George Grant picked up a seventh and an eighth placed finish in the Max5 Championship at Donington Park last weekend, in his Paul Sheard-run Mazda MX-5.
In a 28-strong field, George managed to put the #69 car 10th on the grid ahead of Race 1 at the 1.957-mile track. The Kingston-upon-Thames ace was pleased with his qualifying performance, but believed the tyres restricted him from being able to challenge more.
“I thought qualifying went well,” Grant said. “All the top guys were really close, and it was anyone’s race to win.”
“I felt much more comfortable on the softer tyres, the tyres we used for this weekend were a bit frustrating. You couldn’t push to the cars potential and I think if I was on the other compound I would have been a little bit closer to the top.”
As lights went out for the opening race, George had a difficult start, but was able to make amends for it by climbing up to eighth by the end of the first lap with other drivers making mistakes. He managed to pull away from his rivals behind and catch the #4 car ahead, but ran out of laps after getting to within a second at the chequered flag and had to settle for P8.
The result meant he would be starting from eighth in Race 2, and with showers looming over the circuit, there was a chance of gaining more positions. It was a better start for George this time, and within the first few laps he managed to get past the #93 car to put him seventh.
Again Grant was locked in a battle, this time with the #90 machine, but was unable to find a way through and crossed the line in P7 for his second top-10 finish of the weekend.
“Race 2 was really fun,” Grant said. “The track was like an ice rink, but I was able to gain a position, and challenge the guys in front as well. Driving in the challenging wet, slippery conditions is very enjoyable, and tends to sort out the men from the boys! For the majority of the first race I was on my own, but I felt I drove at a good pace.”
“I’m pleased with how the weekend went, the competition at the top was so tight, and it could’ve been anyone’s race really. The TV coverage was great also, I made sure to watch it when I got home and it was good to see that it was enjoyable to watch as well as be a part of.”
The result leaves George ninth in the Championship, with three rounds left in the Max5 Championship, as his attention now turns to the Mazda SuperCup series which continues next weekend at Oulton Park.
This will be George’s first time racing on the International layout, and he’s looking forward to the event where he hopes to get some decent points.
“I have been at the track, but I’ve never actually raced on this layout,” explained Grant. “I’m hoping to be able to challenge for some points really, but to be honest right now I’m just enjoying racing and can’t wait to get going again.”
Race 1 in Oulton Park kicks off at 15:30, with Race 2 getting underway at 18:10, local time.
This season George is raising funds and awareness for the Coming Home campaign, which provides housing assistance to ex-service personnel and their families. They build specially adapted homes, which are tailored to the needs of those in desperate need of housing following a traumatic or life-changing injury. Coming Home is the latest fundraising campaign from Haig Housing, which is a strategic partner of Help for Heroes.
