Rollercoaster Weekend at Silverstone – But Penalties Cost Us
The Silverstone National circuit witnessed a whirlwind of emotions this past weekend as Rounds 13 and 14 of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB unfolded. While excitement was aplenty, penalties loomed large over the Rosland Gold Racing team.
Race One - With a less-than-stellar qualifying session, James Kellett found himself starting from P6, closely followed by his teammate Josh Malin at P10. Grid positions may not have been ideal, but Silverstone's compact National circuit made for an ultra-competitive field with razor-thin qualifying times. As the racers lined up, a rainy morning cast uncertainty over the race. The initial plan was a wet race, but the ever-changing British weather had other ideas.
On to the race itself, where following a rainy morning all the field lined up in the assembly area on wet tyres. The race preparation and set up was for a wet race, but the previous race was the touring cars and they had almost dried the track - and the rain had stopped - so the track was looking drier as the start approached. But after further thought and consideration, an assembly area last minute tyre change for both cars put onto slick tyres was called. This saw about half the field immediately follow suit. We had started a trend! But there was some slight regret as with the race just on its formation and green flag laps the rain started again. Yelp! Not what was planned!
Yet, fortune favoured the bold, and the rain subsided just as quickly as it had arrived. But with slicks on a now wet track it was difficult, the Rosland Gold duo had their work cut out for them as cars on wet tires surged ahead. But after about 1/3rd of the race complete, the track was just about dry, so progress through the pack was made by the Rosland Gold drivers; with the wet tyre shod cars soon struggling. But, showing their skill and determination, both Rosland drivers sliced through the pack, ultimately securing a spectacular P3 for James Kellett and a well-deserved P4 for Josh Malin.
Race Two brought its own set of challenges. The 6 ball was pulled out the hat, placing the Rosland Gold cars in third and fourth positions, reversed from their Race One finish. A dry track promised a less dramatic race, but the competition was fierce. A blistering start catapulted Josh Malin into second place, where he held his ground throughout the race. Meanwhile, James Kellett fought valiantly to maintain his fourth position – briefly slipping a place before quickly reclaiming his position. As the checkered flag waved, it seemed Rosland Gold Racing had earned P2 (Josh Malin) and P4 (James Kellett). However, an unexpected twist awaited.
Both cars were slapped with a 5-second penalty for track limit violations, a cruel blow considering that others in the top ranks escaped such a punishment. This penalty saw them tumble down the order, adding a dash of bitter disappointment to their otherwise impressive performance.
Despite the setbacks, Rosland Gold Racing remains determined and focused. The final showdown at Brands Hatch in a fortnight for Rounds 15 & 16 promises to be a season-defining event. With twists and turns like those at Silverstone, who knows what thrilling surprises await on the track?