North Yorkshire racer Max Coates enjoyed his first victory of the 2021 MINI Challenge at Brands Hatch over the weekend. 

Coates sealed a podium finish in the first win of the weekend before coming first in the second race on the Saturday. It's his first victory of the season and the first for new racing team Graves Motorsport. Coates would end up finishing fifth in the final race of the weekend.

It was a comfortable win for Coates who avoided drama on the final stretch when Jack Mitchell and Max Bird collided forcing Bird off the track. Mitchell was excluded from the official results.

After a difficult opening round of racing at Snetterton, Coates was happy with a victory that sent him up to 7th in the standings.

“What a way to bounce back.

"I’m so happy to get the team’s first podium and win this weekend.

"Graves Motorsport and my loyal sponsors have been so supportive since the opening round so to repay them with that performance feels so good.

"As a team we are making improvements and learning all the time, so having such a positive weekend this early in the season is fantastic and I’m sure it will only get better as the year goes on.”

Coates is next in action at Oulton Park on 31st July.