Track | Series | Organiser | Car | Placing / Fastest Lap |
Silverstone | Britcar Endurance Championship & Supercar Challenge - BRITCAR | BARC | BMW E46 M3 | Finished: 9th Fastest Lap: 2:12.049 |
2/3 May 2025.
Britcar Round 2: Silverstone GP Circuit England.
At last, a race Harry Barton and the team could really get their teeth into. Ninety minutes of flat out motoring punctuated by two pit-stops around a full length Grand Prix circuit. Silverstone may not the prettiest track in the world, but it is one of the fastest, and, at three point six miles, end to end, one of the most challenging. The scene then was set.
After failing while holding a comfortable lead at Oulton Park the red white and blue BMW M3 E46 (Powered by Geoff Steel Racing) was now back on top form, and at the start of Friday testing, Aston Martin contracted driver and personal coach David Pittard was on hand to give the car an early workout, and set some target times. Testing of course is not racing, but at the end of the day Harry was circulating among the top six cars. A final debrief and tyre wear analysis, then it was time to relax.
Saturday 3 May: Thirty-two drivers lined up for mid-morning qualifying with Harry, true to form, putting in a 2.10.44 sec lap (101.02 mph), making him quickest in class, sixth overall, only beaten by the very rapid five Supercar Challenge cars. However, nothing in motorsport is simple. Without going into detail, as a solo, pro driver Harry, got well and truly clobbered with penalties: pit stop times were extended by forty seconds each, and even worse, his qualifying effort was negated when race organisers, seemingly on a whim, relegated him to the rear end of the grid. Even so, by half distance he was back where he belonged, fifth overall, and going well. Then, the inevitable, prolonged safety car session, and guess what, with three laps remaining Harry found himself down in twenty-first place, trapped behind back markers. Result? Ninth place and no prizes.