Aspin returns to Porsche Carrera Cup GB podium at Thruxton

Young racer Will Aspin had an up and down race day in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, claiming a class podium in race one but retiring with damage on lap one of race two, as the series made a return to Thruxton at the weekend (August 27/28).

After a difficult trip to Snetterton last time out, Will enjoyed a productive test day at the Hampshire venue in the lead up to the meeting and was well on the pace during Friday’s practice sessions, finishing the first sixth quickest overall and the second fourth, both times comfortably ahead of the Pro-Am runners.

However, heading into qualifying on Saturday afternoon, the teenager was unable to replicate his performance as he admitted he was trying a bit too hard to hook up the perfect lap and set his weekend off on the right foot, finishing 12th fastest overall, albeit second in class.

After a slow getaway to start the opening contest of the weekend on Sunday morning, he battled back to run third in Pro-Am in a mostly processional race, where overtaking was at a premium, claiming a podium to banish the memories from Snetterton.

Race two that afternoon was delayed due to an earlier incident and was run for a timed 20 minutes, rather than the planned 20 laps, but for Will it only lasted a number of metres. Getting a good start, he looked to slip inside Team Parker Racing colleague Jake Giddings, but in trying to take avoiding action as his team-mate took turn one, bounced off the kerb which spun him across the track, into the barriers and retirement.

Capping a busy month in which he was caught up in a big incident at Knockhill, made his international debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, endured two DNFs at Snetterton, and had his mixed weekend at Thruxton, Will now has a month off racing before the season resumes at Silverstone at the end of September.

Will Aspin

“After practice, we were looking good, but going into qualifying, I made mistakes throughout the lap. We should have qualified in the top five if we had done what we did on Friday, being patient on the throttle. We didn't because I was just too eager, wanting it too much.

“Race one, we went in with a good mindset, we were looking good, we finished 12th and third in class, looking stronger than the people in front. But the thing is around here, once you get in the dirty air, you can't overtake, even if you're faster than the people in front, there's no chance you'll get past unless they make a mistake. You're pressuring them and pressuring them right until the end. We couldn't do anything to go up a position in that race. My start wasn't very good. I just didn't release the clutch very well, so I bogged down off the line.

“Race two I had a really good start, but then we crashed. I overtook two or three people then tried to go down inside of Jake into turn one. I threw the car over the kerb to not take him out and instead of him spinning, it caused me to drop off the kerb and send me around into the barrier. You're going to have these races I guess, and it's all part of learning.

“If you want to overtake people at Thruxton, it's got to be on the first one or two laps, when everyone is kind of fumbling for position. We didn't capitalise on that, and I think in race two, if we hadn't had that incident, we would have. We'll have to wait until Silverstone to see where we are, get it done properly, and hook it all up.”