Top British GT4 squad Academy Motorsport returned to the podium at the penultimate weekend of the British GT Championship at Snetterton in Norfolk last weekend.
The Pershore-based outfit, which had missed out on the top three spots over recent weeks, scored a dramatic second place for its #61 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 on the final lap of the opening one-hour race on Sunday.
Following an impressive qualifying session the #61 car, driven by Will Moore, began from third place, registering as the quickest GT4 Aston machine. Moore wasted no time in making his customary lightning getaway to pull ahead into second place and draw out a gap to the chasing competition.
That remained when Will pitted and handed the car over to team-mate Dennis Strandberg after 13 completed laps of the Snetterton 300 circuit. Dennis maintained the strong position until he lost the place on lap 21 of the completed 30.
But the Swede displayed his tough, battling qualities to seize a magnificent opportunity on the final lap to re-claim a deserved second place.
The second of Sunday’s one-hour races was conducted in torrential conditions and once again looked promising for the star pair before Moore sustained damage to the car shortly after taking over from Strandberg. The car was sadly forced into retirement.
The team’s second Aston Martin Vantage, #62 GT4 machine qualified by Chris Webster, started from ninth on the grid in the opener. Webster and team-mate Mike Hart, who continues with the team for an extended period, produced another solid display.
The duo progressed to an eighth place finish but held their best performance for race two in appalling conditions.
Despite starting from 12th place, both Hart and then Webster produced an outstanding drive, taking advantage of rival drivers skating off the track to progress up to another eighth place by the chequered flag..