Fergus Walkinshaw saw his 2013 season end in flames after a huge fire during the opening Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup encounter of the final weekend at Brands Hatch.
The 22 year old team owner/driver was in the middle of an entertaining battle for eighth when the safety car was deployed on lap seven. As the field slowed, fire spread down the left side of Walkinshaw’s car, seriously damaging the FW Motorsport-prepared G55.
Walkinshaw commented: “The fire started on the left sill and really took hold when the field slowed under the safety car, following Tom’s [Ingram] accident. I pulled over as quickly as I could exiting Druids and got out of the car, but then I had to go back and pull the car’s fire extinguisher. However, the fire spread at a ferocious rate and consequently there’s little remaining of the left side of the car.
“It’s a heartbreaking way to end FW Motorsport’s first season, and through no fault of our own. I’m particularly gutted as this is one of my top tracks and I was really confident of getting some great results this weekend, especially with the forecast wet weather tomorrow. We already showed we had the pace this morning and we knew that the car had a lot more to offer too, so it really is a bitter blow.”
A video of the dramatic fire can be seen here:
Video from sgw mcc.
