Luke Davenport feels is getting closer to consistently matching the front-running pace in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup after taking his third podium finish of the season at Oulton Park.
The United Autosports racer bounced back from a heavy accident in wet qualifying to climb from eighth to fifth in the weekend’s opening encounter.
A great start in race two saw Davenport nearly grab third before the door was firmly closed. Slipping to fifth in the process, Davenport then benefitted from drive-through penalties for team-mate Carl Breeze and Jamie Orton to rise to third.
The former Ginetta GT5 Challenge race-winner went on to soak up a large spell of pressure from fellow Challenge graduate Sean Huyton over the second half of the race to take the podium finish.
“I’m slightly frustrated with the start, we got another demon getaway and I got David [Pittard] and I had Jamie [Orton], so much so that he could see my bonnet through his window, yet he still turned across on me,” Davenport told TCF.
“I’m pleased with the pace, I was adapting to the conditions, seeing that I could rush more speed into corners like Druids and therefore learning the whole time. Compared to what happened on Saturday, I’m really pleased, especially for the team as they worked so hard to get the car ready as it was a big mess.”
While Davenport has now taken three podium finishes in his debut Supercup season, the 21 year old has been frustrated at points with inconsistent pace.
Hard work by Luke, the team and his team-mate Carl Breeze has seen them make real progress with the performance of the car during recent testing.
Davenport, who currently sits sixth in the championship standings, is now ready to improve his qualifying best of eighth and regularly battle at the top end of the field.
“I’ve been able to blame the inconsistency on being a rookie, learning through the first year and a lot of it has been me,” explained Davenport. “We’ve shown this weekend though, both Carl [Breeze] and myself, that the car is consistently quick over a weekend.
“While I was down in qualifying after the crash, my pace has been consistent through the weekend and now all I need is a good qualifying and I can really race the guys at the front, and learn the racecraft needed at the front of the field.
“I’m still not quite matching the likes of Andrew [Watson] and Charlie [Robertson] over a race distance, but that’s part of the learning process and as long as I’m there by the end of the season I’m happy.”
