Geena Watkinson secures two second places on race debut in Mazda MX5 Cup

Teenager Geena Watkinson was thrilled with two second places on her race debut this weekend.
Geena Watkinson secured two second-place finishes.Geena Watkinson secured two second-place finishes.
Geena Watkinson secured two second-place finishes.

Competing at Croft, near Newcastle, the 16-year-old from Shirebrook excelled at the Mazda MX5 Cup event.

Qualifying conditions were slippery in the morning but Geena managed to set a time of 1 minute 53.3 seconds to place her 10th on the grid for the two races, the first being on the Saturday afternoon and the second race on the Sunday afternoon.

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With a drying track, Geena’s first race was hampered by another competitor in a Mazda RX8 spinning in front of her, which she avoided to come home ninth on the road and second in her class for Mazda MX5 Mark 1 cars.

Sunday afternoon saw much-improved track conditions with a higher level of grip.

Geena’s increased confidence led to her reducing her best lap time by more than three seconds.

Another incident with a spinning competitor kept her on her toes.

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On the road Geena finished her second-ever race 10th and second in her class.

Geena said: “Well what a weekend, a lot of learning and a lot of fun, it’s definitely good to get out on circuit with competition.”

John Cowan, president of Spirit Air, who backs Geena in her racing said: “Geena and her father Steve have put in a great amount of work getting Geena onto the grid and I am delighted with a very solid performance on her debut race meeting.

"We are working with Geena to build on the solid foundations of her motorsport career that was laid at Croft at the weekend with preparations for the next race meeting at Donington.”

The next race for Geena will be at Donington Park on August 22-23.