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Maidenhead race
driver Hunter Abbott returned to the race track last weekend, taking part in the
Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Knockhill in Scotland just three weeks
after surviving the biggest crash seen on a British racing circuit for many
years. The crash at Oulton Park in Cheshire meant the 160mph Ginetta G50
sportscar was completely written off and a new car was delivered two days before
the two 60-minute races.
Abbott, who
suffered minor back injuries and burns to his hands and face in the accident,
got behind the wheel of the Ginetta on Saturday morning, the first time he had
driven a race car since the Easter weekend race meeting. Not only did he get up
to race speed in no time at all on a circuit he had never driven before, Abbott
secured third place on the grid for the opening race of the weekend, while his
teammate, Rob Austin, went even better to secure pole position for the second
race.
Things went from
good to great for the Rob Austin Racing team in the race as Hunter Abbott
overtook the two cars ahead of him to take the lead in the first half of the
race before handing over the car to Austin in the mandatory pitstop window.
Rob Austin initially dropped behind his rivals before fighting back to bring the
car home to take the chequered flag.
“Until a couple of
days ago I wasn't going to race at Knockhill due to back problems after the
crash at Oulton, but I decided I wanted to come back as soon as possible. This
win is the dream come back from one of the scariest crashes in motorsport for a
number of years. It's a great result for myself, Rob, the team, Ginetta and our
sponsors, Alcosense and Onkyo,” said Hunter Abbott. “When I got in the car this
morning, which was the first time in a race car since the crash, it was a roller
coaster of emotions, but once I was out there I was fine, I just built up the
pace a lap at a time. Everyone has been very supportive during this difficult
time, helping me to come back this weekend. I’m very pleased that I was able to
perform and help take the win.”
In the second race
Rob Austin led from pole position and came into the pits to hand over to Hunter
Abbott but a technical problem forced the car into retirement before Abbott
could take the Ginetta back onto the circuit, spoiling what was shaping up to be
a perfect return for the 27-year-old driver.
The next two
British GT championship races will take place on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May at
Rockingham in Northamptonshire. TV highlights from the races at Knockhill will
be shown on Channel 4 and MotorsTV from 26 April.
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