Words by: Andy Lloyd
Images by: India Knowlson
Boston College Racing’s Alex Foden, in only his second weekend of Student Motorsport Competition, took overall and class pole position for rounds three and four of the 2026 season.
Foden lapped the 3.219 kms of the Snetterton 200 in 1:39.927 on his final lap, beating Team Northbrook Racing’s Richard Jepp to pole position by .027 seconds.
Completing the top three in class with Foden’s teammate Andrew Dyer in the #15 BCR Toyota Aygo who put in a 1:41.147 to qualify sixth overall. The battle between BCR and TNR was rounded out by Jack Wheeler, who joined Emma Norton’s Shoreham-based Team Northbrook Racing for the 2026 season.
The 18-car Student Motorsport Competition grid was met with almost perfect track conditions as the cars assembled for Saturday’s 15-minute qualifying session ahead of Sunday’s two rounds contested over three races.
Carter Steel in the #21 East Surrey College Racing Citroen C1 set the first competitive time with a 1:49.821, quickly followed by NESCOT Racing’s Elliot Lettis with a 1:51.357. Triple title-holders TNR with driver Richard Jepp was the first to lap below 1:41 with a 1:40.832 on his second tour with East Surrey College Racing’s Luke Bate 1.266 seconds back with a 1:42.098.
Jepp improved to a 1:40.066 with teammate Jack Wheeler in the sister #57 car just over a second back on 1:41.181. BCR’s Alex Foden was, at that stage, third quickest with just over six minutes remaining on 1:41.205. Foden improved again to go second quickest overall with a 1:40.553.
With less than 30 seconds remaining Foden was knocked off the front row by the #392 car Citroen driven by Alistair May with Foden’s teammate Andrew Dyer lapping quicker than TNR’s Wheeler to qualify the #57 BCR car third in class and sixth overall.
With a minute left, Alex Foden put in a flyer on what was to be his final lap to take overall and class pole from Richard Jepp by less than .03 of a second.
QE Motorsport’s Alex Turner had an off-track excursion at Turn One and the car was returned to the paddock with front end damage.
JAS/HW Motorsports’ Jenson Jackson qualified fifth in class followed by ESC Racing’s Luke Bate, Brooklands Technical College Racing’s George Antoniou, NESCOT Racing’s Elliot Lettis and ESC Racing’s Carter Steel.
NSCG Racing’s Luke Sawyer qualified tenth in class followed by WFC Racing’s Harry Sutton, QE Motorsport’s Emilia Vincent and Pitlane Development’s Rueben Lowe. The Competition grid was completed by Paddock Speedshop’s Aby Bennett, NSCG’s Jake Gittus, City College Norwich Racing’s Sean Feehan and QE Motorsport’s Alex Turner.
Alex Foden was delighted with his pole position.
“This is my first pole position with Boston so I’m happy with that,” said Alex. “I got quite lucky as there was a double waved yellow at Turn One. Richard Jepp and I got a four-car tow down the back straight – he gave me a little nudge so I’m pleased with that and we got a bit lucky with the two so looking forward to tomorrow now.”
Rounds Three and Four, with the grid divided into three groups, get underway at 9.55am on Sunday the 10th of May.
