Team Modena break 3rd lap record

The Racecar liveried Team Modena Lamborghini Gallardo broke it's 3rd consecutive lap record at Silverstone yesterday!

Team Modena’s Lamborghini Gallardo once more demonstrated its pace and potential in the 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Championship – dominating the first half of today’s (Sunday August 12th) two-hour race at Silverstone and continuing its run of setting a new lap record at every circuit it visits. The Lamborghini Wycombe prepared GT3 car was shared by Adam Jones and Matt Owen at Silverstone, the pair supported by over a hundred Lamborghini enthusiasts and team guests who saw the best possible start to the race, Jones taking the lead into the first corner, the duo finally finishing eighth.

The Gallardo lined up third on the grid for the race – just nine thousandths of a second away from the pole position time set in Saturday’s 30-minute qualifying session.

“I did three flying laps and that got us the time,” said Jones after qualifying. “The car is so enjoyable to drive, the brakes and engine are as good as ever, and the team have done work on the gearbox since Snetterton. If we can stay out of trouble it should be a good race.”

“All the top times are very close,” said Owen, “which makes my pace as the second driver important. It’s my first time at Silverstone, but I am confident and enjoying it.”Jones made a sensational start to Sunday’s race, timing the rolling start perfectly and using the acceleration of the Gallardo to blast down the inside of the front row runners and claim the race lead into the first corner. In the opening laps the Team Modena car became a distant memory for the rest of the field – Jones pulling rapidly clear lap by lap, and setting a new lap record on his second lap almost a second quicker than any other car’s best lap.

Over twenty seconds clear after ten laps, Jones continued to lap consistently, slicing through backmarkers to lap every car up to sixth place. He finally pitted the car on lap forty-three, just after the halfway mark, the Team Modena car having demonstrated again its race potential early in its GT3 campaign.

“I could see the lights on the start line,” explained Jones, “lifted off, then got a run on the front guys and times it just right as they went out. That put with me right with the car on pole, and I went to his inside and got through. From then on it was just a case of getting on with it and building a lead. The Gallardo never missed a beat and I was able to build a lead and open a big gap really early. I had been expecting at least one Safety Car period, but the marshals worked hard to quickly clear a couple of cars that went off, and everything went ok.”

Owen took over the car and emerged right with the second place car, the decision to change all four of the new- specification tyres slowing the Team Modena pit-stop. In only his third British GT race Owen was in the thick of the front-running action, and at the end of the two hours brought the car home on the lead lap and eighth overall, having gained valuable race experience in his longest run in the car to date.

“The first half of my stint was really busy,” said Owen. “There was oil down round the back of the circuit and the more experienced guys were more confident in how hard they could push in those conditions. It was my longest run in the Gallardo by a long way, I learnt a lot and it was brilliant experience.”

“We were delighted with Adam’s first stint in the car,” said Team Principal Graham Schultz, “it showed we have done a good job with the car and that it is now quick and reliable. We knew we needed a lead in order to change the tyres and Adam came in over 30 seconds ahead. It was good experience for Matt and overall we are pleased with the race and another lap record. It was also nice to have so many guests and their cars here – we had great support from the Lamborghini Club UK.”

Next Avon Tyres British GT Championship round: Thruxton, Hampshire, August 25th / 26th

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