Flick Haigh makes history with British GT pole

Flick Haigh - Photo supplied by British GT and JEP

Flick Haigh - Photo supplied by British GT and JEPFlick Haigh has taken pole for the first of two British Gt races at Oulton Park on Monday. In the qualifying session late on Saturday afternoon, she became the first woman in British GT history to start a race on pole after posting the quickest time in the GT3 Am session.

Phil Keen took the Pro session pole which sets the grid for race two in the Demon Tweeks Lamborghini Hurracan.

In the first session it was reigning champion Rick Parfitt Jr who initially set the pace in his Bentley. He was then challenged by the second Team Parker Bentley driven by Ian Loggie but that just fell short. Flick Haigh then set her lap which couldn’t be beaten leaving her to make history. She was very happy;

“Yeah, it’s fantastic! But also gives us a lot of confidence going into Monday’s races. It’s supposed to be wet so we were focused on starting as near to the front as possible. Pole was just a bonus! The Aston’s very balanced in the wet and we’ve also done a lot of wet running during testing, so we’re prepared for whatever the weather throws at us. The hard work definitely starts on Monday.”

In the second session Phil Keen never looked like being headed once he set is pole time. The ERC Mercedes had looked like being a threat in the earlier sessions driven by Yelmer Buurman but team mate Lee Mowle had gone off in the previous session damaging the steering. In the circumstances fifth was excellent.

Flick Haigh’s team mate Jonny Adam took second on the grid leave the duo looking like the strongest pairing this weekend. Phil Keen knows they provide a threat to their chance of victory;
“Barwell have done a good job and Oulton is one of our better circuits, so we’re pleased with pole. There’s some proper drivers out there but it’s no tougher than last year – Jonny Adam’s no slouch and will be as tough to beat as always. But the more rain the better!”

If Haigh and Adam’s season continues the way it has started we have a real chance of seeing the first ever female British GT champion crowned. That said, there is a long way to go!

In GT4, Equipe Verschuur lost pole after a mix up with the regulations.

.Championship regulations require teams to nominate the drivers that will contest each qualifying segment in advance. Finlay Hutchison was nominated to take part in the second session but instead went out for the first session, ensuring that he and co-driver Daniel Mckay forfeited their pole positions.

This gave the first pole to Callum Pointon on his British GT debut for HHC. In the second session it was Scott Malvern who inherited pole for the Team Parker Racing Mercedes after Daniel Mckay lost his time. Scott was happy to take pole;

race one GT4 pole (Photo by Marc Waller) Race one pole (Photo by Marc Waller) race two pole (Photo by Marc Waller) Race two Gt4 pole (Photo by Marc Waller)

 

 

 

“Qualifying went brilliantly. For our first time out in the new car we’re right on target. Nick did a brilliant job in his session and was exactly where he wanted to be for the first run, and for me it’s great to finally show my pace in a field as strong as this, and I think we’ll only get stronger as the year goes on. Technically this track isn’t the best for the Mercedes; it’s more of a Ginetta-friendly place. I lost a few tenths in traffic at the start of my best lap, but kept my foot in and it all came good. Now on to the hard work on Monday.”

The full grid can be viewed on the official timing website TSL.

http://tsl-timing.com/event/181305

Tickets are available on the gate for Monday’s races or it can be viewed on the British GT website as well as Youtube. By Marc Waller 

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