P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“I struggled in FP1 and FP2, I wanted to change the setup of the car but Dick Bennetts was right.” – Charles Rainford
Charles Rainford of West Surrey Racing expressed his joy at securing his first British Touring Car Championship pole position, describing it as a lifelong dream realized, especially as he led a BMW top-three domination during qualifying at Knockhill. Despite a fierce competition with his teammate Daryl DeLeon, Rainford managed to edge him out by a mere 0.013s to claim the pole. The WSR team’s strong showing saw all four of their 3 Series cars placing in the top-ten, with reigning champion Jake Hill in third and Aiden Moffat in tenth. Rainford admitted to struggling with the car earlier but credited legendary team boss Dick Bennetts for providing key advice that helped him secure pole. The 27-year-old driver expressed his disbelief and gratitude, emphasizing his determination to continue learning and improving in his professional racing career, now filled with the excitement of achieving his first pole position. Despite being a rookie in the BTCC, Rainford has already proven his talent with a race win in only his second weekend at Brands Hatch.
