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Finally the moment was upon us, with Stewart starting in the IMS Motorsport car, the team sent him to the collection area, ready to take his place on the grid. As the team took up their position outside pit garage number 2 (at the entrance to the pit lane, i.e. the other end of the pit garages) the cars were released onto the circuit. Initially they were all funnelled back through the pit lane as the personnel on the grid sorted themselves out (well it is the second race of the season and is to be televised, more on that at the end of this). The team were ready, the car was ready, the drivers were ready and the 5 minute board was shown.. The initial lap, behind the safety car was underway.. Time for the race. After what seemed like a long initial lap the safety car exited "Deers Leap" and peeled off into the pits and then the cars burbled towards the red lights above the gantry… The red lights extinguished and all as one, they roared past the garages.. Stewart made an impressive start and set about challenging for the GT4 lead. By the end of lap one he had glued himself to the rear bumper of the #52 GT4 G50.. Stewart then spent the next twenty minutes attempting all manner of passing manoeuvres on #52 whilst having to fend off the interest of #51 from behind! All the while the #99 Beechdean car was steadily catching the trio of GT4 G50s.. The team were preparing to bring Stewart in for the driver change, when he made a passing move and was able to fly off into the distance, leaving the other three cars trailing in his wake. The team re-evaluated their strategy and allow Stewart to build up a healthy lead which he passed on to Matt. The driver change worked like clockwork and the team released Matt in the lead and Matt continued to build up an impressive lead, lapping the #71 and (eventually) #63 GT4 cars. Quite simply both drivers were in the "zone" each one performing their allotted tasks to perfection. Latterly in the race the #51 RPM G50 fell off and wouldn't finish the race, so the team take the Championship lead leading into the next round at Knockhill in 3 weeks time.
The result is a culmination of many years worth of hard graft, sweat and tears. The team are elated to bring IMS Motorsport two podium finishes and are looking forward to the next rounds and delivering more of the same.
The round will be televised on Motors TV, times can be found here : http://www.britishgt.com/tv.php The rounds will be show on the 5th of April, 7th, 9th and 15th of April, so plenty of chances to catch it! There is also a programme due to be aired on Channel 4.
There are of course more photos and reports to be found here : http://www.crash.net/motorsport/brit_gt/news/161157-0/tech_9_takes_first_lambo_win.html
and for 2008 IMS Motorsport are a featured team here : http://www.msportuk.com/teams/richmond/index.php so photos and news to appear from every round!
For 2008 the team are supporting IMS Motorsport, sponsored by IMS Consulting, the drivers are Stewart Linn and Matt Nicoll-Jones.
Once the photos have been updated a reminder will be sent out to all who subscribe to this newsletter, if you know of anyone who might be interested in this, please pass it on to them, they can subscribe by sending an email to enews@richmond-racing.co.uk
see you in the paddock soon!
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