Podium finishing Blancpain Sprint Series racer Sean Walkinshaw will make a welcome return to the country of his birth next weekend, 6th/7th June, when the championship makes its annual visit to Zolder in Belgium. Round three of the Sprint Series campaign will mark the MRS GT-Racing driver’s first competitive outing at the former Belgian Grand Prix venue and he, along with team-mate Craig Dolby, will be aiming to build on the rostrum result enjoyed at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit earlier this month.
Sean, who was born in Brussels but resides in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, also heads to Belgium off the back of a sensational performance last weekend at Silverstone in the most recent round of the sister Blancpain Endurance Series.
Along with Dolby, and Endurance Series team-mate Martin Plowman, the 21-year-old really did produce a star showing as the trio combined over the course of the three-hour contest to secure a richly deserved top five finish from 22nd on the grid.
Off the back of such a competitive outing, Sean cannot wait to be back behind the wheel of his Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 a week from now at Zolder and he is relishing the prospect of being back on Belgian soil for his first ever race at the 2.5-mile track.
“It’s going to be great being back in Belgium next week, especially with Zolder being a new challenge for me”, said the first year GT racer, “It’s a great track and after two really strong results in the Sprint Series and Endurance Series, confidence in the team is definitely high at the moment.
“Last weekend at Silverstone really was amazing, the team did an incredible job with the car and finishing in the top five was a fantastic result from so far back on the grid. We’re obviously reverting back to the shorter one-hour format for the Sprint Series next weekend but we’re equally confident of doing well after our podium at Brands a few weeks ago.”
Since switching from single-seater racing to endurance-based competition this year, Sean’s progress in his new discipline has been impressive and his pace notable – another podium bid is certainly on the cards just a week from now. Ahead of round three, Sean and Dolby are equal ninth in the Sprint Series standings with MRS GT-Racing holding eighth position in the team championship.
Blancpain Sprint Series qualifying at Zolder will take place at 08.15 (UK time) on Saturday, 6th June, with the Qualification Race following at 13.45 (UK time). On Sunday, 7th June, the Main Race will begin at 14.15 (UK time). Live television coverage of both 60 minute contests is scheduled to be screened on BT Sport 2 in the UK with online streaming at www.blancpain-gt-series.com/sprint/live
Provisional 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series Driver Standings (after Rd2): =9th Sean Walkinshaw/Craig Dolby & Maximilian Buhk/Vincent Abril, 12pts
Provisional 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series Team Standings (after Rd2): 8th MRS GT-Racing, 16pts
