Mitchell bags LMP3 podium on debut 16 | 09 | 2017

    SCOTLAND’S MOST TALENTED young sportscar racer, 17-year-old Sandy Mitchell, scored a podium finish on his LMP3 debut at Donington Park today. (Related: Mitchell ready to race LMP3 with Sir Chris)

    Sharing his United Autosports Ligier JS P3 with Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy in the final round of the LMP3 Cup, Mitchell took over the wheel of the 420bhp, five-litre V8 car halfway through the 60-minute race.

    Rejoining the race in sixth, the youngster from Forfar set about reeling in the cars ahead of him as his pace increased.

    With 10 laps remaining, he moved into third place, and was now 5.8secs behind the second-placed car. Five laps later, the young Scot had moved into second.

    Now with a clear track ahead of him, Mitchell rattled off four successive personal fastest laps, and eventually finished 14.845s ahead of the third-placed car.

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    His best time, 1min 25.745secs — two seconds faster than Hoy’s quickest — was just 0.184s off the fastest lap of the race, set by United Autosports professional driver Matt Bell, who also won the race.

    Mitchell, understandably, was delighted.

    “That was just brilliant,” he beamed after being congratulated by the team and Sir Chris. “The car was just awesome, and I really enjoyed gradually increasing my pace as the race progressed.

    “Finishing on the podium on my LMP3 debut is a dream. I can’t thank United Autosports, Sports Insure and Chris enough. Hopefully now we can repeat this level of performance in tomorrow’s race.”

    Related: Colin McRae — A personal memory of 2007

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    Jim McGill

     

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