Trying conditions for Gunn's return to China GT

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Recalled to the BSEM Asia Sonic Racing squad to see out this season's China GT Championship, Aston Martin Racings reserve driver Ross Gunn and Co-pilot David Pun came away with a mixed bag of results from last weekends two races at Qinhuangdao.

With an urban, post industrial track likened to somewhere that should only beset somewhere in the game Call of Duty, together with a non favourable balance of Performance (or words to that effect from Gunn!), the weekend proved highly eventful during the wet Free Practice sessions that saw many cars leave the circuit to make impact with the barriers only metres off line.

Wanting to continue with the improvements made by the team last time out in Shanghai when Pun and then co driver Yves Volte secured the teams first podium of the season, the meeting got off to a good start with the #618 AMR Vantage GT4 securing a second row start for both races.

The rain during race one made for some highly eventful track action with a Safety Car start as David Pun was sent out first, more in a process of car preservation than with any ideas of early grandeur before letting Gunn loose with whatever remained in the one hour race.

With Pun keeping the grey livered car on the black, he was able to hand the car over to Gunn at the halfway mark with what was becoming a drying track. Taking a gamble, the team dispatched Gunn on slicks and was able to lap up to 10 seconds per lap quicker than some to claim a P2 finish at the close.

With many of the Pro drivers in the car for Sundays race, the ninety degree cornered street circuit and the torrential rain again made for some interesting racing with an Am driver holding off the attentions of many Pro's (including Gunn) for a number of laps.

Eventually getting past, Gunn would hold off Alex Fontana's Mercedes AMG to complete his stint from the front as he handed the car back to Pun. A Safety Car period to allow for the retrieval of an accident damaged car just after the compulsory stop set everything up for a mad dash to the flag.

Initially taking the lead on the restart, some unfortunate side by side contact lead to the #618 and #5 AMG spinning out to make contact with the barriers, taking out other cars with them in the process to end each of their races. Whilst the AMG stopped at the side of the track, Pun did managed to get the car back to the pit lane with obvious wheel alignment issues.

Whilst the team did manage to get the car back out on track during the Safety Car, it was for them a result lost to the team whilst running in a position at the front. The car was classified but finished three laps down.