Aston Martin GT4 Challenge - Round 1 Silverstone

Qualifying Report

It was a dry session with all drivers conscious of making sure they completed their mandatory three laps in the thirty minutes allocated.

The early pace was set by Aston Martin Racing with Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner at the wheel closely followed by the Generation AMR entry of Mark Poole and Vantage Racing’s Tom Black.

As the tyres came up to temperature and driver confidence increased the times began to fall seeing a number of different changes for the top spot. As the cars started to pit for driver changes it was Horner still with provisional pole position.

Mark Poole handed over the driving duties to Richard Abra in the Generation AMR number 8 car who instantly made an impression setting some fantastic lap times and taking the provisional pole.

Alan Bonner who took over the Vantage racing number 24 car from Tom Black then found even more pace and took the provisional pole with Richard Abra second and Christian Horner lying third.

Owen Mildenhall in the Aston Martin Lagonda entry was putting in some impressive times fighting for the front row as well. Bonner then pitted to preserve the car for the race allowing Richard Abra to put a fantastic lap together setting the fastest time seen in the session, which he then managed to hold onto till the end of qualifying.

Qualifying Result:

1. 8 Mark Poole/Richard Abra - Generation AMR - 1:00.692
2. 24 Tom Black/Alan Bonner - Vantage racing - 1:00.820
3. 1 David Richards/Christian Horner - Aston Martin Racing - 1:01.168
4. 77 Marek Reichman/Owen Mildenhall - Aston Martin Lagonda 1:01.43
5. 12 Karsten le Blanc - Nick Mee Racing - 1:01.822
6. 91 Chris Kemp/Les Goble - Stratton Motorsport - 1:02.260
7. 47 Stuart Patterson/Paul Bartley/Mark Walker - Stratton Motorsport - 1:02.386
8. 7 Mike Brown/Paul Cripps - MB Racing - 1:02.470
9. 23 Gaurav Burman/Matt Cummings - Elephant Racing - 1.02.887
10. 3 Alan Hudd/Chris Scragg - Saudade Racing - 1:03.706
11. 22 Pierre Mantello - Stratton Motorsport - 1.03.892
12. 5 Desmond Smail/Julian Reddyhough - Mardi Gras - 1:03.892
13. 56 Richard Taffinder/Tim Eakin - Ultimate Speed - 1:04.358

Silverstone Race Report

Mark Poole started the race in the Generation AMR GT4 car, leading the pack round on the green flag lap, this was only Marks second ever race so to start on pole was a nerve racking experience, he did a fantastic job holding perfect pace as the thirteen cars approached the line, the lights went out and Mark led the pack into turn one but was passed by Tom Black and Christian Horner later in the first lap.

A really good dice for the lead then ensued with Black positioning his car perfectly to hold the lead. There were battles all through the pack with some really close racing taking place.

Horner continued to pressure Black for the lead but Black was making his GT4 Vantage as wide as possible, Horner finally managed to find a way passed on lap 8 but this lead was only held for three laps as Black re took the lead which he held all the way up to the pit stops.

Mark Poole then managed to pass Christian Horner on lap 12 as Horner’s tyres started to go off.

Poole was the first of the leaders to pit, pitting on lap 34. Next to pit was the then current leader Tom Black who pitted three laps later on lap 37. Horner now took the lead and managed to find some more pace as the balance of the car started to improve.

At half distance Horner led from Karsten Le Blanc in the Nicholas Mee number 12 car with the brand new number 22 Stratton entry of Pierre Mantello in third. Horner’s pit stop came on lap 52 where he handed over the driving duties to Aston Martin Chairman David Richards.

After all the pit stops had taken place it was Richard Abra driving the number 8 car now leading the race with Alan Bonner in second and David Richards in third. On lap 62 Richards lost two places firstly to Karsten le Blanc and then to Owen Mildenhall in the fast charging Aston Martin Lagonda number 77 entry.

Mildenhall now looked to chase down Le Blanc’s third position which he did on lap 66 managing to pass Le Blanc into Brooklands. The podium positions started to take place with Abra still leading from Bonner and Mildenhall in third.

The only other real fight left to sort out was for fifth position with Les Goble driving the Stratton number 91 car chasing down David Richards, Goble managing to pass Richards, who was now really struggling on very worn tyres, on lap 75. The checkered flag came out on lap 83 for Richard Abra and Mark Poole to claim victory in their first ever Aston Martin GT4 Challenge race.

Race Result

1. 8 Mark Poole/Richard Abra - Generation AMR - 83 Laps
2. 24 Tom Black/Alan Bonner - Vantage racing - 83 Laps
3. 77 Marek Reichman/Owen Mildenhall - Aston Martin Lagonda 83 Laps
4. 12 Karsten le Blanc - Nick Mee Racing - 83 Lpas
5. 91 Chris Kemp/Les Goble - Stratton Motor Company - 82 Laps
6. 1 David Richards/Christian Horner - Aston Martin Racing - 82 Laps
7. 7 Mike Brown/Paul Cripps - MB Racing - 81 Laps
8. 3 Alan Hudd/Chris Scragg - Saudade Racing - 81 Laps
9. 23 Gaurav Burman/Matt Cummings - Elephant Racing - 80 Laps
10. 5 Desmond Smail/Julian Reddyhough - Mardi Gras - 78 Laps
11. 47 Stuart Patterson/Paul Bartley/Mark Walker - Stratton - 77 Laps
12. 56 Richard Taffinder/Tim Eakin - Ultimate Speed - 76 Laps

DNF

22 Pierre Mantello - Stratton Motor Company - 65 Laps