Scottish Woes for Ryan Hooker as British
GT Championship Hits Knockhill
22 May 2005
It was a weekend of frustration for Upminster's Ryan Hooker as he
took part in the British GT Championship at Knockhill, Scotland this
weekend.
Ryan was making his official debut for Emotional Engineering, partnering
Irish driver Matt Griffin in the Vauxhall Monaro. Coming off the back
of Ryan and Matt's superb G2 Class win at Magny-Cours in the FIA GT
Championship three weeks ago, the small Scottish circuit posed a very
different challenge.
"This is my first time at Knockhill" said Ryan. "Matt is very
well acquainted with the circuit so it is useful to have his input
on this very small and compact circuit. You really have to use all
the kerbs here and forever feel as if you are being launched!"
The team took part in testing on Friday and had an informative practice
session on Saturday morning in very cold and changeable conditions.
Matt took part in the first qualifying session and set a solid time
to see the team qualify in eighth for race one with Ryan heading
out for the second qualifying session.
As Ryan lapped, continuing to shave his time problems struck as a
bad vibration hit the car followed by a rather alarming bang which
forced
Ryan back to the pits and out of the session. A driveshaft problem
was diagnosed and the team set about rectifying the problem but
with the further constraints of a changed time-table schedule hitting
them, with the race now to start an hour and a quarter earlier
than
originally
planned.
The team made it onto the track for Race One six laps down with Matt
behind the wheel when the bad fortune continued as the propshaft
broke off, causing severe damage to the underside of the car putting
them
out of the race. Worse news was to come when inspection confirmed
the damage would keep the team from taking part in Race Two on Sunday.
"After such a fantastic run recently, the G2 Class win at Magny-Cours
and my top ten drive in the FIA GT last week, admittedly it feels
like coming to earth with an extra hard bump" Ryan said honestly. "Obviously
we are disappointed not to finish at Knockhill but we have to refocus
very quickly as the next round is next weekend at Thruxton so we have
very little time but not to worry, it just keeps the adrenaline higher
when an extra challenge presents itself!"
SRO
See 2005 series calendar for British GT Championship
Related Story 22.05.2005 - One-Two
Finish for Scuderia Ecosse in British GT Race Two at Knockhill
