Mitchell targets win on Algarve debut 19 | 07 | 2023
FRESH FROM HIS first race win of the season, Lamborghini factory driver Sandy Mitchell heads to Portimao in Portugal this weekend (July 22/23) for the next round of the Intelligent Money British GT Championship, writes Jim McGill.
Mitchell, the 23-year-old from Forfar, will again partner team-mate Shaun Balfe in their No 78 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2, prepared by Barwell Motorsport. (Related: Mitchell bags first British GT win of the season)
And having dominated the one-hour race at Snetterton last month, Mitchell is eagerly looking forward to getting back on-track when the championship makes its Portuguese debut at the 15-turn, 2.9-mile circuit in the Algarve.
“The Autodromo do Algarve, which has hosted Formula One races in the past, is a stunning circuit and location,” the 2020 British GT champ said. “I’ve tested here on previous occasions, but never raced on the track. It’s going to be brilliant to see the full grid of British GT3 and GT4 cars battling it out. (Related: Mitchell denied third Silverstone 500 win by 1.3s)
“It’s a wide, sweeping circuit with a number of dramatic changes in height as the track rises and falls. There are some really challenging corners, plus a long, very fast start/finish straight. I’ve driven Lamborghinis at the circuit before, so I know the car suits the track.”
The Algarve circuit hosts what is the second of the championship’s three-hour races this season, and Mitchell, personally backed by Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky, Tunnocks, Lamborghini Edinburgh, Upper Dysart and Alan Davie Transport, believes it offers the team a strong chance of another win.
“The whole Barwell team has an impressive reputation for delivering results at longer races,” Mitchell continued. “We won the three-hour race at Silverstone last year, and only missed out on the win this year by just over a second. (Related: Mitchell dazzles on all-PRO Euro debut)
“Strategy plays a big part in the outcome of these longer races. It’s all about anticipating and then reacting to incidents, and the Barwell team has many years of experience in managing longer races.
“We know conditions will be very hot this weekend, but if we get the calls right and we manage to stay out of trouble, we have the pace to be fighting right at the sharp end of the race. Do that, and we’ll be in the mix for another win.”
Related: Mitchell named Lamborghini factory driver
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Jim McGill