Mitchell innocent victim at Paul Ricardposted in OTHER03 | 06 | 2019
SCOTS ENDURANCE RACER Sandy Mitchell’s hopes of repeating his Blancpain GT Endurance Series victory at Paul Ricard were wrecked when his Black Bull Lamborghini was the innocent victim in another competitor’s crash. (Related: Mitchell targets 1000kms Blancpain podium)
Partnering English duo James Pull and Jordan Witt in their Barwell Motorsport-prepared GT3 Lamborghini Huracan Evo, the trio again qualified in the top three in Silver Cup, and an impressive 17th overall in the field of 49 cars.
But just 30 minutes into the six-hour, 1000kms race, and having seen Pull ease his way through the field to comfortably sit second in Silver Cup and 12th overall, Mitchell and his team-mates were dealt another cruel blow. (Related: Safety car wrecks Mitchell's Silverstone podium charge)
“James had made an excellent start, keeping out of trouble and moving up a few places,” the 19-year-old from Forfar, who won the corresponding race 12 months ago, explained. “But all that good work came to nothing when, after a restart following a safety car period, he was T-boned by another car.”
As Pull exited the left-right chicane which feeds into the long start-finish straight at the circuit in the South of France, his No78 Lamborghini was harpooned by the No55 Audi which had spun across the track, having itself been clipped by another car. (Related: Mitchell bags Blancpain points at Monza)
The rear of the Audi careered into the passenger door and offside rear wheel of the Lamborghini, sending the car into a half-spin.
Pull managed to nurse the car back to the pits, but the team was forced to retire the Lamborghini because of the damage suffered.
“The whole team was gutted that we had to end the race this way,” Mitchell, part of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse GT3 Junior Program and a member of the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club Rising Star scheme, said. “There was absolutely nothing James could do to avoid the impact. Thankfully both drivers were ok.
“For us the race had again looked very promising. The Barwell boys gave us a terrific car; it was fast. We qualified well, James made a great start, we were second in class and fighting with the Pro cars at the front of the field. Then bam!
“But that’s motorsport. Accidents happen. All we can do is maximise what we can control, which is exactly what we did. We’ll come back even stronger for the Blue Riband event of the season next month, the Spa 24Hrs.”
Related: Mitchell confirms 2019 Blancpain GT3 bid
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Jim McGill
Photographs copyright of Jakob Ebrey