Ross doubles up at Oulton Park to extend GT Open class series lead
Ross Wylie (pictured left above) extended his lead in the GT Cup GTO category by scoring two dominant class wins in the latest races at Oulton Park on 3 Jul 2021 – the third consecutive race in which Ross and co-driver Paul Bailey (pictured right) have swept their Brabham to victory.
Having made history by claiming the first-ever victory of a customer racing Brabham BT62 Competition sportscar at Snetterton last month, Wylie and Bailey achieved fifth place overall in the opening race then and excellent third overall, with Ross setting the outright fastest race lap in the second race around the 2.69-mile Cheshire track.
Bailey started the opening 40mins race from 18th overall, second in class, after a very wet qualifying session earlier in the day, the rain having stopped although the track remained damp prompting the team to opt for “wet” treaded tyres.
Wylie took over the Brabham after 20mins, resuming 24th, second in class, during the compulsory pit-stop phase, immediately setting fast lap times as conditions improved. With 10mins remaining, Ross lay sixth overall but now leading the GTO category, Wylie moving up another place at the chequered flag.
In Race 2, staged in dry conditions, “Pro” driver Ross took over from “sporting” driver Bailey with 16mins to go placed sixth overall, first in class, and as in Race 1, Wylie immediately set a series of outright fastest laps and at the chequered flag claimed an excellent third place overall – less than 30secs behind the winner after 22-laps.
Ross Wylie (GB):
Age 29. Born & Lives Thornhill nr Dumfries, Scotland:
“I’m delighted to have won a third race in the Brabham with these two victories at Oulton – only the car’s fourth race and my third in the Brabham in total. Track conditions were difficult in Race 1 with the damp track surface.
“I was able to drive Race 2 in anger as it was totally dry, unleashing the awesome pace of the Brabham. Paul’s confidence grows with each race, which in turn helps me for when I take over as we’re placed in a better position when he pits.
“SB Racing combined with Brabham Automotive gave Paul and I a very competitive car and we were able to reward them with two strong results. We’ve now got a six-week break before the next GT Cup races at Silverstone which is a high-speed track and should ideally suit the Brabham.”