DW Racing’s Stephanie Hobeika has accrued four Radical Club Challenge presented by 750 Motor Club podium finishes in the six races she has contested to date, having rounded out a challenging weekend at Snetterton with a P3 result (13-14 June).
Hobeika, who originally hails from Lebanon, benefited from two days of testing in hot and humid conditions, setting personal best sub-two-minute lap times prior to the 750 Motor Club race day.
However, competitors were greeted by a green track surface on Saturday morning following overnight thunderstorms, and rain showers added even more jeopardy to the 15-minute Qualifying session.
The greasy, low-grip conditions proved tough for rookie car racer Hobeika, as she struggled to generate sufficient tyre temperature and could only take her Radical SR1 to 20th overall and fourth in Class C for the two sports-prototype races in East Anglia.
In the first 25-minute contest of the weekend, Hobeika initially profited from a relatively sluggish launch for Scott Lear but relinquished track position to her sparring partner when she was forced to slam on the brakes in avoidance of a crash at the Brundle-Nelson chicane.
However, she kept Lear honest and, although her deficit increased as those from Classes A and B lapped her, she was tucked under the rear wing of the #37 SR1 as the pair entered their final tour of the 2.99-mile Snetterton ‘300’ circuit.
DW Racing’s Hobeika had identified Nelson as her best overtaking opportunity, but her SR1 ground to a halt with a broken chain before she count mount an attack and she instead notched up her second retirement of the 2025 season.
Seeking redemption, Hobeika once again made gains from 20th on the grid in Race 2, snatching third in Class C from Lear as the field surged towards Turn 1 and completing the opening lap in 17th overall.
The #66 machine of class opponent Vikram Sudera initially loomed large in her rearview mirrors, but she quickly gapped her pursuer while trying to stay in touch with the second-placed #8 car of Aaron Rose, who was carrying a ten-second time penalty.
Unfortunately, she was unable to capitalise on her rival’s punishment, but she continued to consolidate her position and came home to a fourth career podium.
“Snetterton was very greasy in Qualifying and I had never driven a Radical SR1 on a damp, but drying track before,” said Hobeika. “I placed fourth on the Class C grids and Race 1 was pretty difficult because I exchanged places with Scott (Lear) and Vikram (Sudera) quite a few times, until my chain snapped on the final lap. In the second race, I managed to get away and stay in third until the end. This was a good weekend for on-track battles because we had more cars in the entry, and I’m obviously pleased to come away with another third-place result in class.”
