Ecurie Ecosse young guns fired-upposted in GT10 | 06 | 2016
BLACK BULL ECURIE ECOSSE GT4 young guns, Sandy Mitchell and Ciaran Haggerty, will use their disappointment of missing out on a debut British GT Championship podium by 0.7secs as added motivation to finish in the top three at Silverstone this weekend.
Fresh from posting their best result of the season last time out at Oulton Park — where only a red flag five minutes before the end of the scheduled one-hour race halted Mitchell’s charge to third — the duo are fired-up.
“Finishing fourth at Oulton Park, our best result of the season, should have made us smile,” Haggerty, the 19-year-old from Johnstone, who finished second at the Northamptonshire circuit last year in Formula 4, admitted, “but instead we were disappointed to miss out on a podium by just 0.7s.
“It’s great to be in the position to be able to challenge for podiums in our Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4.
“Now we just need a few wee things to fall into place and we should get the right result. I’m sure Silverstone will suit our car, and we should be pushing at the front again.”
Related:
First GT3 podium for Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse
Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse GT4 young guns miss top 3 by 0.7s
And 16-year-old Mitchell, from Letham in Angus, is looking forward to the three-hour race on the full grand prix circuit.
“This will be the longest race I’ve ever tackled, and I’m really looking forward to it,” the young Scot said. “I raced at Silverstone last year in MSA Formula, but that was on the National Circuit, so this will be my first time racing on the full Grand Prix Circuit.
“We tested there in pre-season, and I thought it was fantastic. Naturally it’s a long circuit — it’s got some iconic fast corners, plus the new bit’s good as well — but I felt it suited my style of driving.”
And team boss Hugh McCaig believes it’s only a matter of time before the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse GT4 young guns climb on to the British GT Championship podium.
“There’s no denying the two guys were unlucky at Oulton Park,” he said. “If the race hadn’t been red flagged, I’m confident Sandy would have been able to move from fourth to third.
“But they’ve both taken a huge amount of confidence from the result — their best of the season — which was achieved with a car which was struggling with understeer due to an incident earlier in the day.
“If they can avoid any trouble, and the car stays reliable, we know Sandy and Ciaran are fast enough to finish on the podium. Let’s hope they get their reward at Silverstone.”
QUOTES:
Sandy Mitchell — Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 driver:
“This latest round of the British GT Championship will be the longest race I’ve ever tackled, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I raced at Silverstone last year in MSA Formula, but that was on the National Circuit, so this will be my first time racing on the full Grand Prix Circuit.
“We tested there in the pre-season, and I thought it was fantastic. Naturally it’s a long circuit — it’s got some iconic fast corners, plus the new bit’s good as well — but I felt it suited my style of driving.
“I also think it will suit the car, especially the way we now have it set up.
“We made some significant improvements with the handling of the car at Oulton, though the damage we suffered in Race 1 subsequently caused the car to understeer during Race 2.
“That said, we still got to within 0.7s of a podium, so we know the pace in the car is there, and hopefully we can deliver the right result at Silverstone.”
Ciaran Haggerty — Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 driver:
“Silverstone is probably one of my favourite circuits. I like how fast and flowing it is: it’s a proper driver’s circuit, and I’m looking forward to going back.
“I raced there in F4 last season, and finished second, which was my best result. It’s a circuit I enjoy, and I feel quite confident going back to it. Hopefully I can do a good job for Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse.
“Finishing fourth at Oulton Park, our best result of the season, should have made us smile, but instead we were disappointed to miss out on a podium by just 0.7s.
“It’s great to be in the position to be able to challenge for podiums in our McLaren 570S GT4.
“Now we just need a few wee things to fall into place and we should get the right result. I’m sure Silverstone should suit our car, and we should be pushing at the front again.”
Euan Shand — CEO of sponsors, Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky:
“We were delighted with the team’s performance at Oulton Park. The stage is now set for Silverstone and if the way they have been performing continues, it bodes well for a brilliant weekend of racing. We wish our team all the best.”
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Jim McGill