The Chevron Racing Cars enjoyed a great first ever weekend in the GT Cup, scoring a win in the second race of the weekend at Brands Hatch.
The Chevron GR8 GT was driven by Jordan Witt, the 20-year-old already well acquainted with the Chevron after racing the GR8 challenge and the Avon Tyres British GT Championship in the machine.
The younsgter suffered during the first race of the weekend, Jordan taking a hit on the rear of the car as he explained.
“It had been raining in free practice and we knew the car was quick against the leading Porsches and Ferraris, so I'd been praying for rain, and we got it. The first race was dry and a bit mad. I was expecting a steady start, and no contact for my first time out on the Pirelli slicks. However I was hit up the back on the first corner of the first race by a Ferrari, who went up and over my back end, damaging the car badly, which slowed me down a fair bit. But I still managed to bring the GR8 home in 7th place.”
Race two began in wet conditions, and with the Chevron on wet tyres, but running a dry set-up. Witt started from the third place he won during the dry qualifying session but had made it to the lead by turn three.
“After the chaos of race one,” said Jordan, “I knew I had to be ahead to do well. I let a Porsche go up the inside line for Paddock Hill Bend off the start line, and took the faster wet line around the outside, and went straight past three cars. Then I took the outside line at Druids Bend again, to pass the lead Ferrari and take P1. I was leading going into the Graham Hill Bend, where I had a huge moment, with full opposite lock on the brakes, but caught it and carried on, to first place, by over 11 seconds. I was very pleased.”
Jordan's father David was racing in a Chevron Challenge Car, and recorded two race finishes after just seven events and ended the weekend in positive mood.
“He'd [Jordan] told me before the race; 'dad, I'm going to pass you, just stick to your line.' I'd been watching him doing really well while racing my own race, then he went out of sight, and I though 'oh-no.' The next thing I know, he's up behind me flashing his lights and zipping passed me. After the race, one of the Ferrari drivers said Jordan did the same thing to him, and all he saw was his Helmet going past the window as he overtook him on the outside. Jordan did the Chevron brand proud. It was a great race, and really good fun.”
“It was our first race in the wet in the GT and Challenge Cars and they both worked really well – it just goes to show what a great car it is, quick in all conditions,” concluded Jordan. “The GR8 handled so well in the slippery conditions. It seems to go even quicker in the wet, which suits me too. I used to race motorcross when I was younger and I have a good feeling for racing in the wet. The GR8 feels so natural and neutral, a bit like a racing motorbike. You can feel the back moving about, but it's predictable, with a bit of oversteer and nothing nasty or snappy about it. Having seen off Ferraris and Porsches, there's no doubt that the GR8 is a real giant killer.”
