Optimum Motorsport’s push for a podium in the CREVENTIC 24H Series powered by HANKOOK 24H Paul Ricard was thwarted by mechanical issues during the hours of darkness on Sunday (16 July) morning.

Joe Osborne qualified the 14 Audi in fourth and duly took the start of the twice-around-the-clock endurance race, asserting himself well inside the top six and rising as high as third during a solid opening stint.

It was then over to Audi Sport factory driver, Edward Sandstrom, whose pace was more than sufficient to take the lead before handing the reins to young lady racer Flick Haigh during a driver-change that was out of sync with the opposition.

Congestion, yellow flags and Code 60s made for a disjointed, stop-start stint, but Haigh held her own against competition who boasted high straight-line speed and maintained third, only to be blocked while trying to take on fuel during the next round of stops.

Ryan Ratcliffe made up for lost time with a stellar drive that saw him lock horns with the RAM Racing Mercedes-Benz for second position, which was ultimately secured when Osborne returned to the fray.

Optimum Motorsport continued rotating its drivers as day turned to night, but hopes of a maiden A6 class podium faded after nine hours of racing when Sandstrom toured back to the pits with a terminal gearbox issue shortly after commencing his first run in the dark.

Disappointed that his team was once again denied a potential top three result in the 24H Series, Optimum Motorsport Team Principal, Shaun Goff, said: “For me a great showing of driver pace and slick pit stops would have made an interesting battle, Certainly a podium was on the cards, but the saying go " to finish first... first you have to finish."