GT4 SERIES EUROPEAN NORTHERN CUP
7th May 2017
Brands Hatch, Kent – England
3.9km / 2.4 miles
Race 1:
During the qualifying sessions yesterday we struggled with a gearbox issue that hampered our final positioning. The team worked hard overnight to fault find and fix the component that was causing the issue.
Sunday quickly came and we took our McLaren 570S to the staging area. The car was prepared for the race and Stephen Pattrick got behind the wheel and took the car out to the grid.
During the formation lap, Stephen reported no issues with the gearbox.
We started the race from P24 and Stephen Pattrick battled all the way up to P11 showing fantastic pace and skill. However, as Stephen was closing in for the next overtake the gearbox issue reared its head, causing him to drop back down the pack.
The pit window opened and we brought #33 into the pits for a driver change and a reset. Andy Meyrick took the wheel and joined the the track to continue the race.
He fought hard with the competition and made up a number of places that were lost during the mandatory pit stop and the on going issues.
However, the gearbox issue became terminal and the #33 car was brought back to the pits and retired.
The 570S was take back to the paddock and our mechanics worked closely with McLaren Customer Support to fix the issue and get the car ready for Race 2.
Race 2:
After the disappointment of Race 1, Bullitt Racing decided to change the gearbox wiring loom on our McLaren 570S. However, we only had three hours to complete the task!
Working non stop alongside our McLaren colleagues we were able to get the job done, with just 30 minutes to spare!
We headed to the track and we were the last to leave the pits, but we made it to our grid spot of 11th.
Andy Meyrick started the race and battled all the way up to P9 within the first 6 laps. Finally, we thought that the issue had been cleared and we could now showcase our full potential.
However, it didn’t last. The car kept going into neutral and was dangerous to race. Andy brought the car back to the pits and retired.
Naturally we are all disappointed, however we now have an extensive testing session in place to ensure that these issues are fixed prior to the next GT4 race weekend.
Next up is the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 10th & 11th June. See you there!
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