Reiging Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Challenge Champion Leo Richardson made the big jump to the UK MINI Challenge for 2026. His POB team built the car over the winter at their Straffan base and delivered it to series experts Graves Motorsport, who run it at the meetings.
It has been a tough season for the youngster as he learnt the new circuits alongside some hugely talented and experienced competitors but at Donington Park last weekend, something clicked and he raised many eyebrows with his pace and racecraft.
Testing was on Thursday at the famous circuit and as the MINIs were about to leave the pitlane the heavens opened. Typically, come Saturday morning, the sun was splitting the stones, meaning Leo’s learning curve wasn’t done just yet. He qualified 13th and fifth in Rookies and was working hard on data to see where he could improve, something that proved to be a worthwhile exercise!
It was Race Two where it all clicked. Starting tenth, the Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans backed driver immediately began to push forward. A few well timed lunges into Redgate got his alongside his foes and he then sat around the outside of the Craners to take the place into the Old Hairpin, to the delight of the vocal Irish supporters. A Safety car bunched them all up again, but any worries his team may have had about him slipping back down the order were soon banished by the young Dubliner as he once again began to charge. Unfortunately the race ended early after an incident but Leo crossed the line fourth and first Rookie, much to the delight of father Geoff and grandfather Ernie!
Leo Richardson: “It was a really good race, I fought my way up through the pack. There were only eight minutes left after the red flag, which is just four laps round here. It was a big battle after that, I managed to make my way through and keep it clean and take fourth and the Rookie win. I’m super happy with the result, it took a lot longer than I would have liked. Hopefully this is a turning point in my season!”
Leo returns to the MINI challenge on September 5th and 6th at the high speed Croft circuit in Yorkshire where he hopes to continue this form and close in on the Rookie Championship lead.
Header Image: A delighted Leo Richardson celebrates his debut Rookie win with Sean Purcell (L) and father Geoff at Donington Park. Image from Motorsport.ie
Action images from MINI Challenge UK
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