Avon Tyres British GT Championship : Round 1 – Oulton Park

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Some fans were undeterred by the wet weather.

Monday was considerably more damp than the sessions on Saturday, making the circuit even more challenging as drivers had to cope with standing water in the many dips that are found at Oulton Park.

For the hour-long Race 1, United Autosports and Charles Bateman were on the pole spot. With the Beechdean Aston Martin of Andrew Howard filling out the front row.

 

He held that position through lap one, drawing an impressive gap between him and the Beechdean car of Howard, leaving him with Ecurie Ecosse nipping at his heels.

 

That heat from the Z4 soon created a gap bag big enough for them to squeeze through, giving them 2nd place. Howard was feeling the pressure, and the Aston Marting slipped further down the field after a spin

The Speedworks Corvette beaches itself in the gravel at Druids.

He wasn't the only one. The Speedworks Corvette found itself spinning off at Druids; a tricky corner in the dry. He was well buried in the gravel, meaning that a safety car had to come out.
As the field compressed again, the pressure was on Bateman to hold his lead from the Z4 of Alasdair McCaig and the 3rd place car of Jann Mardenborough.

Bateman held the lead once again after the safety car had returned to the pits, meaning he was safe until the driver change mid way through the race.

 

Things heated up in the closing stages, as a battle developed between 5 cars for the bottom spot on the podium. And who said GT racing was boring?

As the race drew to a close all eyes were on United Autosports and Matt Bell to take the victory, but on the final lap of the race the car didn't come through in first – a fuel pick-up issue threw them down the order.

 

The Ecurie Ecosse team took a surprise victory in the first race as a result!

 

With two Ferraris trailing behind, of Rosso Verde and MTech respectively, both charging through the 5 car train to take the podium positions.

GT4 class victory went to Team WFR and the pilots Jody Fannin and Warren Hughes after a brilliant drive and a gap of over 40 seconds.

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