Fantastic Spa debut for Stilp and Phillips

Racing in the British GT series, neither had raced at the circuit, but both showed great form and almost managed to nick fourth at the end of the race.

Phillips lined up on the grid for the first 10 minutes then the rain came down briefly soaking the track making for tricky wet and dry track conditions, the car tyre set up was for slicks many of the other teams were pitting to drys but TeamHard make the call to stay on slicks as the track started to dry out again.

Stilp then jumped into the GT for his 10 minutes of qualifying consistently chipping off tenths of a second to gain positions on the 57 strong GT field of cars, ending in a 31st with combined scores for the pair a 19th spot in the UK British GT grid for Saturday’s race.

Come the race, Phillips held his own in the initial laps, making his way through the fellow Ginettas.

Having impressed during his 50 minute stint, Stilp was ready to take over, but a mix-up with the tyres meant he was left in the box longer than necessary.

On a mission to get back through the field, Stilp was on the back of Abbey Eaton’s Masarati putting pressure on for fourth spot but with the straight line speed it just wasn’t happening and Stilp bought the car home in a fantastic fifth after a gruelling hard-fought long race.

Speaking after the race, Stilp and Phillips said: “We had a good start and avoided the carnage that unfolded before Eau Rouge gaining a few places, we struggled on straight line speed and this was our downfall at this track in the Ginetta.

“But saying that, it’s a fantastic circuit to drive. A fifth place finish is not to be grumbled at considering the conditions the car was like a sauna with all our suit, helmet and safety equipment on.”

Stilp and Phillips head off to Snetterton in August for the next round of the British GT.