OVERSTEER ISSUES COMPROMISE METCALFE PODIUM CHARGE

Hampshire’s Jeremy Metcalfe was unable to challenge for his fourth podium of the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Championship season at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in Kent today, Saturday, 12th July, after battling hard against heavy oversteer during the 11th round of the campaign.

Happy with his CR Scuderia prepared Ferrari 430 GT3 during this morning’s practice session, the 20-year-old from Fleet headed into round 11 qualifying hopeful of a spot on the first couple of rows on the grid but had to be satisfied with fifth place, his best lap a time of 1m 31.126 seconds (90.89mph).

Taking the first stint in today’s one hour encounter, Jeremy made a great start to move into the top four as part of a three-car CRS train during the first half of the race but he was unable to get fully on terms with the top three due to oversteer problems which compromised his, and the No.16 Ferrari’s, potential.

Handing over to team-mate Luke Hines from fourth position shortly after the pit-stop window opened, the duo were eventually classified in ninth place as Hines continued to struggle with the same oversteer problems.

Reflecting on the day, Jeremy said: “I was really happy with the car during the practice this morning, it felt good, but in the race we had a big problem with oversteer. Obviously, there was nothing I could do other than drive as hard as possible to hold on to fourth place, while looking after the car of course, until the pit-stop.

“It was a really tough race for Luke and I but I’m confident the team will find a cure before tomorrow’s race where we’ll hopefully be able to fight for the podium. Without the problems with oversteer it would have been a much different story today.”

Unfortunately for the Metcalfe-Hines partnership, the team-mates have slipped from equal third in the GT3 Class driver standings to sixth position having missed out on a points finish by just three 10ths of a second at the conclusion of round 11.

While the championship lead is now out of reach with only three rounds of the season remaining, Jeremy can still end the year joint-third in the standings – a position he’ll be aiming to regain during round 12 tomorrow, Sunday, 13th July.

Following a short 10 minute warm-up session at 10.00, the 12th round of the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Championship will take place at 14.15. The duo will start the race from the sixth row of the grid after Hines posted the 12th quickest lap in his qualifying session.