Jelley is hoping for a very happy birthday weekend!
LEICESTER DRIVER FACES THREE RACES AT BRANDS HATCH AFTER DISAPPOINTING SEASON OPENER
STEPHEN Jelley is preparing for a busy birthday weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB when he will be tackling three races on the short and action-packed Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
There was disappointment for the Leicester driver at his home track of Donington Park on the opening weekend of the season last month.
Heavy rain curtailed several hours of the schedule on Sunday, causing the cancellation of one of the two Porsche events.
This contest will now be added to Saturday’s timetable at Brands Hatch, meaning Jelley will have three races to tackle on the tight and undulating 1.2-mile Indy circuit at the Kent venue.
Last time out, Jelley drove well on his return to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, finishing practice just 0.1s from the quickest time and qualifying fourth of the Pro drivers, a mere 0.089s from pole position.
In the race itself, Jelley started brilliantly but found the road ahead blocked and had to settle into fifth position in the early running.
After a safety car he was very unlucky as his Team Parker Racing colleague Matt Rees went off track and re-joined just ahead of Jelley, which forced him wide.
Once off track, because of the rain, Jelley was a passenger as the car slid into the tyre barriers at speed, ending his race on the spot.
Thankfully, he was unharmed in the incident but will have to start the rescheduled event at Brands Hatch from 14th – the last of the Pro class runners.
Jelley will be on track on Friday for two 45-minute test sessions, while on Saturday qualifying takes place at 1.40pm, with the cancelled Donington Park race taking place at 5.35pm.
On Sunday, the races will be held at 12.30pm and 4.20pm, with live coverage of both on ITV.
Jelley, who will celebrate his 42nd birthday on Sunday, said: “It was a long race day at Donington with all the delays, and when we finally got going it was tricky at the start as the tyres were cold.
“I would have got P3 off the line but was blocked and went back to fifth.
“After the safety car I was going up the hill from the Old Hairpin and Matt [Rees] went off on some dirt.
“As I went past, I picked up a load of understeer, ran wide, and went into the wall.
“I don’t know why, as from the moment I turned in I was in trouble.
“There were a few hairy moments, and I am disappointed that I didn’t pick up some points, because sitting pretty in fifth I was just cruising around. Hopefully, we can put that right at Brands Hatch.”