Iberian Supercars: Nicole Drought scores double GTX-Am podium at Valencia
Nicole Drought continued her strong run in the Iberian Supercars championship with a double podium finish in the GTX-Am class at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, sharing the #75 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS with Lucas Fothergill.
Nicole Drought continued her strong run in the Iberian Supercars championship with a double podium finish in the GTX-Am class at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, sharing the #75 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS with Lucas Fothergill.
Returning to the championship after an impressive weekend at Jarama, where she converted her growing pace into GTX-Am class victories and two top-ten overall finishes, the Irish driver once again demonstrated strong speed in the Am division, fighting for the class lead in both races and contributing to a runner-up and third-place finishes for the crew.
Drought had arrived in Valencia looking to build on the progress made since the season opener at Portimão, where she had shown encouraging pace before recovering from adversity to secure a GTX-Am podium. At Jarama, she took another step forward with class victories and top-ten overall results, and that momentum continued at Ricardo Tormo as the #75 Porsche remained among the leading GTX-Am entries throughout the weekend.
Drought and Fothergill showed competitive pace from the collective tests, placing second in GTX-Am during the second session with a 1:46.670 lap that also put the Porsche inside the overall top ten. The duo followed that up with fourth in class during the final collective test, heading into qualifying with the #75 showing the potential to fight at the sharp end of the Am field.
Drought took responsibility for Q1 and delivered a 1:46.514, securing 14th overall and second in GTX-Am. Fothergill then posted a 1:48.022 in Q2, putting the Porsche 18th overall and third in class for the second race.
Race 1 saw Drought line up second in GTX-Am and immediately become involved in the fight for the class lead. On the second lap she passed Marcos de Jorge Rodriguez to take first in class, although the driver of the #37 Ligier responded strongly and began fighting back for the position. The two exchanged the lead as Drought initially circulated in the 1:49.9s before improving to a 1:48.7, maintaining pressure on Rodriguez and keeping the gap to the class leader within two seconds.
The battle was interrupted by a Safety Car when Tiago Loureiro went off at Turn 2 in the #47 McLaren, damaging the front suspension. When racing resumed on lap eight, Drought immediately began closing on Rodriguez once again, but the #37 Ligier came into the pits on lap 10 while Drought stayed out, allowing the Porsche to cycle into the GTX-Am lead and move as high as 12th overall.
A second Safety Car was then deployed when the #21 Porsche went off at Turn 1. Drought brought the #75 into the pits on lap 13 from the GTX-Am lead, handing the car over to Fothergill.
Fothergill emerged still leading the class and maintained that position through the middle stages of his stint, although the Ginetta of Gachiteguy began to close in. By lap 20, the gap had been reduced by a second, and two laps later Gachiteguy found a way past the #75 to take the GTX-Am lead. Fothergill remained second and had built a sufficient advantage over the third-place car to secure the runner-up position at the chequered flag, giving Drought and Fothergill their first class podium of the Valencia weekend.
Race 2 began with Fothergill behind the wheel of the #75 Porsche, starting third in GTX-Am. He held the position through the opening lap and remained third as the race developed, but another Safety Car was required on lap five when overall leader Teixeira came to a halt on track.
Fothergill stayed out until lap 11 before bringing the Porsche into the pits from third in class, handing the car over to Drought for the closing stint. The Irish driver immediately set about extracting the maximum from the Cayman, recording the car's best laps of the race to that point with a 1:49.6 and rejoining still third in GTX-Am, with the two class leaders directly ahead providing Drought with a clear opportunity to fight for another podium.
The race returned to green for the final ten minutes, but Drought's charge was soon disrupted by another Safety Car after Iribas and Huber made contact while battling for second overall, with Huber ending up in the gravel. The neutralization left Drought with limited opportunity to close the remaining gap during her stint, and she ultimately brought the #75 home third in GTX-Am.
The result completed a double class podium for Drought and Fothergill at Valencia, with the #75 Protech Motorsport Porsche finishing second in GTX-Am in Race 1 before adding third in the second contest. The championship will now head to Jerez for its next round on November 6-8.
