Race Report from Brands Hatch

Brands Hatch played host to rounds 3 and 4 of the GT Cup Championship where I was back in action with my racing partner Moh Ritson and Paddock Motorsport.

Qualifying

With only limited practice on the historic Grand Prix circuit, qualifying was somewhat of a baptism of fire, there was 46 cars on the grid. I struggled to get a clear lap in with so many cars on the grid but managed to qualify a respectable 8th place in GTH class, considering there was 46 cars on the grid I was quite please as I didn’t seem to get a clear lap in and looking at my sector times I knew I had good pace for the race ahead.

Race 1

I made a good start claiming two positions on the opening lap, I endured a frustrating opening few laps caught in slower traffic hindering my progress, but once cleared, set about closing the gap to the leaders. My pace thereafter was as strong as the leaders before handing the car over to my partner Moh. Despite having only done a total of 5 laps around the grand prix circuit prior to race 1, Moh showed maturity by quickly settling into the race, gaining in confidence every lap bring the car home in P5 and getting us some solid championship points.

Race 2

Race 2 started with Moh at the wheel starting in 6th place and making a bold move around the outside of Paddock Hill bend going three- wide Moh managed to move into 2nd place on the opening lap. Moh now on a charge, set about chasing down the #1 Orange Racing Mclaren, before a safety car interrupted the action. Luck was not on our side as the overall race leader had just slipped by separating the class battle between GTH class first place and the rest of the class field, meaning that the GTH leader was able to gain an entire lap on the field whilst the following GTH cars had to remain in station behind the Safety Car which picked up the overall leader meaning we were now a lap down.

Once racing resumed, Moh built a two-second gap over third place before the pit-stops for the driver change. With myself  now at the wheel, I  found himself at the front of a train of pro- drivers now at the wheel. With 25 minutes of the race still left, I managed to show fantastic pace and set the team’s quickest time of the race yet unfortunately struggled to stop the attack from the chasing pack, which saw a stunning duel going into the final lap between myself and Paddock Motorsport sister car where track knowledge played its trump card with Steve Ruston pulling off a dominant overtake into turn 1 enabling him to finish P5 with me coming home P7. ( I now have that move clearly logged in my brain to use anytime I race there again).

Overall I was really pleased with the weekend as both myself and Moh are still learning the car and we managed to secure some very solid championship points. 

As we head into the Snetterton rounds we are firmly in 3rd place in the Championship in the GTH class.

Snetterton rounds 9,10,11 & 12 are on the 5th-6th June.