Matty Graham hopeful of extending Spa success across to Snetterton

Monday, August 01, 2016

Macmillan Racing's Matthew Graham is hopeful that the momentum from a strong result at Spa Francorchamps in July can pave the way to the top step of the podium this weekend, as the British GT championship heads to Snetterton for it's penultimate race meeting of 2016.

Graham and team mate Jack Mitchell raced their Macmillan Racing Aston Martin Vantage from 15th on the GT4 grid to third over the course of the two hour race - closing the gap to the top of the young drivers’ silver category championship and providing a lift to the squad.

“We had a really good result at Spa, coming away with a third place from what was a really good weekend for the whole team. It’s really good coming into Snetterton off the back of that, with everyone really happy.

“There’s a real chance to push on from that result and we really want a win now after taking a third and a second, so hopefully we can deliver. We have our car in a good place. It’s on the pace, it feels racy and I’m looking forward to this weekend’s races.”

The return to UK shores sees a change in the format of the meeting this weekend, with the Norfolk track playing host to two one hour races instead of the longer endurance format of two hours plus, providing the drivers with a different set of challenges.

It also sees a return to a smaller national track after two rounds on wide and flowing Formula One standard circuits, which while requiring some adjustment, is not something that Graham is too concerned by.

At the last event ran to this format, the former karting world champion and Mitchell took their best finish to date with a second place in race one at Oulton Park, with their backgrounds in junior championships preparing them well for the attacking approach needed.

“Two shorter races means you have to plan things a little bit differently to the normal two hour races that we have. First off the qualifying sessions are separate, so Jack and I set the grid positions for the race that we start independently, rather than combining our times.

“With only a half hour stint each, it’s a lot more like Oulton, or the single seater series that I’ve race in where you have to be on the pace straight away. It didn’t work out to badly though the last time we had two races at Oulton, so hopefully if everything goes to plan we’ll have another successful weekend.

“The nature of the track changes things a little bit, but after you’ve done a few laps, you adapt to the characteristics really quickly. Snetterton is nice to drive and it’s a different challenge to the likes of Silverstone or Spa.

“It’s much narrower and twistier, but there are still some long straights which our Aston Martin likes and after it felt as it did last time out, I can’t wait to get onto the track.”

Source material - Matty Graham PR
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