TF Sport battled hard to achieve a season’s best eighth place in GT3, and saw off the competition to win a hotly-contested GT4 fracas in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Belgium’s daunting Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (11-12 July).
The official Aston Martin Racing Partner Team got a much-needed shot in the arm at Spa following a dismal run of luck in recent weeks that left it downcast, but more determined than ever to force a change in fortunes.
An extended grid of 25 cars on one of the world’s most legendary and demanding racetracks in the world only heightened the challenge, and a below-par qualifying performance put TF Sport on the back foot heading into raceday (12 July).
Morning mist hung over the Ardennes forest and the part-damp conditions created a great deal of uncertainty over tyre strategy, many teams including TF Sport opting to pit for slicks at the end of the formation lap.
A stellar opening stint from Paul Bailey ensured TF Sport featured inside the top six during the first 30 minutes, although the racer from Rutland would eventually hand over the Horsepower Racing Aston Martin V12 Vantage to Andy Schulz in ninth position.
There began an intense scrap involving Luke Hines in the Triple Eight BMW Z4, although the threat level was raised further in the latter stages by Beechdean’s Jonny Adam, who forced Schulz to go super-defensive to protect what would be eighth position in the final classification and the flourishing TF Sport outfit’s best finish to date in British GT.
The Tom Ferrier-led team threatened to breach the top ten once again in race two thanks to a well-timed and perfectly-executed pit stop that propelled it several places up the order.
Schulz found himself choked in a long freight train of cars during his stint, but an inspired decision to carry out a driver change as the Safety Car temporarily defused the race meant TF Sport finished 11th, on the cusp of the points.
“These results are just what we needed after such a terrible run of misfortune in recent weeks,” said Shulz. “To finish eighth and 11th in a championship as competitive as British GT and at Spa, a circuit that’s so challenge and requires a very delicate balance, is remarkable. It’s down to some great driving from Paul (Bailey) and superb work in the pits by the TF Sport operation and I hope we can carry this forwards to Brands Hatch.”
The first of two British GT sprint races was a particularly fraught affair in the GT4 division, with Andrew Jarman and Devon Modell leading the way and valiantly fending off a relentless attack from the rival Beechdean Aston Martin V8 Vantage of Jake Giddings and Ross Wylie.
Jarman made a strong start and was able to control the pace after seeing off a fierce challenge from Oz Yusuf and Jade Edwards in the #41 Optimum Ginetta G55, maintaining the initiative while those behind him kept each other busy.
Modell picked up the baton and had to drive the widest Aston Martin on the circuit for the entirety of his stint, as Beechdean’s Giddings mercilessly applied the pressure in a battle royale for victory.
The Maidstone racer stood firm out front, although there was some controversy when the #77 ISSY Racing Lotus Evora in the hands of Gavin Kershaw cut the Bus Stop chicane on the final lap, snatching second place and almost moving passed Modell on the run to the flag.
The positions were reversed in a post-race judgement, but Modell and Jarman were delighted to be back standing on the top step of the podium.
“To win is great,” said Modell. “Andrew (Jarman) did a brilliant job to put us in the lead and it fely really good to stand on the top step of the podium once again, having been absent for what feels like a lifetime. Using the simulator prior to the weekend was beneficial. It showed me where the track went, but wasn’t much help as to how the car actually performed. The car understeered a lot, especially during the long, sweeping bends and at the top of Eau Rouge.”
Race two was less contentious, but far more frustrating for TF Sport’s GT4 pairing. Battle was initially resumed with Giddings for fourth position, before the race was neutralised behind the Safety Car following a trip into the barriers for Ginetta GT3 contender, Tom Sharp.
Racing resumed as the pit window opened and Jarman was soon behind the wheel and lapping the legendary Belgian circuit on par with the top three runners, only to be hit by a one-second stop-go penalty for exiting the pit lane four tenths of a second short of the minimum pit time, which ultimately relegated TF Sport to seventh in the GT4 classification.
For more on TF Sport, visit the official www.tfsport.co.uk website, ‘like’ the team’sFacebook page of follow @OfficialTFSport on Twitter.