Brands Hatch: A Weekend of Triumphs and Tribulations
Brands Hatch delivered a thrilling weekend of high-speed action, filled with both highs and lows for the Rosland drivers, with twists and turns at every corner.
The rain-soaked qualifying session was a true test of skill, and James Kellett showed his mettle by clinching pole position with a blistering lap, edging out the competition by a razor-thin margin of just 1/1000th of a second. Meanwhile, Gus Burton faced some challenges during the session, but managed to secure a solid P4 on the grid.
Race day proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions, as fortunes rose and fell with each passing lap. Kellett was P1 on the inside, with Burton P4 on the outside of the track. Kellet made a sluggish start, losing ground to his rivals with Gus following the P3 car past James, who by now was at full throttle just as the corner turned and Paddock Hill dropped away. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse when, locking up, James skidded into Gus causing him to exit the track into the gravel and tyre wall on the first corner, forcing him to retire. Gus finished the race in disappointment, while James secured a respectable P4 finish. Despite early frustrations, the team rallied and got Gus's car back in shape for Race 2.
As the 4-ball had been drawn for reverse grid, James was back in pole position for Race 2, and he made the most of it with a strong start. Despite relinquishing the lead to the faster De Haan, There was a very early safety car due to a car breaking down on the track, so half a dozen laps saw the caravan of Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars continue until the car was cleared. The safety car went in and the race was back on.James held his nerve and finished the race in P1 after a penalty demoted De Haan. Gus had a rough outing, starting behind the last pro – in 16thplace. Under the early safety car he got a puncture in his right front tyre and it proceeded to lose pressure for the rest of the race – finishing the race with just 0.4 bar pressure in that tyre. Battling a punctured tire that made it difficult for him to navigate the track, he put in a valiant effort and managed to climb up the ranks to finish in P11.
All in all, it was a mixed weekend for the team, with some highs and lows. But the positives outweighed the negatives, especially for James, who bounced back from a disappointing outing at Donington just two weeks prior. Gus, meanwhile, has some Supercup driving to do before the next meeting at Thruxton, and is sure to come back stronger and more determined than ever. With their grit and determination, this team is a force to be reckoned with, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for us next!