Mitchell set for Spa24 with Black Bull 26 | 07 | 2018

    SCOTS TEENAGER SANDY MITCHELL returns to sportscar action this weekend when he tackles the Blue Riband event of the Blancpain GT Endurance Series, the Total 24 Hours of Spa. (Related: Mitchell claims maiden Blancpain GT win)

    The 18-year-old from Forfar heads to the iconic Belgian track having powered his Black Bull Whisky-backed Lamborghini Huracan GT3 to victory in the last round, the Paul Ricard 1000kms.

    “It was great to get our first win of the season in France,” Mitchell, a member of the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club Rising Star scheme, and part of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse GT3 Junior Program, said, “but now we need to build on that success.” (Related: Mitchell gets Lamborghini global role)

    The win eased Mitchell — partnered by 23-year-old Italian Michele Beretta and 20-year-old Croatian Martin Kodric — into championship contention. They arrived in Belgium third in the title race.

    Ahead of the race weekend, Mitchell was selected to drive the Black Bull Huracan down into the centre of Spa for the pre-race parade and autograph session. (Related: Mitchell cruelly denied Blancpain win at Silverstone)

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    The trio are joined this weekend by Rik Breukers. The young Dutchman has already tasted major 24-hour success this year when he claimed GT3 victory in the Daytona 24 Hours driving a Lamborghini Huracan.

    ”We’ve got four good, strong, fast drivers in the Black Bull Lamborghini for Spa, and we know from the performances we had in the test day at the track that the car’s quick,” Mitchell who previously held the GT4 track record at the circuit, continued.

    “I really enjoyed driving the GT3 Lamborghini round Spa. Previously I’d only done it in the GT4 car, but the GT3 made everything so much more impressive.

    “I was able to carry a lot more speed through the iconic corners like Eau Rouge and Blanchimont; they became so much faster rather than having to brake a bit in the GT4. Now it’s almost flat-out, so yeh, it was a cool experience.”

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    Cool, and certainly quick. When the talented young Scot set his GT4 track record last season he clocked 2mins 33secs round the 4.35-mile circuit. On the Spa test day, driving his Barwell Motorsport-prepared Lamborghini GT3, he lapped 15s faster, stopping the clock at 2:18s.

    And Mitchell, personally backed by Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky, already has one 24-hour race under his belt this season.

    “I did the Silverstone 24Hr race in March, driving an Audi RS3 LMS, to get some 24-hour experience ahead of Spa,” he explained. “Getting woken up at midnight to go and race a car round a circuit in the pitch darkness for two hours was something which was a bit of a jolt.

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    “But the experience was great and I think it’s really benefitted me. Even if it’s just helped me to get used to going to bed and being woken up again two hours later.

    “The biggest challenge? Being able to get your head switched on just before you jump in the car. The key to delivering a strong result in the race is making sure you stay consistent throughout the two-hour stints and the whole race.

    “But without question, the most important facet is to ensure we have a clean race and stay out of trouble and the pits.

    “For our championship hopes, this weekend is crucial. There are double points for the Spa24Hr, and whoever banks those will have a huge advantage in the race to win the championship.”

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    In addition to Black Bull Scotch Whisky, Mitchell is grateful to his growing network of loyal sponsors. These include Scots companies Tunnocks, Thorntons, Close Brothers, Stirfresh, InverTay Homes, Provisio Funding and Celurca Investments. In addition, Mitchell is supported by Christie Digital and Stampede Global, two companies which operate on the world stage, and Manchester-based Duerr’s.

    Related: Wylie has a blast in McNish's Le Mans-winning Porsche

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    Jim McGill

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