However, it was a weekend of highs and lows for the local racing driver in Northamptonshire as after his win he suffered an unlucky setback in the BRSCC Clubsport Trophy.
The 20-year-old produced a strong performance for Race Car Experiences in the team’s Peugeot 308 Cup car, taking victory in the BRSCC Production Cup after starting from second on the grid.
Swanson had qualified second for the opening race after setting a best lap in the 1min. 4sec. bracket, but admitted he made a difficult start to the race, almost stalling the Peugeot off the line and dropping several positions.
He fought his way back to second before a safety car period interrupted the race. Swanson then made his move for the lead on the restart, passing into Luffield before managing the race from the front.
Despite having to negotiate the lapped traffic, the Guernseyman held his nerve to take the chequered flag first, recording a 1-03.774 fastest lap on his way to victory. The official classification shows Swanson completing all 12 laps in 15-09.732, 2.665sec. clear of Rich Hockley.
It was Swanson’s first-ever win at Silverstone and another successful outing for the Race Car Experiences team, who he credited with producing a race-winning Peugeot.
‘I’m super happy being able to come away with a win and the team did an amazing, great job setting up the Peugeot,’ said Swanson.
There was a second opportunity for silverware in the Clubsport Trophy, with Swanson again qualifying on the front row in second place.
He described the qualifying session as a stronger one, with cleaner air and faster cars around him helping him maximise his pace. A lap in the 1-03 bracket put him in a strong position for the longer race.
The 40-lap Clubsport race, though, proved much more frustrating.
After another difficult start, during which he was pushed wide at Turn One, Swanson recovered several positions and was running in third, with a podium finish appearing possible.
His hopes of another strong result were then hit by a rear-left puncture on the out lap following his pit stop.
Swanson managed to limp the Peugeot back to the pits, even making a few overtakes on the way, before the Race Car Experiences crew fitted a replacement tyre and sent him back out.
He eventually finished sixth in Class A and 11th overall, completing 39 laps. The official results record his best lap as 1-04.086.
Despite the disappointment, Swanson was able to take plenty of positives from a busy weekend which delivered his first Silverstone win.
Attention now turns back to the same circuit, with Swanson set to return to Silverstone for round seven of the Britcar Endurance Championship on 3 October.
On that occasion he will switch back to the Volkswagen Racing Golf TCR car as he looks to build on an impressive weekend in the Peugeot.
‘Onto Britcar in two weeks where I’ll be coming back to Silverstone and hopefully I’m able to back up the good results,’ he said.
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