Euro GT3 Pro Cup: Misano
Lamborghini Factory Driver, Scot, Sandy Mitchell, battles through the heat in Euro GT3 Pro Cup at Misano with Barwell and Dama Fortuna Tequila.
Sandy came through a testing GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Pro Cup double-header at Misano in Italy. Despite starting the scorching weekend with the Lamborghinis being the heaviest of the nine brands lining up on the 44-car grid, he was the fastest Lambo in qualifying for the second race. Sandy, the 25-year-old from Forfar, again partnered team-mate Hugo Cook in the No78 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2, prepared by Barwell Motorsports and backed by Dama Fortuna Premium Tequila. “For the opening qualifying session on Saturday the Lamborghinis were the heaviest cars on the grid due to Balance of Performance measures,” Sandy, personally-backed by Tunnocks, explained. “In reality we were giving away almost 60kg to the Aston Martins and Ferraris.”
With searing temperatures baking the 2.6-mile, 16-turn circuit on Italy’s Adriatic Coast, the conditions further aided the mid-engined machines. Cook qualified the #78 Lamborghini 13th among the Pro cars. In the cooler Saturday evening temperatures, which better suited the Lambo — the opening 60-minute race started at 8.15pm local — Cook improved seven places, from his starting slot of 29th, on the opening lap and climbed to 11th in class. With 28 minutes remaining, Mitchell took over the car quickly rattling off a series of personal fastest laps, overtaking a number of cars in the process. The Scot eventually took the chequered flag in 16th overall, an improvement of 13 places from the #78’s starting position, and 11th in class. “It was a tough race for everyone in the team,” Mitchell explained. “The hot conditions throughout the day were demanding for everyone but we gradually improved the pace of the car and were unfortunate to just miss out on a top 10 finish in class.”
Overnight the team made sweeping changes to the car’s set-up and Sandy immediacy repaid the Barwell crew’s hard work by making the #78 the fastest Lamborghini in qualifying. But such was the challenge the Lamborghinis faced, the #78 still lined up 14th overall and ninth in Pro class. Starting the second 60-minute race on Sunday, Sandy spent the opening few corners three abreast as the grid battled for position. Quickly settling into a rhythm, Sandy again posted a series of personal fastest laps before, after 16 minutes, the race was suspended following a huge accident. The high-speed impact involving the #1 Grasser Racing Huracan, severely damaged the barriers leading to a two-hour 17 minutes delay. Thankfully the driver, Bulgarian Georgi Donczew, escaped uninjured from the blazing crash. On the restart, Sandy enjoyed a brief spell in the race lead as the team opted to run long and try to take advantage of clean air before Sandy pitted for Cook. After the mandatory driver swap, Cook rejoined eyeing a top 10 finish before eventually finishing 11th in Pro.
“We definitely improved the car for Sunday,” Sandy continued, “and Hugo’s performance was all the more impressive given the cooling fan stopped working and he was melting in the car over the last few laps. It was a tricky weekend. We just didn’t have the pace to match those at the front, especially in the hot conditions, so it made for two really tough races for us. But the changes we all made to the car overnight Saturday into Sunday meant the car was much improved. I was happy to qualify as the top Lamborghini, and that’s something the whole team can be proud of. It’s one of those weekends when we have to take the smaller wins and move on.”
Sandy returns to action on August 1/3 for the next GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Pro Cup double-header at Magny-Cours in France.
