United Untied April 2014

ins

ide t

his

mo

nth

’s e

dit

ion

...

UNITED UNTIEDLatest news Latest news Latest news

APR 1

4

The season gets underway…We rounded off March at Brands Hatch, Kent, where we made our debut in the British Touring Car Championship. We left there with lots of new information that would help us throughout the season.

There are still areas we need to improve with the two Toyota Avensis, but with the first race done, we have a more accurate idea of the work we need to do. The Brands Hatch weekend was mixed for the Ginetta team too. Luke scored the team’s first win of the year in the third race round the Indy circuit whereas Carl had a great first race, finishing fourth from a qualifying position of 10th. Carl was spun out of the second race and failed to finish the third due to damage sustained in the previous accident.

We then made our way to Donington Park with the Toyotas and Ginettas and Oulton Park with the Audi R8 LMS ultra for the first round of the British GT Championship. Donington Park was full of ups and downs for the team as James Cole’s Toyota Avensis was written off after he was caught up in someone else’s accident in race two, followed by gearbox failure for Glynn Geddie in race three, causing his retirement.

We did, however, show good pace in the first race, as Glynn made his way up to 11th place until his tyres started to let go. Glynn also scored his first points of the championship in race two after coming 13th. Luke and Carl had a better weekend, as Luke finished second in race three, scoring another podium for the team. Carl also improved as he finished 2nd on the track in race three, until a five second penalty for exceeding track limits dropped him down to fifth.

The British GT Audi had a mixed weekend too. Matt brought the car home in P4 in the first race, while Mark was punted out of race two by a Ferrari while leading the race bringing our weekend to an abrupt end.

We also spent April testing the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 with Jim Geddie at Spa and Silverstone in preparation for the first round of the GT Cup at Donington on 26-27 April.

British GT Media DayOn April 8 the team made their way to Donington Park for the official launch of the British GT Championship. Matt Bell took the opportunity to announce his partnership with Aldermore Bank for the forthcoming year. Unfortunately, Mark Patterson was unable to make the launch but Matt made sure he got plenty of laps in round the Leicestershire track in the Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Race Action

Team Member

Profile

Historic Car

Sneak Peek

Dear Flower...

IN NEXT MONTHS EDITION: All the latest BTCC / Ginetta / BGT gossip along with news from the historic races HENDERSON

INSURANCE BROKERS

HENDERSONINSURANCE BROKERS

Brands Hatch BTCC / Ginetta GT4 SupercupWe earned some valuable points and accomplished our main priority in the opening three races of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch at the end of March.

Glynn finished 20th, 21st and 25th in the three races – racing a front-wheel-drive car for the first time since 2007 – while James netted 22nd and 14th placings. James was spun out of the opening race while Glynn was nudged into a spin in the third race requiring a quick pit-stop. James finished less than 12 seconds behind the winner in the 30-mile third race. As part of a six-car train dicing for ninth place, James led home former double BTCC champion Fabrizio Giovanardi earning himself and the team two valuable championship points.

Also during the Brands Hatch weekend, Luke Davenport scored the team’s first win with an impressive third race and lies an excellent fourth in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings after posting 10th and fifth placings in races one and two.

Unfortunately, former double Ginetta champion Carl Breeze had a less successful weekend. After scoring an encouraging fourth place in Saturday’s opening race, he was nudged into retirement after 200 metres in race two and then a suspension issue caused his retirement on the opening lap of the third race.

Donington Park BTCC / Ginetta GT4 SupercupOn 19th – 20th April we were at Donington Park for the second round of the British Touring Car Championship and the Ginetta GT4 Supercup. With testing now severely restricted, James Cole and Glynn Geddie plus BTCC newcomers United Autosports, each have to use race meetings as glorified tests.

Glynn ran just outside the top-10 in only his second BTCC event before a gearbox gremlin sidelined him in race three while team-mate James wrote off his Toyota in the day’s second race when he became an innocent victim in someone else’s accident. Unfortunately, the incident has caused so much damage, the car is a write off, meaning the team have a lot of work on rebuilding a car for James in time for Thruxton.

Elsewhere at Donington, Luke Davenport and Carl Breeze finished the weekend lying fourth and seventh respectively with United Autosports second in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings.The United Autosports duo scored five top-six finishes from three races staged in mixed weather conditions at Donington Park on Easter Saturday and Sunday.

