Mitchell bids for Spa24H hat-trick 29 | 07 | 2021

    SCOTS ENDURANCE RACER Sandy Mitchell this weekend returns to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, the scene of his two biggest international victories, bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the gruelling Spa 24-Hours. (Related: Mitchell fifth-fastest in Spa24H qualifying)

    Contesting the ‘Blue Riband’ round of the GT World Challenge Europe (GTWCE), with its 58-car grid, the 21-year-old from Forfar will lead the four-man assault in the No77 Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT3 prepared by Barwell Motorsport.

    Mitchell, who powered to victory in the Silver Cup class in the 24-hour race in 2019, last year won the ultra-competitive Pro-Am class, again with Barwell. (Related: Mitchell wins again at Spa24H)

    This weekend Mitchell will be reunited with Russian ace Leo Machitski — who partnered the Scot 12 months ago — and Portuguese duo Miguel Ramos and Henrique Chaves. The latter two are contesting the full GTWCE season with Barwell in the No77 car. (Related: Mitchell fastest at Donington British GT)

    Current British GT champ Mitchell, fresh from a fifth-place finish in last weekend’s two-hour BritGT race at Spa — which was won by Barwell team-mate Machitski — is looking forward to working with his trio of team-mates and bidding for a triple success in the Spa24H.

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    “I love racing at Spa, and I especially enjoy the demands and disciplines of racing for 24 hours,” Mitchell, personally backed by Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky and Lamborghini Edinburgh, explained this week during a break at the track which also hosts the Formula 1 Belgium Grand Prix.

    “I’ve been fortunate to win the Silver Cup and Pro-Am classes with Barwell the last two years. This year I’m going for a hat-trick of victories, and back-to-back wins in Pro-Am. (Related: Scot Sandy Mitchell wins British GT Championship)

    “We all know it’s going to be tough. No 24-hours race is easy. But it’s great to be back in the car with Leo. We worked so well together 12 months ago, and he was brilliant a few days ago in the British GT round at Spa.

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    “I’m also really looking forward to working together in a race for the first time with Miguel and Henrique,” continued Mitchell, a Lamborghini factory driver, in addition to being a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s elite SuperStars programme.

    “The Lamborghini is quick here; Miguel and Henrique are fast; and Leo and I are fortunate to have won here on more than one occasion each. That, plus the vast experience of the whole crew at Barwell, which has won multiple races in the Spa24H, means we head into the weekend knowing we have a strong package. (Related: Mitchell bags maximum British GT points)

    “But we also all know this is a 24-hour race, and anything can happen. That said, we have the foundation, pace and reliability which will allow us to mix it at the front again.”

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    And Mitchell’s bid for a hat-trick of Spa24H wins was backed by Euan Shand, chairman of Black Bull’s parent company, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky.

    “What a fantastic start to the season for the Barwell team, which leads both the GT3 Drivers’ and GT3 Teams’ standings in the British GT Championship after last weekend’s race at Spa,” Shand said.

    “Now we’re looking forward to one of our favourite and most exhilarating races at Spa, the daunting 24-Hours where Sandy will be competing to win again after his successes in 2019 and last year. We wish all him the very best of luck.”

    Related: Mitchell named Lamborghini factory driver

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    Jim McGill

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