Silverstone Photo's

SILVERSTONE R1/R2: 9th APRIL 2012: RACE REPORT

Nurburgring GP •
July 27th-29th

Donington Park •
May 19th/20th

Oulton Park •
August 18th

Brands Hatch (Indy) •
June 9th/10th

Rockingham •
October 6th/7th

All meetings are double headers with one 15 minute qualifying session and two 15 minute races.

Following a very successful first year, the Production GTI Series for the iconic Mk2 Golf GTi, has been granted outline approval by the MSA for full Championship status in 2012. The championship will consist of six double-header events at some of the UK’s leading circuits and will be organised by the BRSCC.

2011 saw Production GTi grids grow throughout the season; the series ethos of close, safe and affordable racing has attracted both novice and highly experienced drivers and has resulted in competitive racing right through the grid with five different race winners during the year.

BRSCC Competitions Director Drew Furlong commented, “The BRSCC is delighted to add the Production GTI Championship to our portfolio. 2011 was a very promising season and the portents are good for further growth next year.”

It was to be a wet and cold Easter Sunday as the curtain dropped on the first round of the 2012 Teekay Couplings Production GTi Championship at Silverstone. However the competitor’s spirits were not dampened and the usual banter and buzz filled the Northamptonshire paddock.

The Golf‘s took to the track for the day’s first qualifying session, the track was greasy after heavy overnight rain and continuous fine drizzle. New to the grid for 2012 was the J Tech Automotive car of Jamie Packham, keen to demonstrate his experience at the wheel of a Golf he set an early pole time on his first flying lap. However it wasn’t long before the Rusty Nail Racing drivers; Nick Jarvis and Ray Grimes; were sharing the top spots. By mid-session thou it was old hands Simon Hill and John Mawdsley who were first to break the 1min 20sec barrier. By the end of the session it was clear how close the days racing would be with the top 5 drivers split by 7/10ths of a second. Mawdsley took the pole from local man Andy Knowlton by a 1/10th of a sec while Packham and Hill were split by only 3/100ths of a sec in 3rd and 4th with Jarvis only 2/10ths behind in 5th. Craig Roberts was impressive at his PGTi debut in the 8v Class after setting the fastest class time putting him 7th overall on the grid.

© 2012 Production GTi Series