James finishes fifth & sixth in latest Gold Cup Sprint races at Misano
Morpeth’s James Kell placed fifth and sixth in the latest GT World Challenge Europe Gold Cup Sprint event in the CSA Racing entered McLaren 720S EVO he shares with Arthur Rougier despite brake issues at Misano in Italy (18-19 Jul).
Kell lined-up sixth in the Gold Cup (31st overall) on the 43-car grid for the opening one-hour race that began in dusk conditions, a Safety Car appearing on the first lap after a multi-car collision with James 29th.
He ran sixth in class throughout his stint, handicapped by the heat and front “aero wash” in a “train” of cars. Rougier took over the McLaren at mid-distance, the Frenchman coming home fifth in class (18th overall) under Full Course Yellow conditions, having moved up a place in the final six-minutes.
The #111 McLaren started the second one-hour race first in class, Rougier slipping to second in the opening minutes, the top-four Gold Cup cars running very close together for the opening 20mins and battling for sixth overall.
Kell took over the 720S EVO at mid-distance and lay fourth in Gold after a slow pit-stop, 13th overall, with all pit-stops completed with 22mins to run just prior to a Full Course Yellow.
James dropped a place to sixth (15th overall) in the closing minutes while the McLaren GT3 Junior driver remains fifth in the Gold Cup Sprint standings.
“Unfortunately we had brake issues which caused problems throughout the weekend.
“It caused difficulties in practice and then crucially in the first qualifying session affecting the balance of our McLaren.
“High ambient temperatures for both races meant the car was overheating with the engine temperature very high and the brake temps were excessive.
“Unfortunately we lost eight seconds in Race 2 during our tyre change which ultimately cost Arthur and I a second in class result.
“So not an ideal weekend but some points on the board at least and now we just have to focus on the next races at Magny Cours.”
Photos: SRO / GT World Challenge
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