overtakes to move up to ninth in the opening heat to end up just off the rookie podium in fourth among the first year guys, so we were pretty happy with that. Then race two was red flagged after lap 6 and I got pushed wide onto the gravel on the restart and lost eight places., “So I just put my head down and managed to claw back to 17th.

"So that's where we started the final — in 17th. “I had good pace and made my way up as far as eleventh, where I got caught up in a great five-car battle and eventually ended up 13th. “All in all this weekend once again fitted the bill as I continue to learn and discover every weekend. “I must have made 20 overtakes again this weekend, our pace is getting better and better and I’m loving working and making constant progress with my Breakell Racing team and my dad.”

Aqil has one more Michelin Ginetta Junior appointment at the 23-24 October Brands Hatch finale in two weeks time.