Misano 24-Hour – Adcock, Ginetta team overcome 24H drama

Nick Adcock was relieved to stand on the podium of the Misano 24-Hour race at the track on the Italian coast following a tough race in sweltering conditions for the CWS Racing Ginetta G55 GT4 he shared with British team owner Colin White, US driver JT Coupal and Dane Patrik Mathiesen. The team had to overcome a litany of challenges to end up second in class and fifth overall.

“It’s always nice to be on the podium,” Nick admitted. “We enjoyed a brilliant Italian adventure thanks to a great CWS team and my co-drivers — it was a most enjoyable race even if it was rather too warm! “I’m happy with the result after all — we had a very balanced team — I think all of us lapped in the 1 minute 45 bracket with the right tyres on, which is quite rare to see.”

The race started in sweltering conditions with the Ginetta in pole position in the hands of patron White, but the team was in trouble only 20 minutes into the race, as Adcock explains: “Colin was shoved by a Seat TCR car and that seriously hurt us —we were forced to take a lengthy stop to carry out the repairs needed including fitting a driveshaft and a new rear wing. “The team had a spare car here so swapped bits over — impressive work by the CWS boys.

“So we had a lot of catching up to do, but we were the fastest car on track and after a two hour stint in the car at midday I can safely report that I have never been so hot for so long!” We put everything into it and had recovered to run fifth overall and leading our class after 12 hours with a long night ahead — the car was incredibly consistent.

The team was chasing third overall when Adcock took the wheel for his final stint at 3am, but a broken differential in hour 19 further hampered progress. “We were bunting down second overall at the time, but the team was all over the issue and replacing the diff in record time. “If that was not enough — and if it wasn’t hot enough — we suffered a small flash fire during the refueling in the final hours!

“There are lots of ‘ifs’ as we would have walked it without that early incident for the team owner and then the diff issue, but I am delighted with the result — thanks so much to Colin, my teammates and the whole CWS team — it was hot as hell, but what a blast!”