Team Member Profile: Max Gregory

What is your age? 27

What is your job? Project and Business Development Manager and Ginetta project manager

How long have you worked at United Autosports? Since 2013, although I worked with Richard and the majority of the current UA staff during my time at Ginetta.

What would you be doing if you didn’t work for United Autosports? Prior to working at United Autosports, I was Championships Manager at Ginetta Cars, running and organising the three national championships that they have, so maybe there, but was ready for a change. Definitely something within motorsport though.

What do you get up to outside work? I like to play guitar, and whenever I have chance, practice in a band. Although motorsport doesn’t normally leave you with much free time!

How did you get into racing? The majority of my family have raced at some point, so spent the majority of my youth at a race circuit supporting them.

What is your nickname and why?Maximus Decimus seems to be one of the most popular at the moment!

What is it that makes you passionate about motorsport?I think because I grew up within the sport. My grandad, uncle, step-dad and brother all raced at some point, so from a young age I was always at a track supporting / rolling down a banking.

What has been your funniest racing experience so far?There have been a lot, and I’m not sure this is the funniest, but a good one was the day that we were at Rowrah, when my brother was racing karts in the British Championship. He put his new race suit on, and proudly strutted through the paddock in it, completely oblivious to the fact that he had one of my Mums thongs attached to his belt.

Sneak PeekMonaco Historic Grand Prix

At the beginning of May, the United Autosports historics team will head to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. Zak will be driving the James Hunt McLaren M26 round the world famous Formula One circuit. We will also be taking the Niki Lauda Ferrari 312B3 to Monaco so keep an eye out for the May issue of United Untied to find out how we got on.

www.unitedautosports.com

Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Ac-

Donington Park BTCC / Ginetta GT4 SupercupOn 19th – 20th April we were at Donington Park for the second round of the British Touring Car Championship and the Ginetta GT4 Supercup. With testing now severely restricted, James Cole and Glynn Geddie plus BTCC newcomers United Autosports, each have to use race meetings as glorified tests.

Glynn ran just outside the top-10 in only his second BTCC event before a gearbox gremlin sidelined him in race three while team-mate James wrote off his Toyota in the day’s second race when he became an innocent victim in someone else’s accident. Unfortunately, the incident has caused so much damage, the car is a write off, meaning the team have a lot of work on rebuilding a car for James in time for Thruxton.

Elsewhere at Donington, Luke Davenport and Carl Breeze finished the weekend lying fourth and seventh respectively with United Autosports second in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings.The United Autosports duo scored five top-six finishes from three races staged in mixed weather conditions at Donington Park on Easter Saturday and Sunday.

Oulton Park BGTAt the first round of the British GT Championship at Oulton Park, we scored a fourth place finish at the Cheshire track.

Matt Bell and Mark Patterson, who narrowly missed out on the 2013 BGT title, finished eight seconds behind the winner in race one. Brilliant team strategy during the second race earned Patterson an amazing 12 second lead with just over 20 minutes of the race remaining but the US-Based South African was forced to retire when the leading Audi R8 LMS ultra was unceremoniously punted off the track while working through lapped cars.

Patterson started from sixth place on the 32-car grid in the opening race and ran much of his stint seventh, Mark actually pitting from fourth with 33 minutes remaining with Bell resuming fifth. Matt was embroiled in a six-car dice for third place for the early part of his stint and moved up to fourth with six minutes remaining - finishing just 0.306secs behind the third-placed car at the finish.

In race two, Bell handed the 11th placed Audi over to Patterson with 28 minutes on the clock under Safety Car conditions – a great call in terms of timing from the United Autosports crew – which enabled Patterson to lead with 25 minutes remaining. But Patterson’s glory was short-lived when a Ferrari, dicing with Mark for the lead, heavily “assaulted” the left side of the United Autosports Audi destroying its rear suspension resulting in the instant retirement of both cars.

Driver Profile: Luke Davenport

Age: 20

What championship do you race in? Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup

How long have you been racing with United Autosports? This is my first season

Why do you like driving for United Autosports? There are many reasons. I love being at United and it is the best place for me to continue my learning and further my career into GT cars. I also get the pleasure of first -hand character building from Flower!

