- Cole & Geddie continue learning process in Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park on Easter Sunday
- Breeze & Davenport bid for Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup points in BTCC support programme at Donington
- Bell & Patterson aim for solid start in opening Avon Tyres British GT Championship races at Oulton Park on Easter Monday
COLE & GEDDIE CONTINUE BTCC LEARNING PROCESS AT DONINGTON
The fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of the 30-race BTCC are staged at Donington Park. The sweeping eight-corner, 1.96-mile track on the Leicestershire / Derbyshire border will feature three 16-lap races with James Cole and Glynn Geddie looking to clock up more important race mileage in United’s brace of Toyota Avensis.
#20 Drivecool – Toyota Avensis
James Cole (GB). Age: 25. Born: Southport, England. Lives: Liverpool, England.
“Qualifying times of the Toyota at Donington last year suggests that the Avensis has pace there. But Brands proved just how competitive the series is this year and so we can’t rely on last year’s times and efforts as every car is pushing to find that last tenth.
“Donington is a lovely flowing circuit, fantastic for racing. I have fond memories of racing there in Formulae Ford and Three – the latter being the last time I raced there.”
#21 – Toyota Avensis
Glynn Geddie (GB). Age: 23. Born & Lives: Aberdeen, Scotland.
“It’s very early days in our BTCC programme. It’s a case of keeping our heads down and pushing forward to make the car and engine perform to its maximum.
“I love Donington and the Toyota should be well suited there. It’s a ‘power’ track so straight line speed is especially important. With each race at Brands Hatch, I became more confident in the Avensis and like myself, with every mile the team learns about the car.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“Heading into the next rounds of the BTCC at Donington Park, we know we have some work to do to get our cars further up the grid and into the points positions. We were pleased to score our first points with James in our debut outing with the cars, but we would like to be consistently in the points with both cars from the next couple of races.”
BREEZE AND DAVENPORT BID FOR GINETTA GT4 SUPERCUP POINTS
Luke Davenport and Carl Breeze, currently placed fourth and 14th in the standings respectively after the opening three races, will be looking to add to their respective points tallies at Donington Park on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.
#2 Blue Chip – Ginetta G55
Carl Breeze (GB). Age: 35. Born & Lives: King’s Lynn, England.
“Having won twice last season at Donington in the Ginetta GT Supercup I’m confident of scoring good results over Easter. I enjoy the fast, flowing nature of Donington that provides a real challenge.
“I suffered some bad luck in the second and third races at Brands and I’m very keen to put that right on Easter Sunday. Once United and myself have dialed my Ginetta to suit my [driving] strengths, we’ll be formidable opponents.”
#23 Duo / Henderson Insurance Brokers – Ginetta G55
Luke Davenport (GB). Age: 20. Born: Cambridge, England. Lives: Little Gransden nr St. Neots & Oxford, England.
“I love Donington – the track layout itself and the history associated with the venue. It’s the first track that I tested the G55 pre-season with United Autosports so it has a good feeling of familiarity to me.
“I managed to make a positive start to my season with a great victory at Brands and it was brilliant to score the team’s first win of the year and in a new series. My aim is to build on the Brands success with some consistent point-scoring form.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“We are feeling positive. Luke finished the Brands Hatch weekend on the top step of the podium after continuously improving throughout the weekend. We are hoping that this weekend, Carl can also have some good results after having two DNFs at Brands. His stunning fourth in the first race shows he will be able to bring strong results home for the team.”
BELL AND PATTERSON AIM FOR SOLID START IN OPENING BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
The opening Avon Tyres British GT Championship meeting at Oulton Park holds special memories for United Autosports. At the corresponding event in 2010, the Anglo-American team made its race debut at the Cheshire venue.
Having competed at the picturesque 2.692-mile Oulton track every year since and wracked up seven top-six finishes in BGT races – including two runners-up spots in 2011 & ’13 – United Autosports is gunning for the very top spot on the rostrum in the two one-hour races.
Matt Bell and Mark Patterson who, until the dying minutes of the final race of last season, looked to be claiming the championship title, continue to race an Audi R8 LMS ultra.
#23 Allied World / Henderson– Audi R8 LMS ultra
Matt Bell (GB). Age: 24. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England. Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England.
“I’ve been on the podium twice over the past three years but never got the win so I’m hoping to fix that this time around. Our approach needs to remain that we aim for podiums and consistency. We’re confident we’ll be in the mix due to our pace, Mark knowing all the tracks this year while the Audi is almost like a second home for me, so we just need to focus on making no mistakes and we’ll be in the fight.
“United Autosports has always been ambitious and competitive. The team is full of good and knowledgeable people and there’s also a good atmosphere which makes them great to work with.”
Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 62. Born: Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Lives: Bronxville, New York, USA.
“Having come so close to winning the BGT title last year, United Autosports, Matt and I can legitimately approach 2014 more methodically and with real intent to win the championship. Not necessarily going full out on winning every race but scoring consistently is the key to winning this championship as proved to be the case last year.
“Oulton is perfect for the Audi – no super long straights, lots of high-speed weight transition points and delicate late-braking spots where we’ll excel and so a podium placing is our aim.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“We are looking forward to the opening rounds. Mark [Patterson] and Matt [Bell] are in with a great chance of some top results this year and are also title contenders after such a strong finish to the 2013 championship. Finishing only 1.5 points behind the championship winner last year was tough but we have the car, the drivers and the team to go all the way this year.”