Ryan Hooker Claims First FIA GT Points and Announces New Team for British GT

17 May 2005

In what has already been an exciting few weeks for Upminster racing driver, Ryan Hooker, this weekend saw his biggest challenge to date which was richly rewarded. Competing in the top flight of world class GT racing at Silverstone, Ryan and his team-mates clinched a fine top ten finish and he claimed his first international FIA points!

Ryan was approached by the Graham Nash Motorsport (GNM) Team earlier last week with an offer to drive their GT1 Saleen S7 R alongside Luca Ardizzone and Marco Panzavuota in the third round of the FIA GT Championships at the British round of this ten round international series. The chance to be alongside World Champion GT drivers and former F1 drivers was one not to missed and within 24 hours of agreeing, Ryan was on his way to the Northamptonshire circuit to meet the team.

"The opportunity to drive in the top class of the FIA GT Championship is simply amazing" said Ryan before heading to Silverstone, "So many things have been happening lately and this is just the cherry on the cake. I can't wait to drive the Saleen."

Confidence boosting words on signing Ryan for the race came from GNM Sport Director Andy Woolgar who said "We feel he [Ryan] will prove a match for many others at the highest level that GT racing can offer."

And Ryan certainly rewarded this faith putting in the team's fastest laps throughout the weekend, despite having never driven the car before, enabling them to qualify in 14th position.

"The car is superb to drive" commented Ryan. "Very low, squat and stiff. It's very nice to drive and I was able to get up to speed and adapt to it very quickly. I have noticed over the last year or so that I am able to adapt to cars very quickly which helps my confidence and brings me up to speed. It is a car you have to respect with 600bhp, it can very easily get away from you but the team have set it up to hug the quick corners beautifully."

The team decided that Ryan would start the race and on Sunday morning he took his place on the grid alongside so many famous names.

"Being on the grid was amazing, so vibrant" Ryan said, "yet I can honestly say I didn't feel unduly nervous. To sit on the Silverstone grid to take part in an international race and have Sir Jackie Stewart walk past - well it's a pretty amazing thing to be amongst!"

Ryan made a good start and enjoyed a strong hour long stint which saw him put in consistently quick lap times, particularly impressive was the fact he could lap within tenths of his qualifying time despite being in full race trim. With strong race pace it was a good driver changeover to Luca for the second hour stint before Marco took over for the final hour of the three hour long race which saw the car come home 10th overall and 9th in class. However, with the winning and second place cars being 'invitation' Aston Martins, who do not compete in the whole Championship and were not eligible for points, Ryan and his team were awarded 7th in the points allocation. This means that Ryan can now proudly claim his first two points of an FIA international series!

"It has been a superb weekend" said Ryan, "It's been a wonderful experience to race the Saleen and work with a great team like Graham Nash Motorsport in an international event. I think it has shown the progress I am making and certainly just fuelled my desire even further to be the best racing driver I can."

Now Ryan heads north of the border to compete in the third British GT Championship round at Knockhill, Fife with his new team Emotional Engineering.

"Having raced the Emotional Engineering Vauxhall Monaro in the Magny Cours round I'm pleased to say they were very happy with my performance and have asked me to drive with them for the remainder of the series which I have happily agreed to do" Ryan said. "The Monaro is now into its second year of a three year development plan and it is very exciting to work with a team on a developmental project affiliated to Vauxhall. I'm looking forward to the challenge the rest of the domestic season will bring us."

R.Hobbs

See series calendars for 2005 FIA GT Championship | 2005 British GT Championship

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