SCOTS endurance racing ace Jonny Adam helped Aston Martin document its finest ever end within the well-known Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona final weekend.
The skilled Kirkcaldy driver and his Magnus Racing team-mates charged by means of the sector to second place within the extremely contested GTD class on the Florida circuit.
The race noticed loads of highs and lows for the Vantage GT3 crew, who needed to cope with an sudden pit cease within the fifth hour and being punted off the observe within the sixteenth hour.
Aston Martin has been represented at Daytona sporadically since 1964 and, whereas it has often led its class, till 2022 misfortune had denied it podium glory.
Adam, an Aston Martin Racing works driver and double Le Mans class winner, mentioned: “This was an incredible end result for Magnus Racing on this huge American season opener.
“It’s a tricky race and it means an excellent deal to be one of many drivers who stands on the rostrum for Aston Martin for the primary time at Daytona.
“The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 supplied us with a robust package deal all weekend and was aggressive all through the race. I've to say an enormous thanks to the entire staff and my celebrity fellow drivers John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly and Andy Lally.”
In distinction, there was heartbreak for Airdrie’s Ryan Dalziel and his Period Motorsport outfit within the LMP2 class – as they battled to defend their 2021 Daytona title.
The Oreca racers fought again from early setbacks however a mechanical problem with the gearbox ended the staff’s quest simply half-hour earlier than the checkered flag.
Forfar 21-year-old Sandy Mitchell’s debut at America’s Blue Riband 24-hour race additionally resulted in frustration.
He had set an early quickest lap within the GTD class and held the division lead within the Peregrine Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. However a lot of damaging clashes pressured the staff to retire the automobile after 15 hours.
He mentioned: “The staff did a improbable job. We proved how fast the automobile is by main the GTD class at first of the race and posting the quickest lap earlier than the incidents. I used to be actually pleased with that. It simply wasn’t our race this time round.”
Trying forward, Paul Di Resta is returning to the United Autosports staff to contest the second weekend of the Asian Le Mans Sequence in Abu Dhabi later this month.
The West Lothian driver will even be a part of the outfit in its Oreca on the opening spherical of the World Endurance Championship at Sebring in Florida in March.
And one in all Scotland’s most enjoyable younger racing drivers has signed up for a second 12 months with Praga after a robust debut season on the wheel of the Czech producer’s R1 prototype.
Gordie Mutch, 19, of Lockerbie, will reunite with sim-racer and YouTube star Jimmy Broadbent as they give the impression of being to win the inaugural Praga Cup in a marketing campaign beginning on March 12-13 at Silverstone.
Backed by Eco Group and the John Clark Motor Group, Gordie mentioned: “I’m actually excited to be racing with Jimmy and Praga once more this 12 months.
“I can’t thank Praga sufficient for the chance to affix them once more for a second season, and I’ll be aiming to reward the religion they and my household and sponsors have proven me with some sturdy outcomes this 12 months.”