Rob Hodes and Garett Grist just missed out on their first European podium of the season, crossing the line half a second behind the third-placed #26 entry in what was the sixth Michelin Le Mans Cup race of the season.
Both Hodes in the #10 and Mark Crader in the #20 Grainmarket Duqueine D08, who returned to the LMC for the first time since Spa, made their way through the field in an incident-packed first stint that saw no less than three caution periods, leaving their teammates to finish the task.
Rob Hodes, #10 Duqueine D08
“It’s our best result of the year and I enjoyed my race, made a good start and picked up a few spots and was able to hold a good position in the transition to Garett and he drove his heart out – really fighting for that podium position – and I know he gave it all he had as always. It’s always challenging being in the aero wash behind another car, but he could have picked up the pace with clear air, so that is always a challenge. A good race overall.”
Garett Grist, #10 Duqueine D08
“It’s the best Le Mans Cup result for Rob and me, so overall we have to be happy with that, even if we’re a little frustrated to be so close to a podium position but just losing out. In the race, I was stuck behind a rival for a while as he was totally trimmed out downforce-wise and I could not pass on the straightaway. With 20-20 hindsight, if we’d pitted earlier, we could have maybe got clean air on track and it would have been a different story but many positives. The team did a great job as did Rob but unfortunate to miss out on a podium.”