Ahmad’s Oman Racing unlucky to miss podium
After a great start, a top three result was there for the taking for Al Harthy’s team. But their first Silver Cup podium went begging after late race contact
MUSCAT: Omani racing driver Ahmad Al Harthy almost celebrated his and Oman Racing’s first ‘Silver Cup’ podium finish in the Blancpain Endurance Cup during round two of the season at Silverstone on Sunday — until late race contact robbed the team of richly deserved silverware.
Up until the final 45 minutes of the three-hour encounter at the famous British track, everything had gone pretty much to plan for Al Harthy and team-mates Euan McKay and Charlie Eastwood and a top three result was there for the taking.
Approaching the last half-hour of the final stint, though, Eastwood was involved in contact with a rival Lamborghini and the damage sustained to the No.97 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 required an urgent pit visit.
Losing a significant chunk of time as a result, and dropping from third to sixth place, the Oman Racing entry eventually ended the encounter fifth in the Silver Cup.
“We showed this weekend we could be on the podium, we were fighting for a very good podium finish with less than 45 minutes to go,” said reigning Pro-Am Champion Al Harthy.
“I don’t know what happened in Charlie’s stint, there was some kind of incident and the car had to come in. Once you have to make a stop like that in this championship, it’s very difficult to do anything after that.
“Our pace throughout the race was strong. In my session it was very busy, I had to keep out of trouble to make sure I gave the best car I could to my team-mates. Euan did a really great job in his stint, Charlie was going well too but then there was the incident which was very unfortunate. We’re showing our speed, now we need to put it all together for that podium we want so much.”
In final qualifying on Sunday morning, Al Harthy took the first of three sessions and produced a best time of one minute and 58.771 seconds which was secured before a late red flag stoppage due to a car off the circuit.
For session two, McKay got behind the wheel of the Aston Martin and lapped with a best of one minute and 57.840 seconds – the fastest Silver Cup competitor at that point.
Eastwood then took the third session and delivered a time just a fraction better than the one McKay managed, a lap of one minute and 57.834 seconds.
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