Laser Tools Racing: GB4 Championship Snetterton Report
It was a busy weekend of racing at Snetterton with plenty of on-track action for the spectators to enjoy.
Friday was a test day, and as such, track-time was limited so both Laser Tools Racing drivers Logan Hannah and Chloe Grant were keen to make the most of what time they did have. The team tested various set-ups on both cars and both driver were confident going into Saturday’s qualifying session.
On Saturday Logan commented: “The team had done a fantastic job with the car and straight away I could feel it was competitive, and with the fresh tyres, I knew I could push hard. My first flying lap of the session gave me 7th, a good start but I wanted more. I pushed on for another three flyers improving in sectors, but unable to better 7th in an entire lap time. The session finished with me lining up P7 for Race 1 and P8 for Race 2.”
Chloe said: “Qualifying at Snetterton tends to be tight, as it’s such a long lap and we have 15 minutes to get our tyres up to temp and into a flying lap. I could have given myself a better shot if I’d left more space, but I qualified P8, which put me in the best position I’ve had for a first race.”
Race 1:
Logan: “Starting in 7th I knew I needed a strong start if I was to ever have a chance of moving forward. Snetterton is notoriously difficult to overtake in the GB4s — it was going to take all of my focus! I got off the line well and continued to stay within the battle. I held on to the leading pack of six until a small error at Williams allowed a gap to open and I dropped to P8 on the Bentley Straight. I continued to fight and regained the place briefly before dropping back again to conclude the race P8.”
Chloe: “I got a good start in race one, sticking behind Logan for a few laps before overtaking her and having a great battle! I ultimately got my place back in P7, and we were both closing the gap to the cars in front before the chequered flag waved.”
Sunday
Race 2:
Logan headed into Sunday with a positive outlook and was hoping to turn things around. She got a very good start and was quickly up into 7th from P8. “I was under attack quickly and defended the position well for the next three laps, but frustratingly again a small error from me put me wide onto the grass at Oggies, opening the door for the car behind to get past. With that, the balance of the car also took a hit, meaning I no longer had the pace to get the position back. Time to focus on the reverse grid for Race 3 and hopefully change my fortunes.”
Chloe: “For race two I was off P7 where I got a good start again, and into another brilliant back and forth with Logan, where again I kept it ahead and finished in P6.”
Race 3
With the reverse grid, Logan started P3 and was confident that she was in a good position to turn her weekend around. The opportunity for a good result increased as the cars lined up following the warm up lap. Logan: “The car that should have been starting right in front of me wasn’t there! An electrical fault meant they were starting from the pits, effectively putting me P2 as the lights went green. My start was OK but I was quickly under siege from the car directly behind in P5. I held the position well until coming through Bomb Hole where I was hit by the front wing of the car trying to jostle me for position. As I entered the braking zone of the final corner it was clear the tyre had been punctured from the contact and I was sent wide on to the grass.” Logan managed to get the car under control quickly to avoid hitting the tyre wall and drove straight into the pits for a quick tyre change. The only thing that could possibly save the race for her now was a yellow flag, which never came, so Logan spent the rest of the race waiting for the chequered flag to come out.
For Race 3 Chloe Grant started off P2 on the reverse grid, however Jack Sherwood on P4 got a better start than Chloe and Logan, and hung it round the outside into turn one. Chloe did try to get back up his inside into turn two but he defended so she went round his outside, but he just got the better run and managed to pull away. Chloe said: “Luckily we didn’t hit, as it was some real close racing! I had some good battles with the quick guys moving up the grid, all close, clean racing. I finished the weekend in P6, giving me my three best results in GB4 this far!”
