Sedgwick claims rookie prize to banish first-race disappointment

After setting the fourth-fastest time in qualifying, Sedgwick lined up on the second row of the grid for Sunday’s first seven-lap race in front of thousands of British Touring Car Championship fans.

After maintaining his place into the second corner, Sedgwick was hit from behind and spun off the track.

The teenager managed to get the car back on to the circuit just as the safety car was deployed for another incident and fought his way through the pack, setting the third fastest lap time in the process.

However, after starting so close to the front, a 12th-placed finish was tinged with disappointment.

“It was not the result I had hoped for and, without the safety car incident, I would have probably not been able to catch the pack,” said the Southam College student.

“After being forced off the track all I could think about was getting back on and chasing down the other cars.”

Prior to the start of the second race, a heavy shower made track conditions difficult and too much wheel spin at the start dropped Sedgwick down to eighth place as the cars raced into the second corner.

This time, he exited the corner without any incidents and had worked his way back up to sixth when the chequered flag finally came down.

The subsequent exclusion of the fifth-placed driver for an in-race incident lifted Sedgwick one place and earned him his first car racing silverware.

“After the disappointment of the first race, I was determined to fight back and get the best result I could,” said Sedgwick.

“Winning the Rookie Driver trophy was a nice reward for everybody’s hard work.

“Now we have to build on this for the next round at Croft at the end of the month.”