Mitchell seals British GT Silver win 03 | 08 | 2020

    SCOT SANDY MITCHELL opened his British GT Championship campaign with a class win and an overall podium in the opening double-header at Oulton Park. The 20-year-old from Forfar, piloting his Black Bull Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT3, also leads the Silver Championship. (Related: Mitchell fired-up for British GT return)

    “It’s been an excellent weekend in terms of performance and points haul,” stated Mitchell, who shared his Barwell Motorsport-prepared Lamborghini in the two one-hour races with British Touring Car Championship veteran Rob Collard.

    “To leave the opening weekend with our first class win, first overall podium, be leading the Silver Championship, and be third in the overall championship, just three points adrift of the leaders, sets us up nicely for the season.

    Collard started the first race at the 2.69-mile, 17-turn parkland circuit in Cheshire from sixth on the grid. By the time he handed the car to Mitchell, the pairing were lying fourth, a position they held to the end of the race.

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    “Oulton’s such a tough circuit to overtake,” the Scot, personally backed by Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky, explained. “I was really glued to the back of the third-placed car, but it was impossible to get past because of the fast nature of the track. But it was a great battle.” (Related: Mitchell returns to British GT with Black Bull)

    Lining his No78 GT3 Silver car up P2 on the grid for the second race, alongside the No72 sister ProAm Lamborghini from Barwell, the two cars rapidly established a lead over the rest of the field.

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    With 29 minutes of the race remaining, and with a gap of 14-seconds to the third-placed car, Mitchell pitted to hand the car to Collard. Two minutes later the No72 car pitted from the lead, and rejoined the track leading a fast-charging Collard by less than two-seconds.

    But just as the race was heading into what would have been a thrilling finale as the two Barwell cars fought for the overall win, the Safety Car was activated after a bizarre accident involving three cars. (Related: Mitchell adds GT World Europe to 2020 schedule)

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    “There’s no denying it was frustrating, because it would have been terrific to see the two Barwell cars really battling for the overall win” Mitchell, part of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse GT3 Junior Program and a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s elite SuperStars programme, stated.

    “It was really encouraging for everyone in the team to see our two Lamborghini’s open up such a gap to the rest of the field. It’s great that we finished finished P2 overall and took our first Silver class win, and fantastic to score so many points in the first race weekend. (Related: Mitchell inducted into BRDC SuperStars)

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    “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all my sponsors and the team. We’ve shown we have a fast, reliable car, a super team and strong driver pairing, plus we know we can build on the success of the opening weekend.”

    And Mitchell’s performance was praised by Euan Shand, chairman of main sponsors, Huntly based Black Bull Scotch Whisky.

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    “Sandy has had a great start to the season, and together with Rob, the GT3 Silver Class win meant we raised a dram to a perfect end to the weekend at Oulton,” Shand said. “Over the opening British GT weekend, they have vital points in the championship and we look forward to the next round at Donington Park.”

    Mitchell’s next outing is, indeed, the second British GT Championship double-header — which includes a one-hour race, and a two-hour race — at Donington Park on August 15/16.

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    Related: Mitchell wins Spa 24-Hours Silver Cup

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    Jim McGill

    All photographs copyright of Jakob Ebrey

     

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