Donington Park GP wasn’t one of those straightforward weekends for Ashley Gregory.
From early pace and sky-high confidence to questionable penalties and an untimely DNF, it was a story that had everything, except the results the car and driver truly deserved.
Settling In
By Wednesday the truck was parked up in the paddock at Donington Park, with everything set and ready to go. Thursday’s free practice sessions were steady on paper, both ending in P6, but the real story was hidden in the details. The fastest laps came right at the end, on tyres carried over from Donington 2024, with no tow, and still within half a second of the outright pace. It was enough to light the spark of confidence for the weekend ahead. Friday was reserved for rest, the calm before the storm.
Saturday Highs
Qualifying was a frustrating mix of promise and what might have been. The car had the speed to challenge for pole, but traffic blocked every flying lap. P4 was the best that could be managed, though anyone watching closely knew there was more potential under the bonnet.
Race one proved it. Ashley launched cleanly from second and immediately broke away with the leader, the two running in formation and pulling an eight-second gap on the rest of the field.
The lap times were near identical, meaning the chase for the win was out of reach, but P2 was a controlled, confident drive that showed just how good the car felt.
Sunday Struggles
The reverse grid for race two made life more complicated. From ninth, Ashley pushed through to sixth, although progress was slowed by a rival defending firmly. But the real drama came after the race.
Hours later, 12 of the 13 finishers were hit with penalties. Ashley’s was a 30-second addition, handed down with no proof. An appeal was made and won… sort of. The penalty was swapped for a drive-through, but that still equated to the same half-minute lost.
What should have been a solid P6 ended up as an undeserved P10.
Determined to put it right, Ashley lined up for race three with confidence sky-high. From fourth on the grid, she was already into second by the middle of the opening lap. Then disaster struck, contact caused suspension damage. Ashley tried to coax the car home for points, but with a minute left on the clock the temperature light forced a heartbreaking retirement!
Looking Ahead
Donington Park was a weekend of highs and lows, but through it all the car was quick, the driver was sharp, and the hunger for more only grew. The immediate focus is on securing a new engine for the next round, while eyes are also looking forward to possible alternative championship options in 2026.
Among the setbacks, there were bright moments. Having Klarius and McGowan Transcriptions trackside was a huge boost.
By Janine Kell
