The AmDTuning.com showed front-running pace on its debut in the premier class of the British GT Championship at Brands Hatch, with only a controversial post race penalty preventing the team from starting the 2016 campaign with a podium finish.The West Thurrock-based team headed into the two-hour event hoping to impress with the BMW Z4 it will campaign this season, with drivers Lee Mowle and Joe Osborne also optimistic about their chances against a packed grid featuring multiple ‘new generation’ GT3 machines.The pair were on the pace throughout free practice at the Kent circuit to leave the BMW well placed going into qualifying, where both drivers were required to set a time before their laps were combined to determine the team’s starting position.Having secured sixth place on the grid, Lee was given the role of taking the start and a solid stint at the wheel of the BMW saw him work his way up to fourth place before a multi-car accident saw the race go under a full course caution – where drivers weren’t permitted to go above 80kph - for more than half an hour.That caution period coincided with the pit window opening, with Lee bringing the car in to hand over to Joe, who then rejoined in third place behind the Lamborghini of Fabio BabiniMoving ahead of Babini on the restart, Joe set about chasing down the lead Aston Martin of Jonny Adam until pressure from the Bentley of Seb Morris behind saw him slip back from the eventual race winner.Working hard to keep Morris at bay, Joe retained the position through to the moment when the race was brought to an early end after another incident on track.It marked the second successive season in which Lee and Joe had finished second on the Brands Hatch GP circuit and also gave the team a first overall podium in the series on its first outing in the top class.However, hours after spraying the celebratory champagne, officials handed out a controversial ten second penalty for a yellow flag infringement during Joe’s stint, dropping the BMW back down to fourth place.It means the duo sit 19.5 points off the championship lead ahead of the second round of the season at Rockingham at the end of the month.QUOTES:Lee Mowle: “In theory, the decision to use the Full Course Yellow in the series this season is a good one to deal with incidents like the one we saw this weekend but unfortunately, at the moment, it’s clear that many of the drivers and officials were ill prepared to deal with it. Hopefully a lot of lessons will be learned for Rockingham. “The instructions we were given in the drivers briefing were very clear in regard to the restart of the race following a FCY, and it’s the same procedure used at other events in which the race director counts down to zero for the circuit going back to green. When the team got that message it was passed to Joe, he went as instructed and got the jump on Babini.“The subsequent protest penalised us for overtaking under a yellow flag as our car happened to be right by a marshal post at the time and, as our luck would have it, they were still taking them in. The penalty totally conflicts with the restart procedure we were briefed on. “It’s something that needs to be looked at before Rockingham as we did what we were instructed to do in the briefing but have now lost out on nine points that could prove to be hugely important later in the season. My frustration is compounded when you look at the number of cars that had lap times quicker than the 80kph delta time and escaped penalty, two of which now finish ahead of us in the race.“The team did a great job in it’s first GT3 race and I guess if there is a positive to take out of this, at least we won’t have a pitstop penalty at Rockingham, although I’m clutching at straws! I’m confident we will be on the podium there in a few weeks time.”Joe Osborne: “It was a difficult race that never really settled into a rhythm with the long caution period and then the red flag that brought things to an early end. Lee did a good job in his stint before the caution came out and then after good work from the boys in the pits, I came out right behind Babini.“When the call came that the race was going green again, I went when we were told that the caution period had ended and managed to get ahead of him, and then had to hold off the Bentley to keep second. However, officials then deemed that I’d passed Lamborghini too early and gave us a ten second penalty, which I think is extremely harsh in the circumstances.“The team put a lot of hard work in this weekend and gave us a good car, and whilst we still have room for improvement, to come away from the opening round being classified in fourth is far less than we deserved.”Shaun Hollamby, team principal: “Although the official result shows us in fourth place, I’m really proud of the guys for producing a podium performance in the first round of the year. The team has worked really hard over the winter and whilst we still have room for an improvement, the pace and potential we have displayed at Brands Hatch is a positive for the rest of the season.“To lose points in the manner we have done is frustrating, but Lee and Joe have clearly shown that we have a package that can be a contender for honours during the year ahead.”