GotBoost BTCC Race Report

Another incredible weekend for GotBoost Racing in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge has given the team chance to prove its metal once again. Here’s what happened at Croft:

Chadwick was once again the man on pole following qualifying. But all three GBR drivers made significant progress at the Croft circuit, this is the first time the Challenge has visited Croft, so the circuit was new to the drivers and the team. Testing is a key part of racing and over the three test days the team had found the sweet spot with the set-up, and the drivers kept finding time, helped by driver coach James Kellet. Minshaw was the quickest of the trio qualifying 5th, Zapolski was 4 tenths behind in 9th, and Broster qualified 13th (3rd Am)

As the lights went out on the first race of the BTTC weekend, Minshaw was right in the mix after a great start, but engine failure due to gear selection problems cut his race short as he parked his stricken Ginetta off the circuit. Elsewhere, there was a great race for fourth overall. Richardson had the early advantage but soon found himself under pressure from Hibbert, Chapman, Flowers and Zapolski. A moment for Jonny Hadfield at Sunny In/Out dropped him down to ninth and meant he joined in the mix although he did lose his rear wing in the process.

The six drivers swapped positions with almost every lap. Chapman lost out on lap eight after running wide at the Complex. He managed to recover to seventh, just behind Richardson, whilst J.Hadfield clawed his way back to fourth, passing Zapolski who finished a creditable 5th.
It would be a busy night for the GotBoost Racing team with three cars to prepare, and an engine clutch and gearbox change for Minshaw.

In race two, a rapid start for R.Hadfield saw him hold the race lead as the cars turned into Tower for the first time. Alas, it was short-lived as Chadwick would reclaim the position before they crossed the line to complete the opening lap. Hadfield did manage to reclaim the lead at Barcroft on lap 10 but was forced wide coming into the hairpin on the last lap and although the pair ran door handle to door handle across the line, Chadwick took victory by just 0.083s.
Broster had made a fantastic start but found himself on the outside into Clervaux with predictable results, his trip across the gravel left him in last place and he had a long race ahead to catch those in front.

Elsewhere, a brief safety car period interrupted play after Davenport and Perez found themselves stranded in the gravel on the opening lap, with racing proper getting underway on lap four. With the leaders busy with their own battle, Zapolski and Richardson once again fought over fourth & fifth place, with Richardson, eventually finishing fourth after making a move stick on lap six.

After retiring from race one, Minshaw did a great job to recover from last on the grid, but a dislodged bonnet after contact with the tyres severely restricted his vision and despite the best efforts of the team, he was forced to retire into the pit lane.

The drivers will now see out the remainder of their championship back on the British GT support bill, the next round is at the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps on July 8/9.