PSCGB: Gracie Mitchell closes out her season with 100% podium record
Graves Motorsport driver Gracie Mitchell wrapped up her debut season in Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain with a 100% podium record in the CS class following three runner-up results at Brands Hatch.
Graves Motorsport driver Gracie Mitchell wrapped up her debut season in Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain with a 100% podium record in the CS class following three runner-up results at Brands Hatch.
After an extremely positive debut campaign in Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain to date, Mitchell was again looking to challenge at the head of the CS class at Brands Hatch. The Graves Motorsport driver achieved a trio of runner-up finishes during her last appearance in the series at Croft, while narrowly missing out on pole position. These results saw her briefly climb back into second position in the CS class standings and now Mitchell was aiming to claim back the runner-up spot from Tuthill UK driver Giancarlo Romano.
Mitchell and her fellow Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain drivers began their weekend on Friday with two practice sessions on the Grand Prix layout. Mixed conditions led to further challenges with Mitchell completing 18 laps during a damp opening session. Setting a time of a 1:44.446, Mitchell was third fastest among the CS class competitors.
In a dry session two, the entire field took significant strides forward with Mitchell improving upon her earlier time by almost ten seconds. Gaining more confidence with each passing lap, the Graves Motorsport driver ended the day in second position within the CS class and less than two tenths of a second behind teammate Gabe Fairbrother.
Qualifying took place on Saturday morning with the thirty-minute session held in dry conditions. Mitchell made a fast start to the session with the Graves Motorsport driver quickly going to the top of the times in the CS class. At the halfway point, Gracie’s benchmark lap of a 1:34.580 was faster than her best free practice time. During the closing stages of qualifying, Mitchell improved further to a time of a 1:33.700 which saw her set the second fastest time in the CS class behind teammate Fairbrother.
The opening race at Brands Hatch took place on Saturday afternoon and with the grid positions based upon the results from qualifying, Mitchell lined up from second position within the CS class. Mitchell’s starts have been a particular highlight of her season and once again the Graves Motorsport driver got a superb getaway as she overtook teammate Fairbrother to claim the CS class lead.
Holding top position for the opening lap, Mitchell held a one tenth of a second advantage over the CS class champion as the drivers began lap two. Fairbrother then used his experience to move ahead, claiming the advantage out of Paddock Hill Bend with Mitchell settling into the runner-up spot.
Despite losing the lead, Mitchell was keen to fight back and following a mistake at Surtees on lap three, Gracie was back on the tail of her rival. On the following lap, Mitchell set a new personal best lap of a 1:34.830 which was a superb time in race conditions. Improving by a further quarter of a second on lap five, Mitchell was ensuring she kept Fairbrother within sights.
As the second half of the race progressed and the tyres began to wear, Fairbrother began extending his advantage while Mitchell remained in a comfortable second position. Continuing to pull clear of Giancarlo Romano in the closing stages, Mitchell took the chequered flag in second position to stand on the podium on her return to Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain.
The second race at Brands Hatch took place later on Saturday afternoon with Mitchell again lining up from second position in the CS class courtesy of her second fastest time from qualifying. As the lights went out, Fairbrother held the advantage with Mitchell settling into the runner-up spot. Ending lap one just three-quarters of a second behind her rival, Mitchell was looking to remain within striking distance of her Graves Motorsport teammate.
As the drivers settled into a rhythm, Mitchell again opened out a sizeable gap over Giancarlo Romano and Alister Weston who were fighting over the final step on the CS class podium. On lap three, contact between Ethan Hammerton and Samuel Harvey saw Harvey’s car hit the barriers on the entry to Surtees. As a result, the safety car was deployed with the barrier requiring a safety check following a sizeable impact from the Xentek Motorsport machine.
It was a lengthy neutralisation with the race resuming with just one lap remaining. This increased the pressure on Fairbrother with a late race restart and Mitchell was keen to search for a way past her teammate. Fairbrother held on to claim the CS class victory with Mitchell crossing the line in second position to complete a productive day of action at Brands Hatch.
The final race of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain season took place on Sunday afternoon and with the grid positions based upon the results from race two, Mitchell lined up from second in the CS class. The Graves Motorsport driver made a good start as she held the runner-up position in class which applying pressure to teammate Fairbrother.
Mitchell continued to remain close to her rival throughout the opening lap before beginning the second tour just half a second behind the CS class champion. On lap two, RS Am class driver Matthew Briers spun out of Druids and hit the barriers, however he able to bring his car back to the pits with a safety car period avoided.
Mitchell was showing improved pace on the Grand Prix loop as she looked to bridge the deficit to Fairbrother. However, the undisputed class champion was showing excellent pace at the head of the field as he remained in contention with a number of the RS Am class competitors.
By lap five, Mitchell was into the 1:34 range for the first time during the final race with allowed her to once again hold a comfortable runner-up position in class. Although it was a predominantly lonely race for the Graves Motorsport driver, Mitchell was still pushing hard. Her speed during the closing stages was especially strong as she began matching Fairbrother’s times. A positive end to the race saw Mitchell take the chequered flag in second position in the CS class to maintain her 100% podium record.
Mitchell enjoyed a highly positive partial campaign in Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain as she stood on the rostrum in each race she started. Securing a fantastic victory at Oulton Park, Mitchell consistently showed frontrunning pace and this will give her cause for optimism heading into the winter break.
