Sedgwick’s chances of glory go up in smoke at Brands Hatch

Competing in the Ginetta Junior Championship, Sedgwick ended Friday’s free practice in seventh place, just over half a second shy of provisional pole and he maintained his position in Saturday’s 15-minute qualifying session, setting the seventh and sixth-fastest times of the 20 drivers to determine his grid positions for Sunday’s races.

Sedgwick held on to seventh position in Sunday’s opening 14-lap race but was forced to take evasive action to avoid a car that had spun, leaving him down in 16th and 12 seconds behind the leaders when he rejoined.

He said: “I drove as fast as I could to try and regain my original position and had just caught up the cars in front as the chequered flag went out.”

Sedgwick fought back to cross the line in 12th and was keen to show just what he could do from the third row in the day’s second race which took place in front of the thousands assembled for the main event, the first round of the British Touring Car Championship.

However, the 15-year-old’s race was nearly over before it began as a two cars crashed in front of him, bringing the safety car out before the drivers had even made the first corner.

After the restart, Sedgwick sat comfortably in sixth but with just two laps remaining a rash move from one of his rivals resulted in major damage to the rear of his car and forced his retirement.

“Retiring from the race in a smoked-filled car was not what I planned for me or MIS Motorsport and Carlube, my sponsors,” said a disappointed Sedgwick.

“Even so, it has been a very positive start to my car racing career and I have learnt a lot.

“I cannot wait now until the next race at Donington in April.”