Rembert Berg (NED) and Warren Hughes (GB) head for the latest rounds of the British GT Championship next month optimistic a good result is achievable with W Racing Team (WRT). They endured a difficult weekend at Brands Hatch (10-11 August) which marked their first BGT race with WRT – the Belgian team’s maiden BGT event.

It was the first time the reigning Blancpain Endurance Series winning outfit had raced an Audi R8 LMS ultra on Avon tyres making it a learning curve for all parties which ultimately showed promise with a decent race pace during the two-hour Brands race. Unfortunately an incident, in which Berg got hit from behind at the end of the first lap following a very good start, put him into the gravel trap and ruined the race. He managed to get back to the pits with a puncture and later both drivers showed good pace during the two-hour race in which they managed to stay with the leaders all race long, albeit 4 laps down.

Both consistently set fast lap times which could have earned them a top-six if not a podium result had things worked out differently on the opening lap. A further test is planned before the next BGT races which should give drivers and team the opportunity to work on performance. Berg and Hughes, who contested the first four BGT race weekends in an M-Sport Audi R8 LMS, had tested the WRT Audi just once prior to the Brands race.

Race:

Berg started the race from the seventh row of the 32-car grid, moving up to 10th before being hit at Stirlings [Corner] which pushed the Audi into the gravel trap. Berg recovered, pitted for two new rear tyres, and resumed 31st but three-laps down.

With 30mins on the clock, Berg was setting top-three race lap times (sub 1:30s), before making a scheduled driver change pit-stop on 56mins from 24th place.

Hughes spent the majority of his stint in the wheel tracks of the second, third and fourth-placed cars, the WRT Audi matching the pace of the front-runners.

Rembert Berg (NED). Age: 39. Born: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Lives: Geneva, Switzerland.

“Our race was obviously lost when I was hit up the rear before the end of the first lap having made a good, clean start. I had made up two or three places around the outside in to Druids and think I was 10th by Westfield. But then I was tapped on the left rear corner as I turned into Stirlings, spinning me off into the deep gravel. Eventually I was towed out and had to pit for new tyres – one of the rear wheels was destroyed. Once the [new] rear tyres had heated up I got into a nice rhythm and my pace was good. I had the leaders in my mirrors and it was a nice feeling to see they weren’t catching me. Without the first lap incident I believe a third place finish was a possibility if I look at the way Warren was able to stay with the leading group throughout his stint. We have learned more and plan a test day before the next race at Zandvoort which should put us in a good position going in to my two ‘home’ races.”

Warren Hughes (GB). Age: 44. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. Lives: East Boldon, Tyne & Wear, UK.

“It was a difficult and physically exhausting stint. We’ve had a handling imbalance the entire weekend but with every lap in each session and then the race itself, we’ve improved the Audi. It’s worth bearing in mind it was WRT’s first race at Brands, the first time they’d raced on Avon tyres, the track was completely new to Rem, and it was a new team for Rem and I to work with in this series and with this car. Our car-to-pit radio wasn’t working properly and I hadn’t a clue where I was in the race. It’s a case of overcoming new team gremlins which always happens but that said, Rem’s pace was very good and the team performed well. Once we get the WRT Audi dialled into the Avon tyres we will be bang up there and a test day should enable that to happen.”