James Higgins and team-mate Edgar Pierre produced a battling performance in the latest round of the McLaren Trophy Europe this past weekend (July 18-19), only to be cruelly robbed of scoring a third podium finish of the season twice.
Taking centre stage at the Misano World Circuit in Italy, the CSA Racing duo were on course for a top-three finish in each of the weekend’s two contests, however circumstances ultimately conspired against them, meaning they left empty handed.
Arriving at the world-famous venue having already picked up silverware at both Monza and Spa-Francorchamps this term, British ace Higgins wasted no time in lighting up the timesheets during practice throughout Friday.
Come Saturday, Higgins and French native Pierre hustled their McLaren Arturo Trophy EVO car into a strong position for the first of what proved to be two captivating contests around the 2.626-mile circuit.
The opening encounter proved to be one of attrition with Pierre running competitively inside the top-five throughout his stint. Unfortunately, his time behind the wheel would see him pick up a time penalty for exceeding track limits one too many times.
Forced to serve the penalty prior to Higgins jumping in the car, the former single-seater race winner got his head down to produce a sublime half hour or so that culminated in him climbing up the order from outside the top ten to take the chequered flag in fourth.
Had it not been for the time penalty, Higgins’ hard work could well have been rewarded with a second place finish.
Sunday would prove to be just as frustrating with the #111 car firstly suffering a loss of coolant prior to qualifying, which in-turn put the team on the back foot heading into the all-important session to decide the grid for race two.
Despite having to deliver a measured lap in qualifying due to having one eye on track limits, Higgins laid down the foundations for race two as he utilised all of his raw speed and consistency to spend much of his stint in fourth place.
Handing over the reigns to Pierre, Higgins watched on from the garage as his team-mate moved up to third place, before then having to produce a resolute defence as a hoard of other cars filled his mirrors in the closing stages.
Pierre looked on course to make it three podiums from three events before he was unceremoniously hit from behind, which sent him spinning down the order. He ultimately crossed the line in seventh.
James Higgins: “It’s been a frustrating weekend if we’re being honest. We showed plenty of speed throughout practice however it never really translated into the results that we wanted – and that’s not necessarily all down to ourselves.
“Had we not picked up the track limits time penalty in race one then I think we could have come away with a podium. That stint was one of my best in the car to-date and to have dragged us up to the fringes of the top-three from where we were is something I’m really proud of.
“Then to watch a nailed on podium be snatched away from us was tough to take; the move wasn’t really on. But while we leave with no trophies this time, we can hold our heads high and know that we can be a force to be reckoned with once again at the next round.”
The penultimate round of the 2026 McLaren Trophy Europe season takes place at Circuit de Catalunya in Spain on October 2-3.
