Duckhams Yuasa Racing adds third place overall in British GT Championship to Silver Am title
Duckhams Yuasa Racing wrapped up its 2024 British GT Championship campaign at Brands Hatch at the weekend (28/29 September), securing third place in the overall GT3 standings.
Drivers Adam Smalley and Shaun Balfe had already secured the GT3 Silver Am title at Snetterton in late July, with a dominant run of form and, having claimed class honours, their attention quickly turned to winning the overall championship, coming into the Brands Hatch weekend with a mathematical chance of adding what would have been a remarkable double success.
The drivers were comfortably inside the top ten during free practice and pre-qualifying, however a sensor failure at the start of qualifying meant that Shaun had to pull off and park the car at the side of the circuit having not set a lap. Unfortunately, it would also mean Adam would also be unable to record a time, relegating them to the back of the GT3 pack, in 14th place.
Shaun started the two-hour season finale and was able to gain two places on the opening lap before a car in the gravel at the first corner brought out the Safety Car. When racing resumed, he drove well to climb to ninth overall before a Full Course Yellow was called when another car went off. That period was then extended to cover the pit stop window – ensuring a fair outcome for all teams – allowing Adam to get behind the wheel for the final stint of the 2024 season.
The action resumed with 40 minutes on the clock and, as Adam challenged for eighth place in the McLaren GT3 EVO, three GT4 cars collided, bring out another FCY. In the end, there would only be 12 minutes of racing when the track went green, not giving him enough time to make any further progress, meaning he crossed the line ninth overall and fourth of the Silver Am runners.
It wasn’t the end that either the drivers or Garage 59 team would have liked, but everyone at Duckhams Yuasa Racing can be more than satisfied with a superb seven class victories in nine races, the Silver Am title, and third overall in the GT3 Drivers’ standings in its first season in the British GT Championship.
Adam Smalley
G – 14, R - 9
Championship:
Silver AM - 1 (259.5 points)
Overall – 3 (140 points)
“Overall, it has been an amazing season. We would have liked to have gone out with a good result, but that was out of everyone's control. We were fast in pre-qualifying and then we had a crank sensor failure in qualifying. That eliminated our chances, and unfortunately, if there's one track you don't want to start the back at, it's the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, because it just isn't wide enough to overtake.
“Shaun had a very good first stint. He showcased that he was so much faster than a lot of the cars around him, but he just couldn't find a way through, and it was the same for me. When I jumped in, I was faster than the cars ahead, but I just couldn't make any progress.
“The goal was the overall title going into the last round and, although we mathematically could have won it, it would have required a lot of luck on our side, so realistically the aim was to maintain that top three in the overall championship. To be best of the rest, against a lot of strong teams and their Pro drivers with a lot more experience than I do is something that we can be proud of.
“The car was quick all weekend and while it wasn't the way we wanted to end the season; I don't think it takes anything away from what we achieved. To win seven out of nine Silver Am races is brilliant. I'm made up with how the year has gone and I couldn't have asked for much better in my debut year. Shaun has done a mega job all season, and the guys at Garage 59 have been great, so a big thank you to everyone. I also have to thank my sponsors for all their support this year, I couldn’t have done it without them.”
View photos from the race here
