Max Coates - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Max Coates enjoyed a strong weekend rounds during the latest rounds of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch, the privateer securing his third podium finish of the campaign around the fearsome Grand Prix layout.
Max, run by the Coates Garage team, started his weekend well, with his strong first session of the year in Friday testing. He was unable to take this form into qualifying though, with a red flag and traffic hampering his fast runs, leaving the Pyeroy-backed driver eleventh and tenth for the races.
Coates didn't let the lowly starting positions get him down though and the opening race saw him produce a great drive through the field. Despite getting boxed out at the first corner, the Dimensions Clothing-backed driver fought through the field to take third at the finish for a popular podium finish.
Coates reflected: “I kept passing cars as they spun out, so I had to make sure I didn't crash into them, keeping focused was difficult. I am very pleased to reward the team and sponsors with a good result.”
The second race, televised live on ITV4, took place in sweltering heat, with Catterick Leisure Centre-backed Coates coping well. A strong start saw him get into the top six, but with grip going on the tyres of his G40J, he was unable to make further progress, finishing sixth. Lightwater Valley-supported Coates now sits in a close three way duel for fourth in the championship standings heading into the final rounds of the season at Silverstone.
Rob, Max's team manager, added: “Max was fond of the Silverstone layout last year, he was fast and this should give him good confidence going into the meeting.”
