Maiden pole and race victory for Optimum Motorsport at Snetterton
Luca Hopkinson secured his first-ever British GT pole position for round six of this year’s British GT campaign. The sister #90 car also claimed its fourth win of the year to extend Marc and Jack’s championship lead ahead of the final two races of the season.
The usual test on Friday, practice on Saturday gave Optimum’s quartet of McLarens ample track time to dial in ahead of the afternoon’s qualifiers.
A tough Qualifying 1 run for Morgan and Carl - who had stepped in behind the wheel of the #3 Forelle Estates GT3 EVO alongside Callum Mcleod, saw the duo start towards the back of the field for Sunday’s first sprint. Kirchhöfer, meanwhile, secured a front row start for race 2, with Mcleod settling for P8.
Over to the GT4 side of the garage and championship leader, Marc Warren sat on provisional pole for race one, that was until Luca in the sister #17 Artura snatched the top spot to claim his maiden pole position. The second qualifying run proved to be more challenging, with Harry George suffering contact towards the end of his flying lap - causing a red flag to the already short 10-minute session.
What had started as a sunny week in Norfolk turned cloudy with temperatures dropping slightly for race day. It was a clean run down into turn one for the GT3 field, but further back there was contact between the du of Artura’s, who had started side-by-side for the first 60-minute sprint.
Having started 10th, Tillbrook moved up the field following the Honda’s excursion off track. 38 minutes remained and the GT3 pit window had opened, #77 was one of the first contenders to box, but also had to serve its 7-second Compensation Time from the second-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps. The sister #3 followed suit shortly after with Callum at the wheel for the final stint.
GT3 stops complete and in came the GT4s. Having boxed first, #90 was able to undercut Luca, who’s remained out on track, pitting a lap later than its Optimum teammate. It was a clear run to the chequered flag for Jack Brown to secure the duos fourth victory of the season and extend their championship lead ahead of the afternoon’s race.
Marvin brought the #77 GT3 home in ninth place, with Callum following up just behind in 11th. Harry, having fought right the way to the line with the #84 Ginetta, secured third overall, respectively.
As if one race in a day isn’t enough, the British GT field got to do it all over again when lights went out just after 3PM on Sunday afternoon.
What was looking to be a promising race for the #3, with Callum advancing from eighth to sixth after the opening laps, quickly turned into frustration due to an early retirement shortly after the midway stage.
The gap to Götz in the leading Merc was over 6 seconds before both he and Marvin pitted when the window opened. After the driver change, it was down to a second, with Morgan joining the race directly behind Tse. Having run wide at Hamilton, the Lamborghini of Martin goes past Morgan. Collard, in the sister Lambo squeezed past but it was Petrobelli in Blackthorn’s Aston that spun Tillbrook’s McLaren, who had later received a penalty seeing Morgan and Marvin promoted to P4.
It was a trouble-free race two for Optimum’s Arturas. Having started further back in eighth, Luca and Harry crossed the line fourth overall (P2 silver), with points leading Jack and Marc settling for sixth (P3 Pro-Am) after making an additional visit to the pits for a penalty during the race.
British GT’s action resumes at Brands Hatch on August 23/24.
Luca Hopkinson secured his first-ever British GT pole position for round six of this year’s British GT campaign. The sister #90 car also claimed its fourth win of the year to extend Marc and Jack’s championship lead ahead of the final two races of the season.
The usual test on Friday, practice on Saturday gave Optimum’s quartet of McLarens ample track time to dial in ahead of the afternoon’s qualifiers.
A tough Qualifying 1 run for Morgan and Carl - who had stepped in behind the wheel of the #3 Forelle Estates GT3 EVO alongside Callum Mcleod, saw the duo start towards the back of the field for Sunday’s first sprint. Kirchhöfer, meanwhile, secured a front row start for race 2, with Mcleod settling for P8.
Over to the GT4 side of the garage and championship leader, Marc Warren sat on provisional pole for race one, that was until Luca in the sister #17 Artura snatched the top spot to claim his maiden pole position. The second qualifying run proved to be more challenging, with Harry George suffering contact towards the end of his flying lap - causing a red flag to the already short 10-minute session.
What had started as a sunny week in Norfolk turned cloudy with temperatures dropping slightly for race day. It was a clean run down into turn one for the GT3 field, but further back there was contact between the du of Artura’s, who had started side-by-side for the first 60-minute sprint.
Having started 10th, Tillbrook moved up the field following the Honda’s excursion off track. 38 minutes remained and the GT3 pit window had opened, #77 was one of the first contenders to box, but also had to serve its 7-second Compensation Time from the second-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps. The sister #3 followed suit shortly after with Callum at the wheel for the final stint.
GT3 stops complete and in came the GT4s. Having boxed first, #90 was able to undercut Luca, who’s remained out on track, pitting a lap later than its Optimum teammate. It was a clear run to the chequered flag for Jack Brown to secure the duos fourth victory of the season and extend their championship lead ahead of the afternoon’s race.
Marvin brought the #77 GT3 home in ninth place, with Callum following up just behind in 11th. Harry, having fought right the way to the line with the #84 Ginetta, secured third overall, respectively.
As if one race in a day isn’t enough, the British GT field got to do it all over again when lights went out just after 3PM on Sunday afternoon.
What was looking to be a promising race for the #3, with Callum advancing from eighth to sixth after the opening laps, quickly turned into frustration due to an early retirement shortly after the midway stage.
The gap to Götz in the leading Merc was over 6 seconds before both he and Marvin pitted when the window opened. After the driver change, it was down to a second, with Morgan joining the race directly behind Tse. Having run wide at Hamilton, the Lamborghini of Martin goes past Morgan. Collard, in the sister Lambo squeezed past but it was Petrobelli in Blackthorn’s Aston that spun Tillbrook’s McLaren, who had later received a penalty seeing Morgan and Marvin promoted to P4.
It was a trouble-free race two for Optimum’s Arturas. Having started further back in eighth, Luca and Harry crossed the line fourth overall (P2 silver), with points leading Jack and Marc settling for sixth (P3 Pro-Am) after making an additional visit to the pits for a penalty during the race.
British GT’s action resumes at Brands Hatch on August 23/24.
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