Oulton exam for Scots GT4 young gunsposted in GT27 | 05 | 2016
ONE OF SCOTLAND’S most talented young racers, 16-year-old Sandy Mitchell, will head to the next round of the British GT Championship at Oulton Park this weekend after finishing his school exams today.
The Letham youngster — who shares his Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 with 19-year-old Ciaran Haggerty, from Johnstone — will head to the Cheshire track immediately after finishing his National Five computing exam at Dundee High School.
“Since the last round at Rockingham four weeks ago, I’ve sat eight National Five exams,” Mitchell, who is too young to sit his driving test, but who delivered a blistering opening stint at the Northamptonshire circuit, said.
“I’ve had two exams each week, and the last one finishes around 2.30pm on Friday afternoon. I’ll come straight out of the exam hall, jump in the car and travel directly to Oulton with my dad.
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“So far I’ve done English, Maths, Geography, French, Chemistry, and Engineering Science. The last two are Physics, with Computing on Friday.”
And Mitchell, who along with Haggerty, was denied a potential victory at Rockingham due to a pitlane infringement by the team which caused a drive-through penalty, feels he benefitted from his time in the car last time out.
“Rockingham was great. I had a solid hour in the McLaren with no safety cars, or any other interruptions,” Mitchell continued. “Completing a full stint at race pace was a great experience.
“I was really happy with the way I performed, and there’s no doubt it’ll give me more confidence going into Oulton Park and the next few rounds.”
For Haggerty, returning to Oulton Park for the two one-hour races this weekend brings back positive memories.
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“Oulton was the first track I raced at away from my home circuit at Knockhill, and where I scored my first significant result away from home,” Haggerty explained.
“In 2014 I raced Formula Ford at Oulton, and won a race, then last year I raced Formula 4 and finished second.
“I love the track; it’s one I’ve done really well at, and I enjoy driving it. Hopefully we can have a good result again, this time on my first outing in the British GT Championship at the circuit. We showed at Rockingham that we have the pace, so we’re targeting at least a podium at Oulton.”
And the two talented young Scots were praised by Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse team principal Hugh McCaig.
“The young lads have been brilliant,” McCaig said, “and it was unfortunate they had to serve the penalty they did last time out at Rockingham.
“But lessons have been learned within the team, and those mistakes won’t happen again, because it cost the guys a win.
“Hopefully they’ll get the result at Oulton which their performances at Rockingham deserved.”
QUOTES;
Sandy Mitchell — Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 driver
“Oulton Park is an awesome track to race on. It’s pretty tight, so it’ll be difficult for overtaking: qualifying will be especially important this weekend. But there are a lot of quick corners, and it’ll be great fun. I’m really looking forward to driving the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 at the circuit.
“Rockingham was great. I had a solid hour in the McLaren with no safety cars, or any other interruptions. Completing a full stint at race pace was a great experience.
“I was really happy with the way I performed, and there’s no doubt it’ll give me more confidence going into Oulton Park and the next few rounds.”
Ciaran Haggerty — Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4 driver
“In 2014 I raced Formula Ford at Oulton, and won, then last year I raced Formula 4 and finished second.
“I love the track; it’s one I’ve done really well at, and I enjoy driving it. I’m looking forward to going back there again with the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 570S GT4.
“I think, now that we have the set-up dialled in and we’ve got our head around the car, we should again be able to be right on the pace.
“We have to aim high now, having seen what we, and the car, are capable off last time out at Rockingham where we were in with a chance of winning. We showed there that we have the pace, so we’re targeting at least a podium at Oulton.”
Euan Shand, CEO of sponsors, Black Bull Scotch Whisky:
“Following the performance by the two young guys at Rockingham, we’re obviously looking forward to this weekend. Last time they were hit by a pitlane infringement penalty, but the car and team showed they have the capabilities of securing at least podium place. We’re fully prepared now to maximise our potential at Oulton Park, and wish the team all the best.”
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Jim McGill