Kellett Shows True Grit to keep title hopes alive on challenging weekend!

Alastair Kellett has been a constant frontrunner in the UK Airtec Fiesta 240 Championship over the last number of years. For some reason though, and usually in the final stages the coveted title win has always eluded him. He was third in 2021 and agonisingly close in second in both 2022 and 2033, and one sometimes feared it wasn’t just luck that stood between the Kells garage owner and the title.

It’s not as if he doesn’t know how to win titles, he has won plenty of them this side of the water- try the Uno Cup, Punto 1400 and Punto Abarth titles, as well as the Fiesta Zetec Championship. An impressive record.

In the run up to last weekend’s penultimate meeting at Thruxton, Alastair had already taken six wins and stood at the top of the standings, with what looked like a healthy lead, from fellow Irish tintop exponent Gary Miller.  It all started off well, with the Kellett Motors liveried machine taking pole by half a second from Zach Lucas and Daniel Lewis. There are three races each weekend for the championship, which supports the UK TCR Championship and Alastair made no mistakes to win the opener, taking fastest lap for good measure.

This further increased his series lead and it seemed two good finishes would put one hand on the championship trophy. It doesn’t always work out that way though and unfortunately for the Irishman, his gearbox let go on the formation lap for the second race. He immediately headed to the pits to try and get it changed before race three. He somehow managed it and the immaculate blue and yellow machine lined up stone last for the final race of the weekend, with the rain now pouring down….

Without wanting to tempt fate, what followed was definitely the drive of a champion.  Having made a good initial launch and made up a few places, a shunt up front brought out the safety car. Once again, fortune wasn’t with him though, as for some reason, one of the mid fielders allowed a huge gap to open between him and the lead pack as the Safety Car was about to come in and release the pack.  This gave him a big hill to climb but he got the head down and repeatedly set  fastest lap as he charged up through the field. The safety car intervention meant that he didn’t have much time but he still managed to catch the lead group and steal fourth on the final lap, after what he later described as a “huge moment” through the ultra fast Church Corner!

The final rounds of the 2024 Airtec Fiesta ST240 Championship take place at Silverstone on the 12/13 October

Images: BRSCC/Airtec Fiesta ST240 Championship