The Grid

The CR Scuderia team got the 2008 FIA GT Championship season off to a flying start at Silverstone this weekend, taking second and fifth places in a race run in difficult weather conditions. The new team is delighted to take such a top result, along with yesterday’s pole position, in its first international race.

“You have to remember this is a new team,” said Rob Bell, who started the race in Ferrari no.56. “It’s a great achievement to get a podium finish the first time out. A few things happened that we need to learn from; our tyre choice at the start wasn’t quite right, but we will learn and grow as a team. We’re very pleased to come away with second place as the changeable conditions dealt out by Silverstone in April are very tricky. This result is all down to the guys who have worked hard here

Andrew Kirkaldy took over from Rob just before the half way mark and found himself all alone on the track.

“When I joined the race it felt more like a test day as there were no cars anywhere near me for a while,” he said. “I think AF Corse had an advantage over us today as we didn’t make the right tyre choice at the start. We’re here to win but second place is a great start and we can build on that and make improvements before Monza.”

Chris Niarchos started the race in no.55 and fought his way up to ninth after slipping back with a spin at Copse on lap one. After a fine drive by the CRS boss, Tim Mullen went out and finished the job, taking a solid fifth place finish for the team.

“As a team our expectations are very high,” said Chris. “I was slightly disappointed that we didn’t win after taking pole position but when I reflect on what we’ve done as a new team, in tricky conditions, against a competitive field, I am delighted. We go away from Silverstone full of confidence for the season ahead. Sure, we made a few mistakes, but we can correct those and move onwards and upwards. I am very proud of every single member of this team.”

The CR Scuderia team leaves Knockhill tonight with a healthy lead in the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Championship, and with Michael Cullen and Paddy Shovlin riding high in the driver's championship. The team had a tough race today so yesterday's win remains the highlight of CR Scuderia's GT weekend.

Today's race turned into quite a battle for the CRS drivers. James and Michael's race in Ferrari no.14 was going well with James running strongly in third during his stint. Meadows took over and was fighting for second place with just 10 minutes to go before his race ended in the barriers after an altercation with an Aston Martin, a matter currently under investigation. Luke brought no.16 into the pits in sixth place with the rear diffuser hanging off after being hit. The team made fast repairs and sent Jeremy out for his run but his efforts too were ended by another competitor which is also under investigation!

Michael Cullen started the race from the back of the grid and had to battle with a Lamborghini during the first half of the race. Paddy Shovlin took over and continued the fight all the way up to fifth, earning the Irish drivers another haul of points and an increased championship lead.

PADDY SHOVLIN: "The race was all about consistency today. Everyone gets too involved here and, like yesterday, the best way was to keep it together and not join in with all the games. Michael and I drove within our limits and got another good result. To leave the second event still leading the championship is great!"

LUKE HINES: "I had my mirrors full of an Ascari during my stint so I made sure I kept him behind me. I got hit quite a few times and eventually had to pit as the rear diffuser was hanging off. We were unlucky today but that's racing. It was more like touring car racing than GT racing which is great for the spectators but pretty expensive for the teams. We're still pleased though as we got our first win yesterday."

JEREMY METCALFE: "The damage we took to the rear of the car cost us a bit of time but we worked our way up to eighth and were going well when Bamford turned in on me and that was it, game over. The team did everything they could and so did Luke and I but sometimes, whatever you do, it just doesn't go your way."

JAMES SUTTON: "Overall I've not had the best of times at Knockhill. We did everything right but it wasn't our weekend. I was running steady in third in the first part of today's race and I knew that Michael would be strong and have a good shot at the other 'B' drivers once he took over but he was hit and that was that."

MICHAEL MEADOWS: "I was going through turn one when the Aston went wide so I went past but he squeezed me onto the grass and I took a trip into the barrier."

James and Michael will be out to take their first British GT race victory in six weeks time when the British GT Championship returns to Rockingham.

Paddy Shovlin and Michael Cullen stormed to victory at Oulton Park, taking the first win of the 2008 British GT season and the first victory for the CR Scuderia team. The Irish pair drove a faultless race and took a thoroughly deserved victory in a race that was shortened due to some on-track dramas.

The three red, white and blue CRS Ferraris led away the field at the start of the race with Michael Meadows starting well from pole, closely followed by Paddy and then Jeremy Metcalfe. The safety car made its first appearance at the end of lap one after Piers Johnson went off in the Team Modena Lamborghini, but all the CRS cars got away cleanly at the restart just three laps later.

Halfway through the first stint Michael Meadows radioed in to say he was having problems with his brakes and shortly after this he straight-lined the Knickerbrook Chicane. He pitted at the end of that lap for checks and the team took the decision to retire him from the race. It transpired that the problem occurred as a result of that car running over debris during the qualifying session earlier today.

Michael’s retirement meant that Paddy was now in a lead that was to prove unassailable for the rest of the field; quite incredible for a man who has never been to Oulton Park before! A seamless pit-stop where he handed the car over to Michael Cullen sealed the deal and Michael brought Ferrari no.15 over the line to take the win, after having to contend with a rather over zealous Adam Wilcox.

Jeremy Metcalfe came in for his scheduled pit stop mid-way through the race to hand over the second place Ferrari to Luke Hines. Unfortunately a gear selection problem delayed Luke in the pits and that car had to settle for tenth.

CR Scuderia Ferrari no.15: Michael Cullen & Paddy Shovlin
MICHAEL CULLEN: “The car was brilliant and, after the effort that has been put in by this team, Paddy and I are proud to give them their first win. It’s not going to be an easy year as this is a very competitive championship. We’re used to close racing in the Ferrari Challenge but this was another level. I even took a big hit from behind by Wilcox at the end so it wasn’t an easy ride. Chris (Niarchos), Andrew (Kirkaldy), Malcolm (Swetnam) and the team have done a great job so they deserve this!”

CR Scuderia Ferrari no.16: Luke Hines & Jeremy Metcalfe
JEREMY METCALFE: “Everything went well at the start and I was able to get away cleanly. The car was running well so it was a shame about the pit-stop. It’s no-one’s fault and we showed that we have the pace so we’re looking forward to Monday.”

CR Scuderia Ferrari no.14: James Sutton & Michael Meadows
MICHAEL MEADOWS: “I got a good start from pole and had to defend from Paddy a little until I was able to pull out a bit of a gap. Unfortunately not long into the race my ABS failed and I locked up my tyres going into the first corner, and soon after straight-lined Knickerbrook, so I came in to let the team have a look at the car. They decided not to take any risks and retired the car which was a sensible decision. We took pole so we know we have the pace and we hope to come out on top on Monday.”

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A great start for the new boys