TF Sport goes ‘down the Hatch’ with the aim of returning to the top of the GT4 standings in the penultimate round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship on the world-renowned Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in Kent (30-31 August).
The Redhill, Surrey-based outfit was announced as an official Aston Martin Racing Partner Team – an accolade shared among only 13 teams globally – as it began its first full-time British GT campaign, and has gone on to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the championship’s GT4 division, where it currently lies second in the points with only two rounds remaining.
The penultimate event of an enthralling season will be staged on the world-renowned Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit (30-31 August), which is home territory for both TF Sport and GT4 driver Devon Modell who, alongside Andrew Jarman, is looking to recapture the championship initiative ahead of Donington Park’s highly-anticipated finale (13-14 September).
Modell, aged 23 from Maidstone, completed an 11th hour deal to join the TF Sport fold and entered British GT with an open mind and relatively modest designs on podium finishes, therefore he feels a huge sense of achievement and pride to be in contention for the championship title with only two races to run.
“To be fighting for the championship with two races remaining is quite an achievement, if I’m honest,” said Modell. “I enjoy racing on Brands Hatch’s Grand Prix circuit, as it’s a fast, flowing track and I performed well there in the UK Clio Cup in 2013, but driving the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 will be a completely different experience. Having said that, I’m excited about the challenge and the V8 Vantage has performed well all season, especially at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Oulton Park, which shares a lot of similarities with Brands Hatch. I’m hopeful of replicating the success Andrew and I had at those tracks and coming away with the championship lead heading into the final meeting.”
Two DNFs in three races on the Silverstone Grand Prix and Snetterton ‘300’ circuits slowed Paul Bailey and Andy Schulz’s progress, although the long-standing driver pairing came out punching in the British GT Championship’s flyaway at Belgium’s legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, achieving a season’s best eighth place overall against an swollen grid of 25 cars.
This weekend’s two-hour race on the 2.30mile Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit will be Bailey’s final British GT outing of a rollercoaster season, and the Rutland-based racer is simply wanting to take the Horsepower Racing Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 to the chequered flag without sustaining damage.
“Brands Hatch GP is a fantastic circuit and it’s a rare privilege to have the chance to race the track, so I always look forward to taking it on,” said Bailey. “Andy (Schulz) and I contested a round of the GT Cup there earlier this year and, while one race was ruined by contact, we went on to achieve a race win and a second place finish in the next two contests. How that will equate against a super-competitive British GT field, I don’t know, but I’m also interested to see what the weather does, because we’re yet to have a wet race. This will be my last British GT outing of the year, as the season finale at Donington Park conflicts with my tenth wedding anniversary. It would be fantastic to end the season with a clean, contact-free race and simply finishing without damage would be brilliant.”
Avon Tyres British GT Championship qualifying begins at 16.15 on Saturday (30 August), while the two-hour race is scheduled for 13.05 on Sunday (31 August).
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