Double delight as a super Stu hits top gear
FIRST-YEAR British GT4 Championship drivers Stuart Middleton and Will Tregurtha raced to a hardearned double-podium finish at Spa-Francorchamps to reclaim the series lead during their maiden visit to the world-renowned Belgian track.
In two unpredictable and entertaining 60-minute contests, the HHC Motorsport duo finished third in round seven and an improved second in round eight.
With the race-winning Maserati ineligible to score, though, Ashington racer Middleton and Milton Keynes team-mate Tregurtha took the points for second and first to head the title race.
Despite no prior experience of the demanding Formula One venue, the 17-year-old HHC pairing starred throughout the weekend.
Tregurtha got things off to a wonderful start in qualifying for race one when he scorched to pole position.
In the race two session, Middleton lapped just a fraction outside his team-mate’s 2m32.907sec best, which resulted in sixth fastest.
Taking the opening stint for round seven, Tregurtha was edged back to second by the No.100 McLaren but stayed in close contact prior to two consecutive safety car periods.
Initially deployed in time for lap three, when the action resumed on the fifth tour the safety car was immediately required again when two cars tangled at the first corner.
With the cautionary period running into the opening of the pit-stop window, Tregurtha had little in the way of genuine race action to enjoy before pitting to hand the No.55 Ginetta over to Middleton from second as the halfway point neared.
Joining the race fourth in GT4, Middleton soaked up a huge amount of pressure from the challenging No.51 Ginetta to retain his position and then climbed into the podium placings following a spin for the McLaren of Mike Robinson with around 12 minutes to go.
During the closing stages, a huge battle developed over second place with Middleton trying to attack and defend at the same time.
Although nudged back to fourth with just two minutes left, the HHC racer hit back and on the penultimate tour he grabbed third in GT4, and the silver class, before taking the chequered flag a mere 0.1 seconds shy of the runner-up spot.
Middleton took the first stint in round eight and began the race from an elevated fifth in GT4 due to a penalty for a rival.
Although slipping to sixth early on, the North East Caravans-supported driver moved back into fifth on lap three - but a big shake-up resulted in a drop to seventh on lap five.
With nothing between the lead contenders in GT4, the pit stops would be crucial and particularly as the HHC duo would be required to remain stationary in the pitlane for an additional five seconds by way of a ‘success penalty’ from the race one podium.
Middleton eventually pitted at the end of his 10th lap from eighth place and when the race order settled Tregurtha held seventh position.
Going into the final 15 minutes, Tregurtha was edged back to eighth but hit back soon afterwards and set about making significant inroads. He made his way into the top five and this soon became fourth.
Despite being shuffled back to fifth again behind the No.42 Aston Martin, the 2016 Ginetta junior champion not only re-passed his rival but also went ahead of Graham Johnson’s McLaren to take third place on the penultimate lap.
Serving up a sensational pass at the Bus Stop, he passed both cars in one move and then managed to keep them behind on the run through Eau Rouge and along the lengthy Kemmel Straight.
He duly moved past David Pattison’s McLaren to snatch second in GT4 and the duo’s fifth podium of a remarkable debut season in endurance racing.
Middleton said: “We have had two really good results and earned the points we needed to claw it back in the championship.
“When you discount the Maserati, which is so much quicker than anything else and they don’t score points anyway, we have basically come away with a P2 and P1, which is fantastic.
“Will and I have been really strong on our first time at Spa.
“It is an amazing track and I was very pleased with our speed.
I really like Brands, where we will be next, and I love Donington so I don’t think we should have any worries about being competitive in the final two meetings.”