- Three wins, three poles and every lap led in three Ginetta GT4 SuperCup races to extend Teams’ championship lead
United Autosports completely dominated the three Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup races at Knockhill in Scotland this weekend (23-24 August). Three wins almost doubled its points advantage in the Team’s Championship, two victories and a second place for record breaker Carl Breeze reduced the gap between himself and the leader in the Drivers’ standings while Luke Davenport earned the Anglo-American team a clean sweep of wins during which United led every lap of the three races and started each from pole-position.
Breeze, a double Ginetta Knockhill race winner in 2012, began Saturday’s race at the narrow eight-corner, 1.27-mile Knockhill track just north of Edinburgh, from pole-position after going fastest in the dying minutes of qualifying – the team’s maiden series “pole” achieved in actual qualifying.
Carl made a great start but a three-car incident on lap one involving the eighth-placed starting Davenport caused an early Safety Car period – Luke resuming at the tail of the field in 11th. The race resumed with rain starting to fall, Breeze leading with Davenport up to ninth at the re-start before another Safety Car phase.
Luke gambled to pit for “wet” tyres but unluckily went a lap down in the process although just one more racing lap was completed in the now 20mins “timed” race. Carl recorded his third win of the season plus fastest race lap – while Davenport crossed the line “third” on the road – his the only car on treaded tyres – but an actual ninth.
Breeze gave a carbon copy performance in race two on Sunday morning – Carl’s 100th career Ginetta race – starting from pole-position, leading every lap, winning and setting the race’s fastest lap (a new lap record) – a feat that meant the former series champion becomes the most successful driver in Ginetta SuperCup GT with 22 wins. Team-mate Davenport started ninth and recorded sixth place in the 24-lap race earning Luke a “pole” start for the final race.
Breeze was up to third place from sixth on the grid by lap two in the third race with Davenport leading as six cars diced for the lead at mid-distance. Luke led every lap to score his second win of the season, with Carl bagging second to earn United Autosports its first one-two result in the series and moving him 17pts closer to series leader Charlie Robertson who is now only 29pts ahead of Breeze.
#2 Blue Chip – Ginetta G55
Carl Breeze (GB)
Age: 35. Born & Lives: King’s Lynn, England.
“I pulled a lap out the bag late on in qualifying on Saturday which moved me up from seventh to ‘pole’ and went on to win. I made a fantastic start but the Safety Car eroded my lead. I re-started well when the race got underway again but the heavens opened making the track really slippery. I almost put it in the wall on one lap due to the treacherous conditions. I was surprised the organisers re-started it for a one-lap final dash to the chequered flag in such dangerous conditions. It’s been a fantastic weekend for me with the initial pole, two wins and a second bringing the championship alive. The team has done a fantastic job with the car and hopefully Luke and I can continue this winning trend.”
#23 Duo / Henderson Insurance Brokers – Ginetta G55
Luke Davenport (GB)
Age: 21. Born: Cambridge, England. Lives: Little Gransden nr St. Neots & Oxford, England.
“I was reasonably happy in qualifying and getting so close to ‘pole’ considering it’s my first time at Knockhill. I was taken out at Turn 2 on the first lap but resumed at the back of the field behind the first Safety Car phase. The rain stated so we opted to take a chance and pit for ‘wets’. The team did a fantastic job but we just failed to rejoin ahead of the second Safety Car otherwise we could have finished on the podium.
“I’m especially pleased to have won the third race because I had to soak up a lot of pressure in leading from green light to chequered flag on my first visit to Knockhill. It’s my second victory this season so I feel I can carry good momentum in to the final races and keep the consistency there to finish the year on a high.
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“What a fantastic weekend for the Ginetta team. Three wins, three pole positions, a fastest lap and lap record and Carl reaching his 100th race and becoming the most successful driver in a Ginetta. I’m really pleased for the whole team. To get a one-two finish in the final race is something we have aimed for since we started the championship and to finally achieve it is a great feeling. Here’s hoping we can have more of the same for the rest of the season.”
August 23-24 Knockhill
Rd 18 Qualifying: 1st #2, 51.760s; 8th #23, 51.943s. Weather: Cloudy/dry.
Race: 1st + FL #2 +1.340s, 9th #23 -1 lap P1. Weather: Cloudy/dry/wet.
Rd 19 Start: 1st #2; 8th #23.
Race: 1st + FL #2, +1.900s, 6th #23, +20.189s. Weather: Bright/dry.
Rd 20 Start: 1st #23; 6th #2.
Race: 1st #23, +1.466s; 2nd #2. Weather: Cloudy/dry.
Championship standings:
Drivers' Championship: 2nd Breeze, 497pts; 6th Davenport, 359pts;
Teams’ Championship: 1st, 856pts +234pts