Friday practice
Wakefield battled to get his times down and managed to qualify 4th on the grid Friday afternoon.
Saturday Race
Wakefield had a brilliant start off the line beating his closest rival Charlie Butler-Henderson. By Paddock Hill bend he was running 2nd just ahead of the championship leader, Ben Winrow.?? Winrow had the inside line and so was able to claw his way back to 2nd where he started.?? Wakefield had to run wide to avoid contact and Butler-Henderson and Simonsen closed the gap behind Wakefield. Coming through Surtees? Simonsen cut the corner? with all wheels off the track and took an almost straight line into McLaren, trying to force his way into Wakefield?s race line resulting in contact and forcing both cars onto 2 wheels.? Wakefield managed to control his car but Butler-Hendeson took advantage and sneaked back into 3rd.?? Wakefield dropped back but Simonsen paid the price this time as he was out of the race with a damaged radiator.? Wakefield battled hard and had the crowd on it?s feet on several occasions at Paddock Hill bend cheering him on while he tried to make his move.? Unfortunately 6 laps before the end Wakefield was shown the flag for a drive through penalty for wheels off the track at the bottom of Graham Hill bend.? This gave Butler-Henderson another chance to widen the gap and Wakefield rejoined the race and managed to come across the line in 4th and thoroughly disappointed.? I think he and the crowd were hoping he would get the 3rd place!? Most of the race focused on the 3rd place battle.
Sunday Race
Wakefield qualified 3rd on the grid, based on lap times in Saturday?s race, behind Steff Hodgetts and again next to Butler-Henderson.? He didn?t have the best of starts and at Paddock Hill bend he had dropped back to 5th passed by Butler-Henderson and Dawson, a current GT driver.? Wakefield didn?t give up, he got his head down and within 2 laps he had regained 4th place and then the battle commenced between him and Butler-Henderson again.? Lap after lap Wakefield was reeling in Butler-Henderson and once again dominating the tv coverage.??? Paddock Hill bend seemed to be the only place where Wakefield could possibly pass his rival.? After several attempts which included a slide by Wakefield at Paddock Hill bend, as Butler-Henderson fought hard to save his position, Wakefield played the game with Butler-Henderson, forcing him to brake late, enabling Wakefield to execute his planned move on the inside.? There were still 18 minutes to go but Wakefield slowly gained on the 2 leaders and came across the line a very comfortable 3rd.?? Wakefield commented that it was the drive of his life!?? It was also commented on by various spectators that it was the race of the day!
