Blake Angliss Battles Back To Score Top Ten Finish At Croft

Blake Angliss was left to rue misfortune in the latest three Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup races at Croft this past weekend (18/19 September), the rookie salvaging a best result of ninth place after a trio of comeback drives.

Carrying a striking new livery on his Ginetta G55 for the visit to North Yorkshire thanks to backing from Rosland Capital, Angliss headed to Croft off the back of a strong showing at Thruxton where he was in contention for a first Pro class podium of the season.

The Coventry-based youngster had his sights set on a top-six result in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, and planted his Transend-backed car firmly inside the top three for much of the session. As times improved, Angliss remained in contention for the top six result he craved, but took eighth on the grid for race one despite being under a second from pole position.

The Haigh Group, Splodge Hygiene, Lifeline and Icom backed driver turned his attentions to race one later that day, but his task was made tougher by a suspected brake issue on the warm-up lap that forced him to start from the pitlane.

A safety car interruption gave him the second chance after repairs by Century Motorsport got him back onto the tail of the field, Angliss charging forward seven places to 11th place by the chequered flag.

Sunday’s action was televised live on ITV4, Angliss starting race two from 11th with eyes on more progress. Unfortunately, a lap one incident delayed him and the engine suddenly cut, costing him yet more time and reblasulting in another fightback drive.

He made his way back to 12th on the road, which became his starting spot for the third and final race of the weekend. It would be a fighting performance to round out the weekend however, Angliss putting in a fine drive to climb up into the top 10 and edge past his team-mate Andy Spencer to grab a well-earned ninth place to complete the weekend.

Blake Angliss: “It’s kind of been a knock-on effect from what happened in race one when we had to start from the pitlane, and then in race two it was really unfortunate with the engine cutting out.

“Our pace wasn’t able to be shown despite salvaging a better result at the end, but realistically I think we could have been comfortably in the top eight and gone with them in the mix for much of the weekend.

“It was one of those weekends but Donington Park is next, and we’re looking forward to that as it’s a track we’ve been to already. Others have more experience which will make it tougher, but you can race harder at that circuit.”

Angliss heads to Donington Park for the next GT4 SuperCup meeting over the weekend of 9/10 October, a track he made his Ginetta debut at in the GT5 Challenge last season.