22GT Prepare for British GT return with European test
Saturday, March 14, 2015
22GT Racing has been busy preparing for their return to the 2015 Avon
Tyres British GT Championship. Following a successful opening shakedown test of
their Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 at Silverstone the previous week, the team continued
to see impressive results at a two-day test arranged by Aston Martin Racing
from 7th-8th March 2015 at Circuito Monteblanco, Southern
Spain.
The mix of cool temperatures and sun proved perfect for 22GT’s drivers, 2008
British GT champion Jon Barnes and former Caterham driver Mark Farmer, to learn
the twisty and technical Monteblanco track - allowing them to get properly acclimatised
to the new car and identify the GT3’s limits. As the day progressed, external temperatures
climbed above 25 degrees Celsius but vital improvements to the car’s setup saw
the team making major leaps forward in terms of driveability and
competitiveness.
Sunday saw temperatures climb to even higher, to around 30 degrees
Celcius. The setup changes and results from the Saturday session meant the team
and drivers felt confident enough to attempt qualifying style laps, as well as
full race distances and racing pit stops, including the crucial driver
changeover. Team Mananger Nathan Harrison added “I think the team and the drivers
learnt a lot about the new GT3 Vantage, giving Mark more time in the driving
seat, together with the good dry weather we were able to longer test runs than
previously”
An average improvement of between three and four seconds in lap time by
the end of Sunday demonstrated how well the team, drivers and car evolved over
the two days of testing; the team now feel confident and thoroughly prepared
for the first race of the 2015 British GT Championship season at Oulton Park on
Easter Monday.
Jon said, “This test has been just what we needed following the
Silverstone shakedown last week. At the shakedown we found that there were some
crucial areas of car setup which needed improving, and thanks to some great
work from the team, plus the fantastic weather and facility here at Monteblanco
we have had an extremely productive couple of days. Although there is still
more to come from myself, Mark and the car, we have made some huge gains and
are now feeling much more confident and comfortable as the first round of the
Championship at Oulton rapidly approaches!"
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Source - 22GT Racing
