Drought wins UK’s largest Saloon Car Championship

Roscrea race driver Nicole Drought crossed the line third at Brands Hatch on Saturday evening to assure herself of her first UK Championship title.

Alongside her team-mate Justin Roberts, Nicole took her eighth consecutive podium finish after a late race charge, the EBC Racing Honda Civic shadowing the winners across the line to clinch enough points to assure the Roscrea lady of her first UK Championship.

MSVR is the largest motorsport organisation in the country, and this is the largest production saloon car championship. Nicole won five out of eight races in the UK (one race was in Spain) and was on the podium for the other three events.

This huge success follows her winning the overall Irish Rallycross championships earlier this year.

Justin Roberts started the race and kept in touch with the leaders throughout.

At the half way point, he pitted to hand over to Nicole. In the closing stages of the race, she was running in the lead pack in fourth.

Although this would have assured her of the title, she decided she wanted to end the season with a podium finish and sliced by Matt Swaffer's BMW at Druids corner with two laps to go.

On the final tour, a late braking lunge almost annexed her second place, but she decided discretion was the better part of valour and crossed the line a close third place, to the delight of the large Irish contingent who had travelled over to support her.

This is Nicole's fifth Championship win and makes her a double champion in 2024, as she was crowned Open Clubman Irish Rallycross champion a few weeks ago.

Nicole has already received some interesting offers for 2025, including a funded drive in Asia and a few different UK options.

One thing is for sure though, whatever she decides to do, Ireland's top female race driver won't be there to make up the numbers!

“It has been a great season, probably my best to date,” Nicole said.

“It was all about getting a finish today and staying out of trouble, but late on in the race, the car felt great, and I really wanted a podium, so I started to push.

“I have a great team around me, and we all worked hard. To win a UK Championship really is a dream come true for me

“Big thanks, as ever, to Siltex Safety, Gem Oils, Joe Mallon Motors and ITM Digital for their support."

Stuart Garland, MSVR Championship Manager added: "Nicole has been an inspiration this year.

“She has performed superbly all season and we are delighted she has won the championship. She is our first ever female race winner, our first ever female double winner, and now our first ever female champion.

It is exactly what we want to see in our championships, and we would love her to come back and defend her title in 2025."