PCCGB Round 1 - Donnington - Angus Whiteside

A positive qualifying session on Saturday was thwarted when, due to a minor technical infringement which offered no real performance gain, three of the cars including Angus were handed penalties and had to start at the back of the grid for race one.

After passing several cars, an on-track battle had Angus wheel to wheel with Ryan Ratcliffe for P6 in Pro-Am, the rivals pulling up alongside each other several times over the course of four laps. Making the move on lap 11 of 23, Angus gained sixth, but further swapping of position meant he crossed the line seventh, enjoying a positive race debut in the series.

For race 2 Angus was quick off the mark, gaining one place on the opening lap and showing his potential with several overtakes over the course of the race, crossing the line fifth in Pro-Am.

Angus added -“The team have said I’ve done really well. I’m used to winning a series – like in Ginetta, which I know is not as high calibre as the Carrera Cup GB – but when you’re used to doing that, that’s the goal. Every race we go further up the grid, and I feel more confident and very at one with the car. I got the penalty for the first race and started third-last but managed to get back up to 17th which is where I qualified. I think I overtook six people, so in a way it was a curse but also a blessing because it allowed me to do that and gain more confidence.

“In the second race I had a few overtakes down the Craner Curves, so it’s nice to know that other drivers understand how fast you’re going. A lot of them give you the space as soon as they see you. That’s good for my confidence because I know I can lean on them – but they’re going to lean on me just as hard. Compared to how much more other drivers have done than me, I’m doing a really good job.”