Ross Wylie flies to Austria on Thursday (30 May) for the latest rounds of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup buoyed by a good, solid performance at Silverstone in the UK series today (Sunday 26 May).
Wylie, from Thornhill near Dumfries, remains third in the UK-based APR Volkswagen Racing Cup series after posting third and ninth places in today’s two races.
Having qualified fifth for the opening 20-minute race, Wylie made a storming start and was third at the end of the opening lap. Ross maintained position to finish 4.6secs behind the winner having set the outright fastest speeds in two sectors around the 3.66-mile Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.
Lining up third for the second race and optimistic for a second top-three podium finish, Wylie applied intense pressure for second place on lap one but slipped to ninth by mid-distance due to a loss of power caused by an electrical issue.
“My grid position was compromised as I had to overtake at least three cars on each lap of qualifying,” reflected Wylie. “I made a good start and progressed well in race one before a fuel pressure issue at mid-distance restricted my pace.
“In the second race, everything was initially okay but the engine lost power early on due to a electrical coil problem while the gearbox leaked oil. It would have been good to score a second top-three rostrum result and the second race result was frustrating but things happen that are out of my control and it’s a case of dealing with these disappointments.”
But Wylie now swiftly turns his attention to this weekend’s (1-2 June) second and third rounds of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup after placing fourth in the Junior category on his series debut in the opening Hockenheim race (5 May).
Ross competes in two races on consecutive days at the 2.69-mile Red Bull Ring in Spielberg near Graz.
“I’m really looking forward to Spielberg,” confirmed Wylie. “It’s another new track for me so I’ve spent time in a simulator which gives me an insight into the track.
“I’m able to watch ‘on board’ footage before ‘driving’ the track myself on the ‘sim’ to be best prepared as I can be.
“The Red Bull Ring only features eight corners, is fast and flowing with a lot of uphill and downhill gradients.”
Wylie races in Austria for only the second time in his short career after achieving sixth place in a European Championship Kart race three years ago.
Ross added: “I drove to Hockenheim but this time I’m flying which should keep my sleep patterns in order and allow me to be fully focused. I’m very excited.”
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* Editorial Copyright Photographs from Silverstone attached