Declan Jones storms to takes second Ginetta GT4 victory at Rockingham

Declan Jones storms to takes second Ginetta GT4 victory at Rockingham

Declan Jones took his second win from as many events in his Whitley Neill Gin branded-Ginetta G55 during round six of the 2017 Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup at Rockingham (August 26-27).

The Halewood Wines & Spirits-backed star was in superb form in the third and final race of the weekend that was broadcast live on UK television on ITV4, leading from lights-to-flag and eventually easing away to finish over 3.5 seconds up on his nearest rival.

Declan had begun the weekend in fantastic style and was second quickest overall in practice, just 0.050secs off the top time – his best Friday showing of the year.

The Rob Boston Racing-Whitley Neill Gin team man then claimed his first ever Ginetta G55 pole in qualifying on the Saturday with a 1min 21.915sec lap to maintain the momentum that had seen him claim his maiden Ginetta G55 win last time out at Snetterton. At the start of race one, however, he found himself unable to see the lights properly, and he retired on the first lap.

Determined to fight back on Sunday, though, Declan stormed through from tenth on the grid to fourth in the second race, before then winning the third and final race of the weekend. It was his fourth podium of the season, increasing his year-to-date tally to 301 points - just over a win off third place in the standings.

“It’s been a weird and wonderful weekend, but I am happy. To come away with a victory and to do it in the dry and to drive off and not be handed it, physically win it, has been a fantastic end to the weekend,” Declan said.

“It started absolutely fantastic with pole position too, but race one did not go to plan at all,” he continued. “I couldn’t see the lights and had a lot of issues and ended up retiring with damage. It was not the best first race I could have had. It was probably the worst possibility or outcome, in fact.

“But race two, I started tenth and I just kept it clever. I looked after my tyres as best as I could and slowly picked my way through. A couple of opportunities presented themselves throughout the race and I got up to fourth. I caught the lead pack – obviously safety cars a few times helped – but pace wise I was going to catch up anyway. I then tried to get third, but there just wasn’t a gap. It was a very exciting race.

“Then race three, with the reverse grid, I got pole and straight away I just got my head down and while I had Jack [Mitchell - the second placed driver] breathing down my neck for a few laps, he was under pressure too from behind. That helped me break the tow and then that was it once I broke the tow. I was able to pull away and pulled out about 3 seconds by the end of the race.”

“This win is another massive morale booster coming off the back of a difficult start to the year, but now to go into the second half as strong as I am going is great,” Declan added. “Obviously Rob Boston Racing and my engineer James [Hammond] are doing a fantastic job, and the family support and the support of Whitley Neill Gin is brilliant. I’m determined now to keep finishing strong.”

Meanwhile, Rob Boston Racing boss, Rob Boston felt Declan’s form was mighty impressive and was happy to see the 22-year-old win again.

“Declan drove a belting weekend. He was very unlucky with the turn of events in the first race. The sequence of events really was not his fault, but the rest of the weekend was great. He was very fast, took pole position and won race three. Fast and winning races, it’s all you can ask for really,” Rob said.

“He seems very comfortable and we keep putting the car under him. We are pleased he made the switch to us over the summer.

“He is fitting into the team really well. We are fans of his and based on his performance this weekend, you have got to say he is going to be right up there at Silverstone (the next event from September 16-17). It’s been a cracking weekend for the Rob Boston Racing-Whitley Neill Gin team.”


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