Scots up for Challenge
US GT race joy for newly formed team of Dalziel and Wetherill
DAYTONA 24-hour winner Ryan Dalziel was spraying the champagne again – this time in the GT World Challenge America series.
The Airdrie ace and Justin Wetherill powered the Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3 to first place in class at Virginia International Raceway and third place overall.
Delighted Dalziel said: “In just our third race weekend as a newly formed team, we won.
It was a great job by everyone involved with Triarsi Competizione and well done to Justin on his first pro race win.”
They had a tougher job in the second outing of the weekend, coming home sixth in class.
The Saltire was also flying further down the paddock in the Pirelli GT America series.
Glasgow star Stevan McAleer was back with Eric Filgueiras in their RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman.
Their job was made more difficult when race chiefs gave all the Porsches a weight penalty but they still racked up their fifth win in the series.
McAleer said: “It was a great job from the team and we are delighted to make it five from five.”
There was drama in race two and they missed out on another win, finishing 16th overall and bagging solid points for fourth in the silver class.
McAleer added: “It was not our day. It is really disappointing because we were leading the race and pulling away but a late caution before the driver change caught us out.
“I missed a radio call from the team to pit because I was in the last two corners where the radio reception is poor. We did manage fourth in class though.”
Dean Macdonald finished just eight laps in the GT World Challenge Europe sprint showdown at Zandvoort in the Garage 59 McLaren in race one but took the ProAm class win in race two.
Former Scottish Mini champion Mark Geraghty, from Perth, had a difficult time in the Focus Cup at Snetterton with a retirement in race one that ended his weekend.
In the Britcar Endurance Championship at Silverstone, Portlethen’s Josh Hislop had a new team-mate with Ray Harris. They came home 14th overall and fourth in class.
On two wheels, Rory Skinner, from Perth, showed his class with two podium finishes as the British Superbikes visited Knockhill.
Rory also set a new lap record at the track and said: “Nothing beats racing at Knockhill. The sun was shining and the fans were out in big numbers.” This weekend sees the British Touring Championship back on track at Croft as Gordon Shedden, Rory Butcher, and Aiden Moffat all look to add their points tallies.
In the British GT Championship, Sandy Mitchell will be in action at Snetterton and the Forfar ace is keen to add another podium finish to his 2002 campaign.
Elsewhere, the Dunoon Present Argyll Rally sees the fourth round of the Scottish Rally Championship get under way. Going into the rally, David Bogie leads Michael Binnie by just two points, to there’s everything to fight for during the two-day rally.