7TH SALVAGED FROM BRITISH GT OULTON PARK RACE 2

There was no repeat visit to the podium in the second British GT race at Oulton Park on Monday, following a mid race electrical problem that almost forced the retirement of the Macmillan Racing Aston Martin.

The car ground to a halt shortly after Matty had assumed driving duties, with his quick thinking and performance of a track side restart ensuring that the number 42 car was able to salvage seventh place from the hour long race.

It was a tricky event from the off, with team mate Jack Mitchell unable to capitalise on his excellent start to the race, as he was crowded into the first corner by a gaggle of cars.

The 18 year old dropped to eighth as a result, but was able to regain that position by the time of the pit stops, handing over the car in its starting seventh place.

Mitchell’s work put Matty into a position to chase the Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse Mclaren, with the 20 year old duly closing in on his rival, who went on to finish fourth, when the electrical problem halted that charge.

Dropping down to ninth and over 40 seconds behind the car in eighth, the afternoon was fast becoming a competitive test session, however that all changed ten minutes from the end of the race.

First a drive through penalty for the Beechdean, brought Jack Bartholomew to within ten seconds of Matty, before the retirement of the SuperDry Racing number 44 car made it a fight for the best Aston in the race.

It was all the invitation Matty needed as he began to haul in the car ahead, at times by more than a second per lap, however, a heavy shunt for Ginetta driver Anna Walewska saw the race end early, allowing Bartholomew to escape by 1.119 seconds.

Walewska’s retirement however promoted both of the battling Aston Martin’s, bringing Matty home in the same position as the car started.