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Archie next races in the International GT Open at the Nurburgring circuit, Germany on 26th/27th May.

Please see Archie’s relaunched website  www.archiehamiltonracing.com

 

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Archie Hamilton Performs Strongly For Fourth at Laguna Seca

Archie Hamilton competed in his first American Le Mans Series race this weekend in California. He drove the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Oreca FLM09 alongside Mike Guasch and Memo Gidley in the six hour American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patrón at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 

Memo Gidley took the qualifying honours in the #5 Muscle Milk/Molecule car, lapping in 1’ 18.114, to put the team provisionally on pole position, but by the end of the ultra-competitive session, the time was only enough for third in the PC class.  

Mike Guasch was first to drive and despite leading in the opening stages had fallen to eighth when he handed over to Archie. After a strong and trouble free two and a half hour stint Archie had pushed through the ranks to second, with the leader in sight. Needing to pit for fuel and a driver change, Archie brought the car into the pit-lane just as the safety car was deployed, effectively losing the team a lap and negating Archie’s charge. Memo emerged for the final stint in fourth place. There was insufficient time to regain the podium positions that had been in reach and the car crossed the line fourth in class and sixth overall. 

Mike Guasch, #5 Muscle Milk/Molecule Oreca FLM09: "We had a good race weekend all in all but we didn't get the result we would've liked. All three of us drove well and there was no damage to the car which was one of the objectives coming into this six-hour race. I had a really good start and the car was great. I was able to get into the lead but unfortunately I went on to lose some positions. Both Archie, who was making his debut this weekend, and Memo had good stints. We were up to second at times and down to sixth at others, it was a back and forth battle that in the end didn't quite go our way, but all in all it was a great weekend." 

Archie Hamilton, #5 Muscle Milk/Molecule Oreca FLM09: "It was pretty eventful for my first ALMS race. I got the car up to second but with the wave around procedure we got shuffled down the order. Without that I think we could have finished on the podium.For my debut it was pretty good. My lap times were good. I had a mistake-free run, I was managing traffic and keeping out of trouble, which can be very difficult. I’m proud that the team described my stint as impressive and knowing that I did a good job for such a prominent team in a major event is a great boost."

Win and title lead for Archie Hamilton on GT Open debut 

With co-driver Marco Mapelli, Archie Hamilton (21) finished on the GTS podium in both races in the opening round of the International GT Open event at the Portuguese track of Portimao. In the first race on Saturday, the Autorlando pairing finished second in class and eighth overall, while in today’s race they won their class and finished an impressive third overall.

Archie qualified the Porsche 997 GT3 R third for race one, 18th overall, after putting in his best lap driving on brand new tyres for the first time. In Marco’s session he claimed second in GTS and eighth on the complete grid.

Saturday’s race one started wet, under the safety car, and Archie was in the car for the first stint. Archie managed to gain overall positions before pitting to hand over to Marco. With a drying track, Marco needed to re-pit to change tyres under the regulations, which dropped the pair down the order, but with slicks on a drying track the Italian was able to make his way through the pack, including an impressive overtaking manoeuvre on class rival Stelle in a Kessel Racing Ferrari, and by the end of the seventy minutes and 35 laps, he crossed the line second in GTS.

Sunday's 27 lap/50 minute race started wet but the Autorlando team gambled and chose slicks. Marco had the tough job of starting the race and getting as much grip as he could from the drying racing line. Leading up to the end of his stint, Marco managed to pass class leader Kox in a Goodsense Racing Team Lamborghini for the lead. Pitting for the driver change, including a 10 second ‘success’ penalty for yesterday’s second place, cost the lead and Archie emerged from the pits in second place. Within two laps Archie passed the Kox/Pronk car for the class lead and third overall, and maintained those positions to the chequered flag.
Archie now shares the lead of the International GT Open GTS with his teammate and the Cadei/Bizzarri pairing, all having 18 points.

Archie Hamilton:“I have to say a huge thank you to the team and Marco. It’s been a dream start the season. The car feels very good – very stable – and it was great to be able to race with the Super GT cars with the conditions. To be on the podium is great – to win the class is fantastic and to be on the overall podium was the icing on the cake. I just want to do it again now! Before Nurburgring I need to switch my focus to Laguna Seca and racing a prototype but I’m already looking forward to getting back in the Porsche.”

 

Archie and Gulf Racing Show Great Pace in Dubai

The number nine Gulf Racing Lamborghini Gallardo, driven by Roald Goethe, Archie Hamilton, Stuart Hall and Mike Wainwright put in consistently fast lap times and at the end of the race had the third best lap time on the results sheet. The car suffered a mechanical failure and failed to reach the chequered flag in the closing stages of the race.

After a strong qualifying performance, Archie and his team-mates started the race from eighth on the grid. Problems struck from the early stages of the race with mechanical issues dropping the car down the order significantly after a lengthy pit stop for repairs. Undeterred the team carried on, consistently setting lap times under the two minute ten second mark throughout the race. With the end in sight, perseverance looked to be paying off when, with Roald Goethe driving, a wheel hub failure caused a crash which ended the team’s race just thirty minutes before the end.

Archie Hamilton:
“ The car was great to drive and we had a great pace. I loved driving it and getting the opportunity to have that much time in such a great car has been fantastic, so a big thank you to my sponsor. Thank you also to the team who worked so hard to keep us going. I hope that people have seen my consistency and decent lap times which should stand me in good stead for the future.”


pic David Lord, dailysportscar.com