SCOTS endurance racers enjoyed victories in the Middle East as home-grown rally talent showed their mettle in Fife last weekend.
Adding to the build-up for the rest of 2022, two exciting racers – one a seasoned winner and the other a relative newcomer – have announced their battle plans for the year ahead.
Getting things off to a flying start, experienced Scots racer Paul Di Resta helped ensure his United Autosports team dominated the second weekend of the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series.
He and American teenager Josh Pierson scored a clean sweep in their LMP2 Oreca 07, topping the timing sheets in every session before taking two pole positions, two race wins and scoring two fastest laps.
Despite incident-packed encounters, 16-year-old Josh kept his cool in Abu Dhabi in both the final two contests of the four-race series, building up a healthy lead in each of them.
Although the team were not eligible for championship points, 35-year-old Di Resta, from West Lothian, was full of praise for the young American after two emphatic victories.
And the pair will race together again in the FIA World Endurance Championship/IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race weekend at Sebring, Florida, on March 17-19. The Scot said: “Josh has done a good job, he’s progressed the right way and hasn’t put a foot wrong.
“For me, it was about familiarising myself with the LMP2 car again after Le Mans last year. The WEC Sebring round is going to be pretty tough but I think the whole team feels much better prepared after this.”
Meanwhile, Motherwell’s Ian Loggie and his SPS Automotive Performance Mercedes-AMG GT3 team-mates were crowned ALMS GT Am champions after two second-place finishes followed two wins in Dubai the week before.
Midlothian’s Colin Noble and his Nielsen Racing Ligier JS P320 partner Tony Wells had to settle for fourth overall in the LMP3 category after missing out on any podium finishes in Abu Dhabi.
At home, the Grant Construction Rally at Fife’s Knockhill circuit proved to be a bruising and closely fought event in tricky conditions.
In the end, Donnie Macdonald and Andrew Falconer won the 10-stage event, with an overall time of 54 minutes and 49 seconds, in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2.
Close behind in their Ford Escort Mk2 were Kyle Adam and Steven Brown, completing the stages in 55 minutes and six seconds. The third step of the podium went to Peugeot 206 crew Des Campbell and Craig Forsyth, who clocked a time of 55 minutes and 26 seconds.
But showing how tough the rally was, out of 38 crews who crossed the start line, there were no fewer than 13 who failed to finish.
Looking ahead, Dumfriesshire’s Ross Wylie has confirmed he will defend his GT Cup GTO Championship title with co-driver Paul Bailey. Last season saw the pair drive a number of cars including a Brabham, Ferrari and McLaren, each prepared by SB Race Engineering.
But the plan for 2022 is to race the Brabham BT62 Competition. The opening rounds get under way on April 9-10 at Donington Park and 30-year-old Wylie said: “I’m really looking forward to racing the unique Brabham again.
“Last year was the Brabham’s first competitive season so, not surprisingly, we encountered a few teething issues. But, hopefully, we have put those to bed and we can claim more success for the iconic Brabham brand.”
And Scots teenager Chloe Grant has been confirmed as the second driver to complete Knockhill-based Graham Brunton Racing’s all-female GB4 Championship line-up, with prominent support from Laser Tools Racing.
The Perth 15-year-old has already enjoyed a successful career in kart racing and last year won the Junior Saloon Car Scholarship.
But the single-seater racing car GB4 Championship marks a big step up for both Chloe and 20-year-old team-mate Logan Hannah, from East Kilbride, who is an experienced Formula Ford racer.
Chloe said: “My ambition has always been to move from karting into single-seater racing, and now I’m taking on the new GB4 series with Laser Tools Racing — what an opportunity!
“GB4 is a very exciting championship that will see aspiring drivers progress in single-seater racing and, with Laser Tools Racing’s support, I’m really proud to be involved in this new series. And to be partnered with Logan – well that’s got to be the dream team!”
The GB4 Championship starts at Snetterton on April 2-3 ahead of joining the British GT and GB3 package, with events at the prestigious Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Oulton Park circuits.
Karting star Oliver Stewart, 15, from Beauly, near Inverness, is also making the jump into single-seater cars after sealing a deal in the F4 championship with Hitech GP.
He said: “I’m overwhelmed by this opportunity – it’s a huge step and a massive learning curve but I will give it everything and make the most of this fantastic chance I’ve been given by Hitech GP.”
