Ross signs off from 2023 Porsche season with two more podiums in Brands Hatch finale
Ross Wylie, from Thornhill near Dumfries, has finished up a superb runner-up in the Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am Championship.
The 32-year-old Scotsman finished just seven-points behind the class winner after finishing second and third in the final two races at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend (8 Oct).
Wylie has enjoyed a phenomenally successful season at the wheel of his 170mph Glenturret Porsche 911.
Ross finished in the Pro-Am top-five on 13 occasions in the 16-race series, including nine podiums, six wins, and in eight qualifying sessions that set the grid positions for the opening race, claimed front row positions on six occasions – including a pole-position at his “home” Knockhill event in August.
Wylie missed out on “pole” in the final minutes of qualifying and the extra point towards his championship tally by a mere 0.045secs around the 2.43-mile Brands GP circuit, lining up second in class for the opening 25-minute race.
Race One was shortened and featured only five racing laps, the remaining seven laps completed behind the Safety Car after an on-track incident with Wylie coming home second in class, Ross closing the gap to the class leader to just 11-points to keep his title hopes alive.
Unfortunately, Wylie was pushed wide on the opening lap causing Ross to lose five overall places and a vital class place, dropping to third in Pro-Am – a position he kept until the chequered flag after 17-laps.
In addition to main sponsor, The Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, Wylie has been supported by Scottish confectionery company, Tunnock’s, plus local Dumfriesshire companies AL-2 Teknik UK, PyroDry and Carronbridge Sawmill during the year.
Ross Wylie (GB):
Age 32. Born & Lives Thornhill nr Dumfries, Scotland:
“It was a good weekend. I honestly couldn’t have done anymore – I pushed until the very end in the hope of snatching the title but it wasn’t to be. I’ve scored more class wins than anyone else so I’m proud in what I’ve achieved.
“Qualifying went well for me until the very last minute when I ‘lost’ pole and fell back to second fastest. The opening race was chaotic with cars going off but I managed to bring it home in second on the road but taking maximum points.
“In the second race I was pushed wide aggressively on the first lap, losing places, but battled on until the finish.
“A big thank you to Redline Racing for giving me a reliable and competitive car all season and of course all of my sponsors and congratulations to Max Bird who claimed the title.”
