RISING star Ronan Pearson has set his sights on the top 10 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after enjoying his best result in the series to date.
The talented 21-year-old, from Kelty, is competing in the competition for the first time, and marked the third race weekend of 2023 with his best finish so far.
Snetterton, in Norfolk, played host to the latest races in the championship and Ronan, who had previously enjoyed success there with a podium finish during his time in the Quaife Mini Challenge, from which he moved into the BTCC, was looking to build on a double points finish at Brands Hatch last time out.
A pair of 13th placed finishes gave the EXCELR8 Motorsport driver his first points in the BTCC, and he picked up more behind the wheel of his Macklin Motors and Saltire Energy-backed Hyundai i30 Fastback N.
After a solid run through the two free practice sessions, on a weekend that, in a first for Ronan, saw drivers required to use all three compounds of Goodyear tyre, he qualified for the opening race in 14th place.
Running on the medium compound tyre, he was in fine form as he worked his way forward through the race before, on the final lap, grabbing 12th spot, and securing his best result so far.
That was then added with more points in race two, where he crossed the line in 13th, but a clash with Árón Taylor-Smith, of CarStore Power Maxed Racing, saw him forced to retire early in the finale.
With 12 points, Ronan is 21st in the overall drivers' championship standings, and is third in the Jack Sears Trophy, which is a separate competition, with its own scoring system, for drivers, before the season, have not registered an overall podium finish to their name, with 112.
READ MORE: BTCC drive was a 'childhood dream' for race ace Ronan
"Although it didn’t end the way I hoped, I’m really pleased with the way the weekend went at Snetterton as I was up in the points-scoring positions throughout," Ronan said. "Considering I’d never driven the car here before, we showed strong pace from the start and on both the medium and soft tyre, things went well.
"Had it not been for traffic in race two, we had the potential for a top-ten finish but still looked good to win the Jack Sears Trophy before the contact in race three that put me out. That was a disappointing way to end things, even more so because it was a chance to sample the hard tyre before we go to Thruxton.
"Three rounds in, I feel I’m coming to terms with the BTCC and it certainly feels like I’ve been in the series longer than I have been! I’ve been able to learn a huge amount and have shown I have the pace to challenge for points, and the goal now is to break forwards into the top ten and really make my mark."
The BTCC returns at Thruxton, Hampshire, over the weekend of June 3-4.
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