Albatec Racing Seals 2013 With Second At Croft GP

Croft, North Yorkshire — Sunday 20 October 2013: Albatec Racing brought its 2013 season to a finish with triple heat wins and a superb second place in the Procters Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix at Croft today. Team Principal Andy Scott’s 600bhp Peugeot 208 was the class of the field, consistently among the fastest top three, and challenging for Grand Prix glory until a forceful pass at the hairpin gave Kevin Procter the win. Another strong showing from Marc Scott on his first Supercar weekend saw the 27 year-old notch up a heat win, and two third places, before a superb fifth place in today’s Grand Prix.

In the first of this morning’s heats Andy lined up in the middle of the front row and made the perfect start to lead into the first corner, holding off fellow RallycrossRX competitors Anton Marklund and Jos Jansen, and gradually extending his lead over the first two laps. On lap three his task was made even easier, when the VW of Marklund ground to a halt at the chicane in a plume of smoke, leaving the 2011 MSA British Rallycross Vice-Champion to go on to an untroubled first heat win of the day.

Marc’s opening heat saw him take up his place on the outside of the front row, alongside Procter and the 2013 Champion Julian Godfrey and at the lights he slotted into third, behind Procter. At mid-distance Marc made his move, passing the Yorkshireman for second, but immediately conceded the position to take third at the flag.

Andy and Marc’s results netted second and fourth overall ahead of heat two, which saw Andy start on pole with Marc alongside him. Making a now customary lightening start, Andy surged ahead to lead into Clerveaux with Andy Grant on his tail. Marc dropped to fourth as they headed into turn one but with rain now falling and the conditions worsening made a great move to take third along the back gravel section on lap three, which he held to the flag.

The final heat of the day once again had the pair line up together, Andy on pole and Marc on the outside, split by the Citroën of Pat Doran. Another tremendous launch off the line saw Andy lead into turn one ahead of Doran with Marc in third. The newly-crowned RX150 Champion pushed Doran hard, and when he ran wide, Marc nipped through to second, to finish just behind Andy at the flag.

Posting the second and third fastest times from the heats, and with Godfrey electing to sit out the final heat but still topping the times, the six-lap Grand Prix had the GB1 car of Godfrey on pole, Andy second and Procter on the outside of row one, with Marc alongside Doran on row two.

Off the line the 208 grabbed the advantage, as Andy powered his way into the lead from local hero Procter. Marc also made a great start, getting the jump on Godfrey to place fourth into turn one, but lost the position at turn two. With Doran pushing Procter hard, Andy was able to eke out a gap to the battle for second, but by lap three Procter had closed down the advantage, and a forceful move at the hairpin allowed the Focus past and into the lead. Andy held on to take a strong second, while Marc maintained a solid fifth place finish.

Andy Scott, Team Principal and driver Albatec Racing #26 :

“It’s been a good day, it’s great to get a clean sweep of heat wins and be consistently among the top three all day. In the Grand Prix I made a brilliant start, I was under pressure from Kevin (Procter) right from the first corner, we had some friendly pushes and the pressure of the pushes became harder and harder, Kevin obviously wanted to win very badly. And to be fair to him once he’d got past he was quicker than me, he found some pace today that he didn’t have yesterday.

“The car though was great all weekend, I’d say it’s the best it’s been all year, and felt really good, but we need to keep working to improve ahead of next season.

“Marc did an incredible job in his very first Supercar event in the 306 to get third and fifth this weekend, and a heat victory and several seconds first time out is very impressive, I’m incredibly proud of his performance. All in all it’s been a great weekend for me, for the Peugeot 208 and for the entire Albatec Racing team.”

Marc Scott, Albatec Racing #22 :

“I had a very good start up to I think third place at the first corner but I backed out too early, which was my mistake to be honest. I managed to get up the inside of Julian at the third corner, but didn’t hold the place for long, after that it was a struggle to hold on to fifth to be honest.  We switched to slick tyres for the final which I think was probably the wrong choice, it was fast on the tarmac, but on the loose I was making no ground at all. But overall it’s been a brilliant weekend, and the car’s in one piece, so great news all round.

“I understood how the car worked before I drove it, but had limited track time, so to come away from the weekend with a third yesterday and a fifth today, well I’m naturally very, very pleased.”


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