Max Coates returned to the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup with a bang in the latest rounds at home circuit Croft, the Yorkshireman securing the G50 class win in the weekend's opening race.
Coates, who was forced to miss the last rounds at Oulton Park due to budgetary problems, was back in action for Rounds Twelve, Thirteen and Fourteen hoping to work his way back into the championship battle in his Redbrick Racing-prepared G50.
With Friday’s testing practically washed out due to wet weather, Coates’ first chance to get some dry running in the car came in Saturday’s qualifying session. The Pyreroy-backed driver produced a fantastic time to go second in class on the grid.
A poor start to the opening race saw Coates lose a position, however he quickly regained it and began closing down the leader. A switchback move at the hairpin gave him the lead, however he was pushed back down to Tower at second. The teenager fought back through and a surprise move around the outside the Complex gave him back the lead and ultimately the class win.
The second race looked as though another win was possible, with a good start giving Coates the lead, however after a great race long scrap for the lead, a prop shaft failure forced Max to retire from the lead with just two laps to go.
Starting from last place in the final race, a storming start saw Coates up to third early on, hoever it all went wrong when he hit a tyre stack at over 100mph at the Esses, breaking his steering and sending him off into a farmer's field and out of the race.
Max said: “The win yesterday was brilliant, it was a hard race and I had to fight to win it. It's always far more satisfying to win that way. I thought it was going to be the same in the first race today but a technical issue forced me out of the running, a win was possible. In the final race I made a mistake, I was trying my hardest to get through the pack and just clipped a tire stack. I knew I had to get through the field as soon as I could but I never thought I would end up in one.
“This whole weekend would not have been possible without the support of Lightwater Valley, Pyeroy Ltd, Harron Homes, RGPS, Welcome to Yorkshire and Your Racing Car.”
