TF Sport hoping to carry podium momentum to Norfolk
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Official Aston Martin Racing Partner Team, TF Sport, will be vying to record back-to-back podiums in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship’s penultimate meeting at Norfolk’s Snetterton ‘300’ circuit (22-23 August).
A clean, unimpeded race still eluded TF Sport prior to the most recent round at Brands Hatch, but the Redhill-based team turned the tide at its home circuit to break its podium finishes duck.
The Geordie pairing of Derek Johnston and Matt Bell delivered the highly sought-after result with their Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 sporting a new, refreshed MSW livery, following a fraught fight through the field to cement TF Sport as a frontrunner nearing the end of what has been an eventful season.
Straight after, Johnston and Aston Martin Racing Evolution Academy driver, Bell, clocked up yet more testing miles at Snetterton and were able to home in on an optimal base setup and, with confidence in the TF Sport camp at an all-time high, there is an air of confidence that the team can carry its Brands Hatch form forward and fight at the sharp end once again.
“We certainly had the pace to finish second at Brands Hatch and it felt great to be back on the podium and vindicate our thoughts and hopes from the start of the year, so we will certainly be looking to carry that into this weekend,” said Bell. “With two one-hour sprint races, we have to make up as many positions as possible during qualifying. The pit stops will also be very crucial, but TF Sport has been on point all season and I have no doubts the mechanics are going to perform again this weekend. Snetterton is a circuit that I have won and tested at quite a lot in the past, so I feel we can attack from the off and go for the win.
“Overtaking can be quite tricky, as you have to get a good run on someone several corners before the prime overtaking spot. There are a few long straights, which will suit us better than some of the other circuits the Avon Tyres British GT Championship visits. If we can get past someone through the corners, we should be able to use the Aston Martin’s grunt to maintain some momentum down the straight and hold position. Brands Hatch should have been hard to overtake, but we went from ninth to third, so let’s see what this weekend brings.”
Fellow AMR Evolution Academy driver, Jody Fannin, and his Milton Keynes teammate, Andrew Jarman, have so far been unable to showcase their talents, despite showing the necessary pace to challenge for race wins.
After having their podium hopes dashed in a race-ending collision at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, they were again rueing what could have been last time out, when a failed passing move resulted in light contact that sent their Eurostar-liveried car out into the Brands Hatch gravel.
With two one-hour races this weekend and an emphasis on qualifying, it will be a chance for the driver pairing to show their hand and fight at the sharp end.
"We seem to have been saying this since before Silverstone, but we need to finish both races at Snetterton with strong points finishes," said Fannin. "Our good pace continued at Brands Hatch where we were happy with our sixth place qualifying. I have always gone well at Snetterton and hopefully more of the same this weekend! It’ll be good to get a result, not only for Andrew and I, but also for the TF Sport guys who have put a lot effort into giving us a good car.”
Source material - TF Sport
Photo credits - Richard Leach
