How The Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy Title Was Won
Whilst the fight to secure top honours in the JCW category of the 2023 Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE proved to be a two-way affair, things were much more open amongst a bumper field of drivers dicing for the Cooper class crown.
Half a dozen drivers would find themselves in contention going into the business end of the season, with EXCELR8 driver Tom Ovenden attempting to fend off a strong list of rivals – headed by the ultra-consistent Nicky Taylor and his Graves Motorsport team-mates Alex Solley and Jack Byrne.
Ovenden would ultimately prevail to secure the title in his third season in the series, wrapping up the championship during the final meeting of the campaign at Brands Hatch
The graphic below shows how the championship battle ebbed and flowed across the season from race to race, with Ovenden taking the early lead before being forced to fight his way back ahead of Solley, and Taylor running the eventual winner close before dropped scored were taken into account.
It also shows how Nathan Edwards ended the year as the form driver in the series, rocketing up the standings thanks to a strong second half of the campaign.
The final totals for each driver after Round 20 incorporate any dropped scores, and points lost to championship penalties.