First GT3 podium for Ecurie Ecosseposted in GT30 | 05 | 2016
BLACK BULL ECURIE ECOSSE scored its first British GT Championship podium of the season when it finished second at Oulton Park.
Starting from second on the grid, the team’s McLaren 650S GT3, driven by Edinburgh’s Alasdair McCaig and Rob Bell from Newcastle, held position throughout the 60-minute race to finish just 10s behind the winning Bentley.
The result delivered a significant boost to the team which had seen another potential podium, in the day’s opening race, slip away as a result of a 10-second stop-go penalty for a pitlane infringement.
“I think on the back of the results we’ve had at the start of the season, we’ll happily take second today,” McLaren works driver Bell admitted. “Everybody likes to get on the podium, because it’s difficult, plus we’ve scored some good championship points.
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“This result is a great boost for everyone at Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse. We were all a little bit down after the first race because we had pretty good pace, but we had another issue with a pitlane infringement which resulted in a stop-go penalty. This result is exactly what we needed.
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It was sentiment echoed by McCaig, who brought the car home after Bell had completed the opening stint.
“Second for us today is a great result,” McCaig, whose #79 car finished the day’s opening race eighth, said. “We’ve had so much misfortune in the opening two rounds, and again this morning, that we had to have some good luck sometime.
“But really, this result wasn’t about luck: it was about all the hard work the guys did, both in the garage, and in the car. All weekend the Bentley has been the fastest car on-track, so for us to finish second is like a win.”
QUOTES:
Alasdair McCaig, Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 650S GT3:
“Second for us today is a great result. The Bentley is so quick, so to be second is really like a win for us. Hopefully this signals a change in luck for us.
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We’ve had so much misfortune in the opening two rounds, and again this morning, that we had to have some good luck sometime. But really, this result wasn’t about luck: it was about all the hard work the guys did, both in the garage, and in the car.”
Rob Bell, Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse McLaren 650S GT3:
“On the back of the results we’ve had at the start of the season, we’ll happily take second today. Everybody likes to get on the podium, because it’s difficult, and we’ve scored some good championship points.
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Of course, you always come racing to win, so second is bittersweet, but I think we’ll be happy with that. Our car was working really well, the pace was good, and we were pulling away from the guys behind.
“This result is a great boost for everyone at Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse. We were all a little bit down after the first race because we had pretty good pace, but we had another issue with a pitlane infringement which resulted in a stop-go penalty. This result is exactly what we needed.”
Euan Shand, CEO of sponsors, Huntly-based Black Bull Scotch Whisky:
“We’re extremely proud of the team today and what they have achieved. We knew a podium was achievable from the recent form they were showing, and to finish second today is an excellent boost for the team. We’ll be raising a glass of Black Bull tonight in celebration.”
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Jim McGill