Langridge and Lee secure a win each in Wales

The latest installment of the 2024 Miata Trophy season took place on July 13, with two rounds on the stunning coastal configuration of Anglesey Circuit Trac Môn.

It was a day to remember for both Miller Motorsport’s John Langridge and Hills Motorsport’s Declan Lee, as the two drivers secured their first victories of the year.

Qualifying

Langridge hit the ground running in qualifying, with two consecutive laps lighting up the timing sheets. The Miller Motorsport driver’s lap of 1m19.187s was a strong early benchmark and proved to be one that couldn’t be bested, ensuring Langridge’s place in SuperPole as fastest qualifier.

Hills Motorsport’s duo of Dillon Stepney and Drew Fletcher looked sharp in the opening laps of the session and would join Langridge in SuperPole, alongside Miller Motorsport’s Alex Miller and Jiffy Winks’s Simon Fleet.

The battle in qualifying was incredibly tight, with Hills Motorsport’s Declan Lee and Roan Lundy missing out on SuperPole by just 0.024s and 0.029s respectively.

SuperPole

SuperPole always has the potential to throw up some surprise results, with the nature of a one-lap shootout meaning there’s no room for error. Langridge continued in his strong vein of form to secure his first pole position of the season, courtesy of a tremendous 1m19.266s.

Fleet was the biggest gainer, keeping his cool to set a lap good enough for P3 on the grid, while Stepney joined Langridge on the front row by qualifying in P2. Fletcher and Miller rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

Race One

An exceptional getaway and opening lap ensured Langridge remained at the front, while Stepney managed to maintain his second place. Miller leapfrogged rivals to end the opening lap in third position, while Lee was pushing hard to rise through the order.

As the race progressed, Langridge continued to post quick lap times to build a gap to the chasing pack. Stepney was also starting to build a buffer to Miller in third, while Miller was embroiled in a fantastic battle for the podium places against the likes of Fletcher, Lundy, Nicholas Stott and Lee.

Ultimately, no one could come close to John Langridge in the day’s opening race and the #5 driver recorded a hugely impressive lights-to-flag victory – his first of 2024! Despite coming under huge pressure late on in the race, Stepney defended well to finish in second. Valiant defending from Miller earned the #7 driver third place, with Fletcher narrowly missing out on the podium by 0.672s.

Lee, Stott, Lundy, David Chapman (Paul Sheard Autosport), Fleet and Ray Worley (Boreham Motorsport) rounded out the top ten, with Langridge also recording the fastest lap of the race with a 1m19.984s.

Race Two

Similar to the day’s earlier race, a strong opening lap kept Langridge at the front at the start of race two. An exceptional getaway for Lee put the #1 car directly on the heels of the leaders, even overtaking Stepney for second on lap two. Fletcher had got the jump on Miller and was hunting down the podium positions once more.

Lee clearly had the bit between his teeth and was immediately hot on the tail of Langridge in front. The pair had enjoyed a fantastic battle in Anglesey last season and it looked set for another epic encounter between the two drivers.

On lap seven, Lee overtook Langridge for the race lead – a position he wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the race. Resolute defending saw off Langridge’s advances and earned reigning champion Lee his first victory of the season. Langridge had looked strong all day and was rewarded with another podium and second-place, being joined by third-place Stepney – who had displayed strong pace throughout the day.

Fletcher narrowly missed out on the podium in fourth, while Miller rounded out the top five. Stott, Fleet, Chapman, Lundy and Jack Hargraves (Boreham Motorsport) all enjoyed top ten finishes, earning valuable championship points.

Race winner Lee recorded the fastest lap in the second race, thanks to a 1m19.917s.

Miata Trophy returns next month at Snetterton on August 10. Entries can be made via the website.