Thornhill Race ace Ross Wylie defies chicken pox to record two wins at Silverstone at the weekend.
Ross Wylie gave himself the perfect tonic for getting out of his sick bed by recording a double victory in the latest rounds of the Britcar Endurance Championship last weekend (24 Jun). Since returning from Le Mans earlier in the week, the 25-year-old Scotsman from Thornhill had been confined to his bed with chicken pox but was adamant to race at Silverstone.
Having topped practice, Wylie claimed pole-position on the 31-car grid for the qualifying race around Silverstone’s 3.66-mile Grand Prix circuit prior to Ross and co-driver Witt Gamski stroking their MJC Furlonger prepared Ferrari 458 GT home to a near 50secs victory after 23-laps in the qualifying race – Ross taking the lead five laps from home and also setting the fastest race lap.
Starting the main two-hour race from “pole”, the Wylie/Gamski Ferrari swept home over 77secs ahead of the second-placed car after 53-laps – Wylie again setting the quickest lap of the race having taken over from Gamski placed third. The duo have now won the last three races outright. The Britcar Endurance Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain are both back in action over the weekend of 29-30 July at Brands Hatch and Snetterton respectively. Ross, meanwhile, has been invited to the Goodwood Festival of Speed next weekend (1-2 Jul) for Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain action. Wylie finished 13th overall plus fifth in the Porsche GB rankings on his debut at Le Mans in the last round – and top GB “rookie”.
Ross Wylie (GB) (pictured above, right):
Age 25. Born & Lives Thornhill nr Dumfries, Scotland:
“I scored maximum points despite feeling far from 100%. Everyone had told me to stay in bed but I was adamant I wouldn’t let Witt and the team down. But after scoring two wins and setting two fastest race laps, that was just the tonic I needed and I was already feeling better that evening – the adrenalin pulled me through it! Witt started both races and drove good, solid stints handing the car over to me handily placed. The Ferrari is a joy to drive and I was able to get to the front of the field in both races. Witt started the main race and I took over placed third with around 50mins gone. It was a very straight forward race from my side of things, I pulled a 2m 30secs which gave us over a lap lead so I pitted for Witt the run to the flag. We’re looking good in the championship and that was another reason I couldn’t miss Silverstone. Hopefully we can continue our good run in the next races at Brands but first I return to Porsche Carrera Cup action next weekend. June has certainly been a busy month but thankfully also successful.”
