Burns Sets Record Pace Despite Unlucky Snetterton Weekend

Multiple Ginetta GT4 Supercup race winner Will Burns embarked on the second half of this season at Snetterton in Norfolk last weekend, and set searing pace to set new lap records, but was once again let down by his continuing streak of bad luck.

Over the first half of the season, Burns’ raw pace was clear but a combination of racing incidents along with a stroke of mechanical woes, have prevented Will from demonstrating his race winning capabilities.

But Burns began last weekend on the front foot. He qualified his HHC Motorsport-run racer on the front row of the grid for Saturday’s opening race. Having been passed by his consistently quick-starting team-mate Carl Breeze when the lights went out, Burns put on a determined fight to win the place back throughout the course of the race.

But Will’s bad luck cruely struck again as both drivers, heading comfortably for podium finishes, suddenly tangled. Breeze’s car cut out with a loss of power, and with Will closely behind, Burns had nowhere to go. He collided with the rear of Breeze, which led to Burns having to retire.

It was a case of forging a determined fightback in race two. Following his opening race retirement, Burns was forced to start from the back row. He made a blinding start, but having to make his way past the grid’s amateur drivers proved a challenge.

An Amateur class racer forced Burns on to the grass, leaving him at the very back of the pack once again. But Burns’ race-winning pace was firmly demonstrated when he scythed up the pack, overtaking eight drivers on his way to finish in eighth place.

His amazing pace wasn’t just impressive to the eye. During Burns’ recovery, he broke the GT4 Supercup lap record at the Snetterton 300 circuit on an impressive three successive laps.

Burns made another scintillating start to Sunday’s final race, which was aired live on ITV4. From eighth place, he was determined to put on a show, making his way up to third place by the end of the opening lap.

But on tyres which had gone through the mire over the course of two previous races, he dropped a single place to fourth. His attempts at grabbing the final podium spot resulted in him making contact with a close rival who spun.

Burns was later handed a time penalty after the race due to the incident which dropped him down to ninth.

Will is already preparing to demonstrate that race-winning pace at the next rounds of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup at Knockhill in Scotland on August 22-23.
Having tested at Snetterton ahead of the weekend and ended up faster than my team-mates, I felt confident heading into the weekend to gain some good results and pick up points over my championship rivals,” Burns said.

“Having qualified second, I knew that the HHC team had an excellent set-up for the weekend. Sadly, there was nowhere that I could go when Carl’s car cut out in the first race. I was determined to grab my second place back but I wanted to quickly recover.

“I proved that in race two with three successive lap record times. I’m proud to have set that, but I’d prefer to have scored more points instead. I was forced on to the grass at the start by an over enthusiastic Amateur class racer and I was actually held up near the end.

“On the final lap of race three, I went for a move on a rival as he had left the door open. But I wasn’t able to slow enough in time and it spun Michael Caine around. It was my fault for which I apologise.

“In summary, I’ve great pace. But my luck just isn’t in at the moment. I will be quick to forget Snetterton with the focus on getting back to form at Knockhill with podium finishes. That’s where I belong.”