06.Apr.2010 Victory on GT4 Debut!

WHAT a buzz! The first British GT meeting of the season at Oulton Park and we have come home with a win and a second place.
?
We know we have a lot more work to do, but it is great to know that the effort Ben Harvey, me and the ABG Motorsports/Prestigecarleasing.co.uk team have put in has already reaped rewards.
?
We thought the Ginettas would be favourite at Oulton, but we kept our heads down and the season is looking very bright already.
?
GT racing is hard work, that is the longest stint I have spent in the car at one time. You have to have eyes in the back of your head because the GT3 cars are so quick. They lap nine seconds quicker than our KTM X-Bow, so you are almost looking in your mirrors as much as out front and you still have to plan your race strategy as you are going along.
?
?Pit stops are something else. You spend what feels like ages waiting for your team-mate to come in, then you have to get the helmet on and just stand in the pit box. There are Ferraris, Porsches ?and Audi R8?s whizzing in and you are just looking for your car and hoping it all goes to plan. That all the practice has been worthwhile. The adrenalin is pumping and you know you have to be on the pace from the moment ?you exit pit lane. It was amazing.
?
It is almost a relief to get in the car and just drive!
?
Then the talking starts. I am not talking back-seat passenger here! The radio is going into meltdown with messages about how fast you are going, how fast you need to go, where the GT3 cars are, if they are coming up behind, where the next G4 car is.
?
Then it was what you wanted from the Indian takeaway and could I pick up four people from the station. Only joking, but it seemed like I was getting every radio message in a 50-mile radius.
?
And all I wanted to do was go quickly and concentrate on getting each lap better than the one before. But you have to be careful when you know there is a ?400,000 Ferrari steaming up behind you. It keeps you on your toes.
?
In open practice we laid down a marker. Ben was fastest in the wet. Great effort from him – that was awesome because he is one of the least experienced on the road. But he is learning so quickly.
?
Then I was quickest in the dry. Ben qualified third for the first race and I put it on pole for the second.
?
By the start of race one we knew we had the pace for two wins, so we were disappointed to get second. I took the lead past Christian Dick, but I made a mistake and went wide into the final corner and he went through. I knew I had lost my chance at a win, the Ginetta G50 is superior in a straight line but lacks the KTMs corner speed, ?Christian then just blocked and blocked leaving no way past. It was really smart driving, I would have done the same my self!
?
In race two, I knew I had to get away quickly or we would have the same problem. I got a good start and built up a strong lead? over our nearest G4 rival, then handed over to Ben and he did a great job to stay consistent and bring it home. Our first win and the championship lead! Awesome.
?
Now we look forward. We have some more tests planned leading up to round 2 at my home circuit Knockhill. Hopefully, we will make even more progress.