Will Aspin returns to Porsche Carrera Cup GB podium at Thruxton
Young racer Will Aspin made his return to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB podium at the weekend (June 2-4), as he scored a third-place finish in the Pro-Am class to bounce back after a tough start to the season.
The Italian teenager came into the weekend aiming to get his championship push back on track, after bad luck to open the season but building on a pair of fourth place finishes at Brands Hatch last time out.
Showing promising speed in Friday’s practice sessions, the 18-year-old drove well in qualifying the following afternoon, finishing on pole position in Pro-Am and ninth overall, only to have his quickest lap time removed when he was judged not to have slowed sufficiently for yellow flags – something which caught out five other drivers as well.
Starting the opening 22-lap race from fourth in class instead, he was quickly battling for the podium spots in Pro-Am, with Team Parker Racing teammate Ryan Ratcliffe and current points leader Max Bird, before Ollie Jackson also joined the fray. When those two rivals came together in the closing stages, Will took full advantage, and swept past into third, where he crossed the line and scored his first podium of the season.
There was another tough and entertaining battle for third place in Pro-Am again in race two, with Jackson, Angus Whiteside, and Ratcliffe all vying for the spot. Will looked to do everything he needed to in his Attis Sports-liveried machine, keeping the pack behind, however, after losing his front splitter and valuable downforce, he locked a wheel into the final chicane in the closing stages and had to take to the escape road.
Sadly, after the race, he was judged to have gained an advantage in doing so. Because of that, he was moved back one place, to fourth, but still left the Hampshire venue with 11 points to his name and is now just four points away from the top three Pro-Am competitors. Will is back out on track in just two weeks’ time, as the series heads to the undulating and challenging Oulton Park in Cheshire for rounds seven and eight.
Will Aspin
G1 – 3, R1 – 3
G2 – 3, R2 – 4
Championship: 6 (25 points)
“In Friday practice we were quick, and we were looking good. Going into qualifying we had a really good result and finished on pole for race one. Unfortunately, that lap got deleted due to doing it under a yellow flag.
“In race one, we were hung out wide at the beginning and it messed us up a bit. I think the win should have been there, but we came in P3, and I can't complain about that. Race two was okay, considering we did it without a splitter. I'm not sure how it came off as I didn't hit anything and didn't go off anywhere. Considering that we had good pace to keep [Ollie] Jackson behind and again should have won the race, because the speed we had without the splitter shows we would have had really, really strong pace with it.
“We're still in the catch up for the championship, points-wise. Max Bird has a big lead, but I still believe we can gain it back, bit by bit. He's going to have a DNF or a bad result at some point and there are ten races still to go. It's a long season, it's only the third round, and I'm looking forward to Oulton Park and going even better. Getting on the top step of the podium is the aim.”