United Autosports Press
Release
- Mark and Matt storm through the field to take victory
- Fantastic battles on track with championship rivals during live TV event
- Team finish second in the 2013 championship
United Autosports have taken the win at the final
round of the 2013 Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Donington Park.
Matt Bell and Mark Patterson brought the Audi R8
LMS ultra home in P1 after a fantastic two-hour race round the Leicestershire
track, which was screened live on Motors TV.
The race start saw an unusually clean getaway for
the whole pack, with Mark settling into 7th after holding his
qualifying position from the off. Mark kept the pace and was hot on the tail of
the leading cars, fighting his way through the pack. A fierce battle with the
Ecurie Ecosse BMW and Von Ryan McLaren saw Mark come out on top and move up to
P3, whilst also setting the fastest lap of the race, as the pit window opened.
Taking to the wheel for the final hour, Matt was on a mission from the start.
After a close battle with the FF Corse Ferrari, Matt took P2 and started hunting
down the leading BMW of Joe Osborne, catching him by half a second a lap. Matt
eventually took the lead and held onto it till the end, crossing the line to
the cheers of a delighted team.
It is not the first time the team have won at
Donington Park, having taken the win and third spot at the same round last year
with Zak Brown and Alvaro Parente’s McLaren MP4-12C GT3 car.
The win today means the team take second in the
championship, just falling short of the overall win by 1.5 points.
Matt Bell, Driver, United Autosports:
“It feels great to have won the final round of the
championship at Donington. The car has been fantastic all weekend, a great job
by the team to give us a car we knew we could win in. To come here as outsiders
for the championship but then to finish only 1.5 points behind the eventual
winners is a great achievement. Mark drove a stunning race, and he is certainly
one of the best gentlemen drivers in the whole field. I’d like to thank the
team for giving us a great car and to thank the sponsors who have come along
today and supported us all year.”
Mark Patterson, Driver, United Autosports:
“What a great weekend it has turned out to be. A
win and second in the championship is just great for the whole team. A bit of
luck finally went our way. Matt and I have built up a great partnership in the
time we have been driving together and it definitely makes a difference. I’m
really pleased we could get the win for Matt, myself and the whole team.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director,
United Autosports:
“The win today is a great end to what has been a
tough season for us. We aimed for the win and that’s what we got. To lose out
on the championship by 1.5 points is a little heartbreaking, but to get a win
with Mark and Matt is a great achievement for us. The whole team have worked
really hard all year and deserve the win.”
Zak Brown, Team Owner, United Autosports:
“What a fantastic result for the team. A win and
second in the championship is a great result at the end of a tough season. We
knew we had the car to win and that’s what we delivered.”
Photo credit: United Autosports
