Ashley Gregory ends 2024 MINI Challenge UK Trophy Season with impressive top 5 finish

For the final time in 2024, Ashley Gregory competed in the MINI Challenge Trophy UK at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, and came away with an impressive top 5 finish and a further top 10 result.

Ashley and her sole privateer team brought a brand new MINI Cooper to the final round of the season. During the practice sessions the 20-year-old found over half a second in lap time and was looking good ahead of the final qualifying session of the year.

However, the wet weather on Saturday threw a spanner in the works. Having never driven the new car in the wet, and subsequently not having a setup suitable for the conditions, Ashley was at a severe disadvantage in qualifying, but she still managed to secure a grid spot within the top 15.

In her usual indomitable style, Ashley didn’t let the compromised qualifying session get her down and the following day pushed on to put in an impressive performance in damp conditions, going from 14th on the grid to finishing in 5th position, just one second off the race leader at the chequered flag. Her impressive driving was also reflected in the fact that she held the fastest lap of the race.

Race two proved to be a rough affair as two red flags were brought out over the course of the 10 lap race, due to severe accidents and cars being grounded in the gravel. Ashley made two solid starts in the now drying conditions but with the limited amount of race time she wasn’t able to battle it out with her competitors and finished the second race in 8th place.

Ashley was eager to end the 2024 MINI Challenge Trophy UK season on a high and made a fantastic start to the final race. From 15th place on the grid she had broken into the top 10 by the end of the first lap - an impressive feat given how tight and short a lap is around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. As the race progressed, Ashley set about making up even more ground but was sadly punted off the track and sent to the back of the field. Her steering was compromised but she was still able to push on, recover several places and end her final race in 16th position.

“What a weekend of highs and lows. I’m grateful to my team and mechanics for all their hard work and for getting the new car ready for the season finale. It was a shame we had a wet qualifying which hurt us as we didn’t have a wet weather setup but moving forward the car was fantastic.

I’m proud of the job I did in race one and to have been able to set the fastest lap of the race but it would have been nice if race two was cleaner and didn’t have as many interventions. It was also disappointing to have been put off the track by a competitor and not be able to end the season with a top 10 finish or better, but that’s racing sometimes. I can only control what I do.

I appreciated having the support trackside from one of my sponsors, McGowan Transcriptions. It’s always a pleasure to spend time with them and I hope Joe from the company had a great time. I appreciate her and the firm's support.

I’d like to extend my thanks to Salford Van Hire, Pecometer, HMS Haulage, Mintech Spares UK, JB Data Engineering, Umbra Security Group LTD, FUCHS UK, Bowker MINI, North Coat Ltd, The Honda Specialist, Gianluca Photography, GymSafe Security, DJB Business Finance, Maybrook Fleet Care, Millennium Supplies LTD, Glass Assist UK, Whiting and Wilson Jewellers, Crossbar Marketing and Toxic Nation.

All of these amazing companies are the reason I’ve been able to go racing this season. Without them it just wouldn’t have been possible and I hope I’ve done everyone proud this year.”

Ashley Gregory and her privateer team are currently working on their 2025 programme and will make an announcement in due course.