ELLINAS RETURNS TO CARRERA CUP
Successful comeback for last year’s champion and Wylie takes podium too
Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Tio Ellinas made a last-minute return to the series at Silverstone last weekend with the frontrunning Redline squad, taking a podium from the back of the grid.
Ellinas has been competing in the Porsche Supercup this season and has earned four topsix finishes from the eight events so far. He will use the Silverstone and Brands Hatch GB rounds as extra seat time ahead of the Supercup finale in Mexico.
“I just came here for some more practice for the Supercup,” said Ellinas. “They [Redline] called me up on Monday and said ‘can you come and do the races?’
“I was in Cyprus so had to reschedule [plans]. My lid was in Germany with the Lechner team so I had to go and get that.”
His weekend got off to a tricky start as contact put him out of the opening race. He therefore started race two from 17th but surged through to finish second.
“I got hit from behind in the first race – Dan Vaughan had a brake failure and there was nothing I could do,” Ellinas said. “Going from 17th to second was pretty good – it was an enjoyable race!”
Another driver who returned to the grid at Silverstone and took a second place was Ross Wylie.
The Britcar Endurance champion last competed in the series in 2017 and will also contest the Brands finale with In2racing.
His second place was aided by a smart decision to opt for wet tyres in the opening race when other frontrunners struggled on slicks.
“The last time I raced here in the Carrera Cup it was similar conditions and we made the wrong call,” he said. “We thought it was worth the gamble.
“I’m open-minded for next year – a huge thanks have to go to my sponsors for getting me out for the final two rounds.”
Former Volkswagen Racing Cup champion Aaron Mason and Ginetta GT4 Supercup racers Lee Frost and Lucky Khera also joined the Carrera Cup grid, taking it to a season high of 23 cars.