What is your racing history? Just over two years in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge

How did you get into racing? My family have always competed as a hobby. My parents, Auntie and Grandma all go rallying together as well so I’ve always been around the sport in one form or another

What do you do in your spare time? When I’m not at Uni I am at home in Cambridge where I enjoy cross country running and walking our dogs through the forests around our house

What has been your funniest racing experience so far? Taking an entire grid of cars the wrong way around the circuit at Oulton Park on a formation lap! I then crept on the line and jumped the start!

Do you have a nickname – if so, what is it? Everyone calls me Davs

Sneak PeekMonaco Historic Grand Prix

At the beginning of May, the United Autosports historics team will head to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. Zak will be driving the James Hunt McLaren M26 round the world famous Formula One circuit. We will also be taking the Niki Lauda Ferrari 312B3 to Monaco so keep an eye out for the May issue of United Untied to find out how we got on.

Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Action Race Ac-

IN NEXT MONTHS EDITION: All the latest BTCC / Ginetta / BGT gossip along with news from the historic races

26th – 27th April GT Cup Donington Park, Leicestershire3rd – 4th May BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Thruxton, Hampshire4th – 5th May British GT Rockingham, Northamptonshire9th – 11th May Monaco Historic Grand Prix Monaco15th – 18th May Mille Miglia Italy17th – 18th May GT Cup Brands Hatch, Kent31st May – 1st June British GT Silverstone, Northamptonshire7th – 8th June BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Oulton Park, Cheshire7th – 8th June GT Cup Silverstone, Northamptonshire14th – 15th June Le Mans Group C Le Mans, France21st – 22nd June British GT Snetterton, Norfolk28th – 29th June BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Croft, North Yorkshire11th – 13th July British GT Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium19th – 20th July GT Cup Snetterton, Norfolk26th – 27th July Spa 24 Hours Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium2nd – 3rd August BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Snetterton, Norfolk16th – 17th August Monterey Historics USA16th – 17th August GT Cup Silverstone, Northamptonshire23rd – 24th August BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Knockhill, Scotland30th – 31st August British GT Brands Hatch GP, Kent6th – 7th September BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Rockingham, Northamptonshire13th – 14th September British GT Donington Park, Leicestershire20th – 21st September GT Cup Donington Park, Leicestershire27th – 28th September BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Silverstone, Northamptonshire11th – 12th October BTCC / Ginetta Supercup Brands Hatch GP, Kent25th October GT Cup Oulton Park, Cheshire15th – 16th November Macau GT Cup Asia10th – 12th December Gulf 12 Hours Abu Dhabi

unitedautosport unitedautosports unitedautosports Designed & Printed by:

Diary Dates 2014... Keep an eye out for us at the following events throughout the year

If you have any personal or emotional problems you would like Uncle Flower to help with, then please send a private message to him on the team Facebook page.

Question:My son works for your team and I never see him. What should I do?

Answer:I am sorry for keeping the little chap away from home. He does work really hard and works very long hours. To be honest I thought we were doing you a big favour keeping him here. As you know, he is a bit of a ‘live wire’ and has a complete inability to keep still. Despite being a lithe young man, your son has the ability to eat the same amount of food as the rest of the team put together. According to my calculations, the money you have saved on food while he has been “detained” at United Autosports should be enough for

both you and your husband to take a luxury cruise to the Caribbean. In future we will try to let him leave the workshop the same day as he arrives. Should the cooking get too much and the food bills too high for you, please let me know, it will be no problem to keep him here for as long as you like, after all he is the team’s ‘stand-up comedian’.

Please note: Flower’s monthly views on life expressed in this column are not necessarily the views of the company or its staff. United Autosports will not be held responsible for any offence caused.

Dear Flower... United Autosports Historic EventGoodwood / Tour Auto, France

At the end of March, Zak took his 1986 Lotus Renault Turbo 98T to Goodwood for the 72nd Annual Members Meeting. He took part in the turbo era demo in the grounds of the famous house. The ex-Ayrton Senna Lotus is now prepared and run by United Autosports. Zak also took part in the Tour Auto rally in France at the beginning of April in his 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA. Unfortunately, the Alfa didn’t last the week and Zak had to retire after three days.