Another ultra busy Saturday in the world of #TeamAMR
Saturday, September 11, 2021
Up at Oulton Park, the British GT Championship have just completed their Free Practice and Qualifying ahead of tomorrow’s two one-hour races that could make or break a number of crews GT3 or GT4 Championship aspirations.
All appeared to be going to plan for the Beechdean AMR and Newbridge Motorsport teams as drivers Andrew Howard/Jonny Adam and Matt Topham/Darren Turner respectively set about their preparatory work this morning ahead of Qualifying.
Whilst both Topham and Turner claimed top spot in class ahead of the two races tomorrow, Howard suffered a heavy off aboard his #7 car during his Qualifying session that sadly ended that session early for some (with the red flag) but also prevented Adam from setting a competitive time due to the frontal damage.
It has since been confirmed (with an ever-appreciative gesture from Howard towards the track marshals and circuit medical staff in reply to us on social media) that is indeed OK and that “tomorrow is another day” with the #7 car expected to be rebuilt in time for morning warm up and the following Am starting race that Howard will start from in P4
Then down to the south of France where the FFSA GT4 Series is holding their penultimate round of the season down in Ledenon, the #007 AGS Events Racing Aston Martin Racing GT4 of Romain Leroux and Valentin Hasse-Clot secured a lights to flag victory in today’s first race of the weekend to place a further points cushion between them and their Silver Cup rivals going into tomorrow.
Their #89 Pro-Am car of Nicolas Gomar and Mike Parisy also had a good race, just missing out on another class podium in P4 as did their #161 Am Class hopefuls in Didier Dumaine and Christophe Carriere who also finished P4 in that class.
Bizarre events again from the Red Bull Ring in Austria as TF Sport returned to the circuit with another AMR ‘newbie’ in Sam De Haan who was wanting to try out one of the teams Vantage GT3’s alongside Charlie Eastwood.
Qualifying the #69 car P5 after the first track action aboard any AMR race car, De Haan took the start under warm alpine sunshine before the race was ultimately red flagged just before the scheduled end of Race 1 due to torrential rain that left many cars (including the #69) beached in various gravel traps around the circuit.
On count back from the red flag, the #69 crew lucked in and were awarded P2 overall and P2 in their chosen Pro Class.
And there’s still plenty more news from where that has all come from – and beyond!!
Photo credits - Jacob Ebrey / FFSA / TF Sport / Teams
