Trackspeed Racing Continue Their Promising Form as the British GT Visits Knockhill, Scotland
The new Trackspeed Porsche GT3 continued to show its class and promise at an eventful Knockhill as the British GT Championship headed north to Scotland for Rounds 3 and 4.
Having been immediately on the pace at the season opener at Oulton Park, despite being literally fresh from the box, the Trackspeed Porsche was displaying equal promise at Knockhill, a very different type of circuit. As the team continue to perfect the car’s set up, the sole Porsche of the series looked competitive.
David Ashburn put in a solid performance to take 11th on the grid for Race One whilst Richard Williams’ qualifying was to be cut prematurely short as he took evasive action to avoid the stricken Team RPM Ginetta, which resulted in him sitting out the remainder of the session. Having only had the chance to register one lap, the team would start Race Two from 14th.
Race One held on Saturday saw the stereotypical Scottish weather challenge the starters with a damp track. David made a solid start and made a good recovery after an off caused by oil dropped by a less fortunate competitor. With the safety car deployed the field bunched up once more and at the pit window David handed over in 9th position.
Now at the wheel, Richard was in storming mood and scythed through the field in a blistering display. With moves contradicting the belief Knockhill is a difficult circuit to overtake on, Richard was up into 3rd when a further safety car period was called after the Stark Racing Ginetta went off at Scotsman corner. Keen to continue his lightening charge, as the green flag was given Richard was in ambitious mood but the stewards deemed he passed the Dodge Viper of Jon Barnes for 2nd place just a hair’s breadth before the start finish line and so handed a drive through penalty. Taking the penalty with 3 laps to go, the team dropped to 4th. Though podium shy the team remained upbeat and pleased to add points to their Championship tally.
“I haven’t enjoyed a race so much in a long time” said Richard afterwards. “It was real door to door battling all the way with plenty of moves not for the faint hearted!”
A brighter day dawned on Knockhill for Sunday’s race and not deterred by the 14th starting slot, Richard was carry on in his storming style from the previous day’s event. In an audacious move at the Hairpin he overtook both Hines’ Ferrari and by the handover had impressively raised the car to 6th place.
After a streamlined pitstop, David came out in 7th place ready to continue the battle. However, with the battling a little close for comfort, a tangle with a Ferrari put David into a spin and out of the running with the team being classified 16th.
With no time to catch their breath, it is straight from Scotland to the Surrey Trackspeed base as the team prepare for the opening rounds of both the FIA GT and FIA GT3 Championships at Silverstone this coming weekend. David and Richard will be teaming up for both Championships, proud to display the graduating possibilities British GT affords the ambitious.
