Hartech Dominate Donington
Added: 27.08.2014

Bolton’s Hartech Racing dominated the visit to Donington Park, East Midlands, of the Baylis & Harding Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli, the squad taking three out of the four class wins up for grabs in the two races. Tom Bradshaw had a perfect meeting in his Hartech Porsche 996 C2, taking both outright race wins, both pole positions and setting fastest lap in each race, while Stuart Ings won class two in the second race of the day and John McCullagh battled hard in the top ten.

Having been quickest in Saturday morning’s qualifying session, Bradshaw, from Eagley in Bolton, was never headed in the first of the two 25-minute races, easing away to win by over 20-seconds at the end. Northallerton’s McCullagh’s Boxster ended the race minus both front and rear spoilers such was the close racing in the pack, bringing his battered car home eighth. Bristol-based Ings took a close third in class two in his Boxster.

The second race of the afternoon was very different, Bradshaw slow away at the start and having to fight back from seventh to pick off the lead group one by one and take a hard-fought win. McCullagh was caught up in a torrid three car battle and again finished eighth, while Ings took an early class lead and held on to take the win despite heavy pressure from his class rivals.

“It has been a fantastic days racing,” said Tobias Higgins, Hartech Racing team principal, “all three cars are pretty much in one piece after a day’s racing and some great results. Two good wins for Tom, the first race wasn’t easy but Tom led all the way, and in the second race they really made him work for it, he lost places off the start but showed he can come through the field. John was in the thick of it all day, his in-car footage shows some great car control and he kept out of trouble.

“A good class win for Stuart – there is some fantastic racing in class two – his class is so close so a good day for him to take two podiums, so we will all be smiling on the drive home!”

“I lost my clutch at the start of race two,” said Bradshaw, “it had been slipping in race one, so I was seventh or eighth into the first corner but I was quick out the back of the circuit and managed to line a few people up through the Old Hairpin. They were two very different wins, the first was a controlled race but I really had to fight for it in race two. Being in control is good, but there is nothing like a real battle to take a win!”

“It was an eventful day,” said McCullagh, “there was a rain shower and we softened up the suspension, but as the circuit dried we found ourselves going off at the Craner Curves. The second race saw us in a great three-way battle till the end. It’s been a good day, I thoroughly enjoyed the second race, team Hartech have done a great job on the car all weekend!”

“It was a hot battle in race one,” said Ings, “and we got back up to the leaders by the end. I had things under control early on in race two but then they all started coming back at me. I had to push hard and I’m really pleased with the day.”