Race Calendar & Results

A busy day scheduled with predictions of being very hot - and that was how it turned out.

Qualifying started off with the 4th round of the British GT4 Challenge.  I went out first and did a reasonable time in the minimum 3 laps to warm the car up before Ant set about doing the business.

Once again he excelled putting us on pole with a time of 50.368, just 0.195 seconds ahead - again - of James Appleby.

The next 2 qualifying sessions were in the 73 V8 for the Classic Championship and Intermarque. 

In the Classic I was pipped by 0.159 seconds for pole by the very quick N24 of Jeremy Bailey and had Darren McWhiter behind me.  An uncomfortable sandwich!

For the Intermarque again Jeremy pipped me for pole by 0.155 seconds.  It looked like it was going to be hard work as the temperature kept rising.

Race 1 - Aston Martin British GT4 Challenge

Having won the 3 previous rounds the pressure was on with others, especially the Appleby's, very keen to score a victory.

Ant decided I should drive first and so I led the pack around for the rolling start.  In truth I expected James Appleby to try and pass before we got to the first corner!  The reality was my keeping him behind me for a few laps before he decided to try bumping me from behind, then remodelling his mirror to go through a 'too narrow' gap!  Never mind I tucked in behind him, with no one in sight behind us and held on for the rest of my stint. 

When I was called in we were already lapping back markers and were in a strong second place, just 12 seconds adrift.

Refuelled Ant set off for the balance of the race - about 68 minutes.   He lapped consistently and pretty much pegged the gap, but then James Appleby was black flagged for some misdemeanour which effectively put us ahead as he still had to do their 2 minute pit stop / driver change. 

Determined to catch up James then spun, losing more time.  They pitted as did Jonathan Hartop - driving solo - with just seconds to go before the pit window shut - and so with 15 minutes to go Ant was leading David Appleby and Jonathan Hartop.  At the flag Ant had completed our 101st lap with Jonathan (2nd) and David (3rd), both on 100 laps. 

4 wins out of 4, what a result, and with only 2 rounds to go an unassailable lead in the series - one very proud Father left the podium and headed for the 73 V8.

AMOC Classic

We were racing with the Historic cars as well, so some speed differentials!  A standing start that went well and I led into Paddock with Darren's red Zagato right behind me, followed by Jeremy's N24.

It was a real battle between grunt and grip with the other 2 able to corner and exit corners quicker and I able to pull away a little on the 2 short straights.  Thus I was in defensive mode!  After a few laps coming down hill from Druids I passed a back marker on the right, Darren passed him on the left and as we arrived at Graham Hill Bend it got a bit interesting!  To avoid contact I gave him room and went onto the grass - he was through, but a lap or so later I returned the compliment going into Paddock Hill Bend. 

Darren then fell back and Jeremy took over hassling me, but with a few minutes left to run and 2 cars in the gravel, 1 at Druids and the other at Paddock Hill, the race was red flagged, so 4 out of 4 in the Championship.

By now it was very hot, as was I, but at 6.00 p.m. having been at Brands since 7.00 a.m. the last race started.

Intermarque

A rolling start livened up by Jeremy Bailey flooring it as soon as the safety car pulled into the pit lane!  That made it a full out dash down the straight to try and keep up with him.  At Paddock Hill Bend he left his brakes a bit late and did well to keep the car on the track - but thank you, I was through and back into defence mode to keep the more nimble N24 behind me. 

Jeremy tried very hard, nudging me once into Druids but couldn't get past so a hard race ran its course and another win recorded. 

Aston Martin Racing British GT4 Challenge

Qualifying: Pole (Ant) in 50.368 @ 85.67mph

Race Result: 1st in 1 hour 30.48.993 @ 79.98 mph

By 1 lap (101 laps)

Best Lap: (Ant) in 51.477

AMOC Classic Championship

Qualifying: 2nd in 54.799 @ 78.74mph

Race Result: 1st in 15.57.671 @ 76.59mph

Best Lap: (fastest lap of race) in 54.910 @ 78.58mph (Lap 8)

Intermarque Championship

Qualifying: 2nd in 54.848 @ 78.67mph

Race Result: 1st in 20.18.395 @ 77.91mph

Best Lap: 54.510 @ 79.16mph