Pepe Massot endured a disappointing start to the 2014 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup season during the opening rounds at Brands Hatch.
The Spaniard headed into the season as one of the pre-season title favourites for the Supercup, and showcased his potential by setting the second fastest time in qualifying, a mere 0.130 seconds off pole.
The 18 year old stormed into the lead at the start of the opening race, but it was deemed he’d done so via a jump start. After ignoring a drive-through penalty for that, he was later black flagged and classified fourteenth at the end.
He hoped to bounce back on Sunday’s first race, but a problem with the master cylinder eventually ruined his race, with an early charge coming to an end when fluid leaked on his front tyres. This sent him through the Paddock Hill gravel trap, and following a trip into the pits, he finished fourteenth once again.
Massot managed to end the weekend on a high though, with him benefitting from a chaotic race in front to mount a superb drive from fourteenth through to fifth place at the finish, finally giving the JHR Developments racer a good bunch of points to end with.
“Race one was really a big disappointment,” he reflected. “I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong, but the officials thought I had so we just had to accept that and get on with it.
“We know we’re quick and the problem in the second race was no fault of mine or the team’s. The last race was okay though, we had good pace. “
Now I’m looking forward to Donington – I won there last year so, of course, I’m expecting to be fast there again.”