More Valuable Mileage Accumulated In Latest Btcc Races

With testing now severely restricted, James Cole and Glynn Geddie plus BTCC newcomers United Autosports, each have to use race meetings as glorified tests.

Geddie ran just outside the top-10 in only his second BTCC event before a gearbox gremlin side-lined him in race three while team-mate Cole wrote off his Toyota in the day’s second race when he became an innocent victim in someone else’s accident.

#20 Drivecool – Toyota Avensis

James Cole (GB). Age: 25. Born: Southport, England. Lives: Liverpool, England.

“A problem with the front left wheel restricted me to running just one real ‘flying’ lap in qualifying. Sunday’s opener was staged on a greasy track but my tyres lost grip quickly causing massive oversteer. I had made a very good start in the second race, getting ahead of at least four cars from off the grid but then I got spun around at Redgate. I resumed at the back of the field with the tracking slightly out only for all hell to break out going down Craner Curves. I made contact with Rob Austin who was rejoining the track and I ended up contacting the wall heavily. Unfortunately my Toyota is completely written off – the United Autosports guys who’ve already done a great job just getting the cars on the grid for the start of the season, didn’t deserve this latest setback.”

#21 – Toyota Avensis

Glynn Geddie (GB). Age: 23. Born & Lives: Aberdeen, Scotland.

“At times today we had a ‘raceable’ car which means we’re making progress which at this stage in the car’s development is all that can be asked for. I expected more from race 2 but having to go out on unscrubbed new wets meant it going to be difficult then in the last race I suffered a gear selection issue causing my retirement. I really felt a top-10 result was on the cards for us in that race but we showed some promise.”

Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:

“We’ve learnt more in the opening six races than we did in all of our admittedly limited pre-season testing. Glynn running just outside the top-10 at times is a positive to take back to the race shop in Leeds.

“James endured a character building weekend, getting taken out in the second race due to no fault of his own which destroyed his chassis and therefore prevented him from starting the third race. So that element alone means that we have a lot of work to do in what is effectively just an eight day turnaround before we head to the next races at Thruxton.”

April 19-20, Donington Park

Rd 4: Qualifying: 21^st #21 Geddie, 1m 10.746s; 25^th #20 Cole, 1m 11.472s. Weather: Cloudy/dry.

Race: 17^th #21 Geddie, +30.156s; 27^th #20 Cole, +61.373. Weather: Cloudy/drying.

Rd 5: Start Positions: 17^th #21 Geddie; 27^th #20 Cole.

Race: 13^th #21 Geddie, +17.974s; N/C (accident) #20 Cole, -5 laps. Weather: Cloudy/drying.

Rd 6: Start Positions: 13^th #21; 29^th #20

Race: Retired (gearbox) #21 Geddie; DNS #20 Cole. Weather: Cloudy/dry.

Driver’s Championship: 19^th Geddie, 3pts, 21^st Cole, 2pts.

HiQ Teams’ Championship: 13^th, 5pts

Independents Team Trophy: 10^th, 30pts

Davenport & Breeze well-placed in Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings 

Luke Davenport and Carl Breeze lie fourth and seventh respectively with United Autosports second in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings after the latest races at Donington Park.

The United Autosports duo scored five top-six finishes from three races staged in mixed weather conditions at Donington Park on Easter Saturday and Sunday.

#2 Blue Chip – Ginetta G55

Carl Breeze (GB). Age: 35. Born & Lives: King’s Lynn, England.

“I had my fastest qualifying time from race one disallowed [for exceeding track limits] but managed to record fourth place despite huge understeer in the opening race. I hadn’t driven this car in the rain but managed a good start from P4 to P2 by the first corner of Sunday’s opening race before getting tagged dropping me a few places.

“For race three, at the last minute we opted to change to slicks and start from the pit-lane but managed to get up to second place by lap 8. Unfortunately I was given a five second penalty for abusing the track limits which dropped me to fifth in the results. It was good to finish all three races and move up the championship standings.”

#23 Duo / Henderson Insurance Brokers – Ginetta G55

Luke Davenport (GB). Age: 20. Born: Cambridge, England. Lives: Little Gransden nr St. Neots & Oxford, England.

“I was disappointed with my qualifying performance. I would have liked to be closer to team-mate Carl on the grid but the time difference was smaller so that was a positive. I took advantage of some contact on the first lap of the opening race on Saturday and also benefitted from a set-up change although lost time with a downshift issue at mid-distance.

“Sunday’s wet race was a good learning experience considering it was the first time I’d raced such a big car in those conditions but the third race really made the weekend for me. Richard [Dean] made a last minute decision to start me on ‘slicks’ from the pit-lane like Carl that was the decisive factor. The team has done a great job in continually improving my car with every race.”

Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:

“Luke and Carl have accumulated more points with some impressive results over the weekend. Like with our BTCC programme, every time the Ginattas turn a wheel the drivers and the team are learning more. So to be this well placed in the standings so early in the series is very heartening.”

April 19-20, Donington Park

Rd 4:Qualifying: 6^th #2, 1m 09.601s; 11^th #23, 1m 10.180s. Weather: Cloudy/dry.

Race: 4^th, +9.516s #2, 6^th #23, +14.772s. Weather: Cloudy/Dry.

Rd 5: Start: 4^th #2; 6^th #23.

Race: 4^th #2, +17.623s; 9^th #23, +37.913s. Weather: Rain/wet.

Rd 6: Start: 3^rd #2; 9^th #23.

Race: 2^nd #23, +2.975s; 5^th #2, +7.445s. Weather: Cloudy/drying.

Championship standings:

Driver’s Championship: 4^th Davenport, 126pts; 7^th Breeze, 86pts.

Teams’ Championship: 2^nd, 212pts