Having won the opening round of the British GT Championship at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend, Optimum Motorsport head to the second event of the season this weekend (28-29 April) at Rockingham Motor Speedway in a positive frame of mind.
In a sensation start to her British GT career, Flick Haigh made history at Oulton Park in becoming the first female driver to claim an overall pole position and to claim the outright race victory. As a result, the team are still a strong fifth in the teams’ standings despite being unable to take the start of the second race at Oulton Park, while Haigh and teammate Jonny Adam are fourth in the drivers’ standings.
Heading to Rockingham, where Haigh and Adam have recently completed a successful test to add to further pre-season mileage, their chances of success – in what is the first two-hour endurance race of the season – are boosted in the fact that they do not carry any success penalties into the event courtesy of not finishing the second Oulton Park race.
History further shows that the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 should be competitive, having taken the pole position at the Corby circuit in 2016 and 2017.
Shaun Goff, team principal
“We had a fantastic start to our season at Oulton Park. To claim the pole and win with Flick was as good as it gets. Jonny was to start P2 in the second race, so that shows the pace we have in the #75 Aston Martin. We have tested extensively at Rockingham and with no success penalties, we hope for a solid points haul on Sunday.”
Flick Haigh
“Rockingham is a weekend we have prepared fully for, we have tested there in all conditions. We certainly – as always – turn up with hopes of a big points haul. The team have worked overtime to get the car on point for us. We will turn up the same mindset as at Oulton Park… We all do our best.”
Jonny Adam
“Rockingham has been a successful circuit in the past for the Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Myself and Flick have done a few days testing there recently and believe we are well prepared. We showed good pace at Oulton as a team and driver pairing, so it’s nice to carry that confidence into Rockingham this weekend!”
