The GT Cup visited Silverstone International circuit this weekend where Sarah brought out a new car.
The BMW Z4 M Coupe was purchased on Thursday, tested on Friday in the wet and raced on Saturday. Despite a few minor hiccups Sarah was pleased with her P4 and P3 in class finishes.
Sarah began the week still recovering from the Britcar 500 race the previous Saturday night, but by Wednesday it had all become a bit manic when the owner of Sarah's regular drive, the Aston Martin GT4, announced that the car had been sold. Following a frantic internet search, a replacement GT4 class car was located and BMW expert Terry Wilson from Butler Motorsport went to inspect and purchase the car on Thursday.
Friday's Silverstone test day was fully booked so the team used Silverstone Paddock to nut and bolt-check the car, change the oil and give it a once over. In the afternoon some track time became free enabling Sarah to put in some installation laps, although mostly in the wet. Throughout Friday evening the car underwent a complete set-up and seat change by Terry Wilson, and new livery, all ready for the 9.30am Qualifying on Saturday.
Saturday's qualifying was on a wet track, but it was also extremely greasy; everyone was struggling for grip and Sarah found herself sideways round pretty much all the corners trying to get traction. Nevertheless she was p2 right up to the last few minutes before being pipped at the post into p3 in class by a new class 4 competitor Robert Koenig with his Porsche 993 3.8.
Race 1 started at 11.30am with all competitors having changed to slicks. However there was still only a very small dry line appearing - the first couple of laps were going to be exciting! About 5 cars spun off on the first lap of the race, through cold tyres and Sarah found herself going through Copse with the Ferrari 355 of David Hathaway broadside in front of her. She had to take evasive action to avoid a collision, losing some ground on her fellow class competitors. As the race went on, the track dried, the slicks got up to temperature and the grip returned but Sarah was unable to catch up on places lost, settling for p4 in class, 25th out of 35 starters.
At the start of Race 2 Sarah found terrific traction in the new BMW Z4 and accelerated past the Class 4 Porsche 993 of Robert Koenig into Copse. She held the position and started gaining on the Aston Martin of Will Goff for p1 in class. Several cars back, and slowly creeping up on Sarah, was the new class entry of Chris Bialan in his Lotus 211. The nimble Lotus was lapping faster than both Sarah and Will, and shortly after the mid point of the race Chris managed to pass Sarah and pressed ahead to chase Will Goff. The race finished with Chris just 0.8 seconds behind Will and lapping a second a lap quicker. Sarah finished an impressive 3rd in class, 21st out of 35 starters.
"What a week, the BMW will be a great car once we have got on top of the set-up and had a chance to test it properly, Terry and everyone did a fantastic job to get me out this weekend I am very grateful to all their hard work, and since this is the third time this year I have gone straight out in qualifying in a brand new car, I am getting used to being chucked in the deep end"
Sarah will be back out in the GT Cup in the BMW Z4 M Coupe at Brands Hatch on 24th & 25th October. www.girlracer.co.uk
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