Jake robbed of a second podium in last 15 minutes
Copyright Jakob Ebrey
Driving The AmD tuning Porsche alongside Graham Coomes, Jake again showed superb form in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship on the sweeps of the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in round 6 six of the series this weekend.
Tyre dramas for Graham hampered his progress in qualifying, whilst Jake put in a superb flying lap to qualify third in his session, the #49 Porsche 997 lining up eighth on the grid for the two-hour race.
A good start and strong opening part of the race saw Graham lap quickly and consistently, working his way up to sixth before handing over to Jake after fifty minutes. Despite a slower stop than planned due to the fuel rig not deploying smoothly, Jake returned to the action in a competitive eighth place.
Soon afterwards a Safety Car period closed up the field and he set about working his way forward, gaining places as 2 cars ahead retired. Charging after Spa-winners Ozzy Racing, Jake caught the Lotus Evora, pressuring Kershaw and eventually slicing past on the brakes at Clearways.
Next up was championship leader Ross Gunn in the Beechdean Aston Martin, Jake made a perfectly timed move and sliced past by braking late into the spectacular Paddock Hill Bend, now in fifth place.
Ahead Davenport had worked the Tolman Ginetta G55 into the lead ahead of Robinson's similar car, with Academy Motorsport's Dennis Strandberg close behind in third. Lapping quickly and smoothly Hill gradually caught Strandberg’s Aston which was in turn challenging Robinson for second.
After stalking the Swedish driver and forcing him to drive an ever-more defensive race. With barely 15 minutes of the race to run, Jake got a superb run up the hill into Druids Hairpin, edging alongside on the brakes. However Strandberg turned in and the pair clashed, both spinning with Jakes Porsche picking up damage to a wheel, suspension, and then the radiator as Strandberg drove into him whilst recovering.
Ultimately it ended a superb drive from Jake who felt confident he would have challenged Robinson for second place had he completed the pass for third.
"Graham did a mega job again, and the team gave us a great car all weekend. I had a great dice with Kershaw and Gunn and caught Strandberg quickly. He was defending like mad and I had a mega run into Druids, I don't know if he didn't see me - but it was a hard hit. I'm gutted as I'd worked really hard to catch him and am certain I would have challenged Robinson. I'm really grateful to Shaun and all the AmD boys for all their work and wanted to reward them with another podium”.
“I would also say thanks to Sportif Motor Group, Fujifilm, Borderland Fencing, Zynth, JEP Photography and everyone else who make it possible for me to be racing. Roll on Snetterton!" said Hill.
Next race - Snetterton 23rd August.
Tyre dramas for Graham hampered his progress in qualifying, whilst Jake put in a superb flying lap to qualify third in his session, the #49 Porsche 997 lining up eighth on the grid for the two-hour race.
A good start and strong opening part of the race saw Graham lap quickly and consistently, working his way up to sixth before handing over to Jake after fifty minutes. Despite a slower stop than planned due to the fuel rig not deploying smoothly, Jake returned to the action in a competitive eighth place.
Soon afterwards a Safety Car period closed up the field and he set about working his way forward, gaining places as 2 cars ahead retired. Charging after Spa-winners Ozzy Racing, Jake caught the Lotus Evora, pressuring Kershaw and eventually slicing past on the brakes at Clearways.
Next up was championship leader Ross Gunn in the Beechdean Aston Martin, Jake made a perfectly timed move and sliced past by braking late into the spectacular Paddock Hill Bend, now in fifth place.
Ahead Davenport had worked the Tolman Ginetta G55 into the lead ahead of Robinson's similar car, with Academy Motorsport's Dennis Strandberg close behind in third. Lapping quickly and smoothly Hill gradually caught Strandberg’s Aston which was in turn challenging Robinson for second.
After stalking the Swedish driver and forcing him to drive an ever-more defensive race. With barely 15 minutes of the race to run, Jake got a superb run up the hill into Druids Hairpin, edging alongside on the brakes. However Strandberg turned in and the pair clashed, both spinning with Jakes Porsche picking up damage to a wheel, suspension, and then the radiator as Strandberg drove into him whilst recovering.
Ultimately it ended a superb drive from Jake who felt confident he would have challenged Robinson for second place had he completed the pass for third.
"Graham did a mega job again, and the team gave us a great car all weekend. I had a great dice with Kershaw and Gunn and caught Strandberg quickly. He was defending like mad and I had a mega run into Druids, I don't know if he didn't see me - but it was a hard hit. I'm gutted as I'd worked really hard to catch him and am certain I would have challenged Robinson. I'm really grateful to Shaun and all the AmD boys for all their work and wanted to reward them with another podium”.
“I would also say thanks to Sportif Motor Group, Fujifilm, Borderland Fencing, Zynth, JEP Photography and everyone else who make it possible for me to be racing. Roll on Snetterton!" said Hill.
Next race - Snetterton 23rd August.