GT3 Racing’s Aaron Scott and Craig Wilkins concluded a fantastic season at Brands Hatch last Saturday by becoming the 2011 MSA Britcar British Endurance Champions.
Competing against some of the best GT endurance drivers in the UK, Scott and Wilkins have been unbeatable in their Class 2 Dodge Viper, taking six wins, one second place, eight pole positions and eight fastest laps in ten race starts. These performances propelled them to the head of the overall championship table, 15 points ahead of the Marcos Mantis of Owen O’Neill, Henry Fletcher and Jon Harrison going into the final race of the year.
At Brands Hatch Aaron Scott qualified the Viper 2nd overall and took the lead at the start of the race. However a fuel pressure issue forced the Dodge into the pits after 10 laps. The car rejoined the track but Scott was forced back into the pits before the chequered flag but not before setting the fastest lap of the race. Despite the technical woes, the team had done enough to secure the Team and Driver overall titles.
Aaron Scott, who lives in Telford, and Craig Wilkins, from Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham, first teamed up in the British GT Championship, taking two wins in 2009 in the same Dodge Viper they are racing this season. They have since become a regular feature on the UK GT racing scene.
With the British Endurance title now secure, Aaron Scott and Craig Wilkins can unveil their plans for 2012, with a step up to European competition next season. They will be teaming up with 2011 GT Cup Champion Andy Ruhan and driving a brand new Dodge Viper the trio will be mounting a strong challenge for the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am Cup.
The six round Blancpain Endurance Series will feature five 3-hour races on some of the top European circuits including Monza, Silverstone and Paul Ricard. However the jewel in the crown for the European series is the Total 24 Hours of Spa, which will take place at the end of July and is the premier long distance event on the GT endurance racing calendar, attracting over 60 entries and 60,000 spectators in 2011.
Aaron Scott said: “2011 has been a great season for us and the hard work of everyone involved at GT3 Racing has enabled us to secure the Britcar Endurance title. It’s a shame that we had the fuel pressure problem at Brands Hatch but that’s motor racing. We are now looking forward to a new challenge racing in the Blancpain Endurance Championship. The competition will be very strong and we are looking to make a good impression and get some good results. It’s great to continue with the Viper and I am very grateful to Dodge for their support in building our new car.”
Craig Wilkins said: “It’s been an excellent season. The team have secured the MSA Britcar British Endurance Teams Championships along with Aaron and I securing the overall championship. We have proved the Viper can still be competitive and I’m very much looking forward to driving the new Series 2 car along with the fresh challenge of racing in the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2012.”
The team now have a short break before preparing the championship winning car for the Dubai 24 Hours, which will take place in the New Year on the 12-14 January 2012. They then take delivery of the new car at the end of January and begin preparations for the start of the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series.
Source : GT3 Racing