BRDC Rising Star Scott McKenna was denied more Rookie Cup silverware by misfortune in the BTCC-supporting Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship at Brands Hatch GP last weekend (8/9 August).
The North Yorkshire youngster entered the famous Kent circuit keen to kick on from an eye-opening maiden weekend at Donington Park where he picked up a podium finish for fellow Teesside-based team, Redline Racing.
Last year’s Ginetta GT5 Challenge champion started strongly in official testing on Friday, trading the top spot with Northumberland team-mate Matty Graham to put himself in the mix for a good showing in qualifying the following day.
Qualifying became a tight affair for the field, with rookie McKenna battling inside the top six throughout. Despite a late charge in scorching temperatures, the Eighty One Powerdrink, Rocket Medical and Watchgecko-backed driver finished sixth by the end of the session but only a mere 0.123s from sealing a front row spot.
On Sunday, McKenna arrived ready to make up that time in the day’s two races alongside the BTCC, and found himself in the middle of the fight for top-five spots as the safety car emerged in the final 10 minutes. Battling with Sam Macleod for fifth, the latter made contact with McKenna which unfortunately sent the Redline racer plummeting down the order to 14th by the flag, when fifth place was on target.
Left back in 13th to start the second race, McKenna set about making his recovery. After dodging a first accident neatly at Paddock Hill Bend, McKenna’s reactions were again tested by a multi-car collision ahead of him at the rapid Hawthorns right-hander, climbing up the order to seventh.
Chasing after GT racer Ryan Ratcliffe in the closing stages after another tag from Macleod cost him time, McKenna salvaged ninth place with a late attack, results not a true reflection of the team’s pace at Brands Hatch.
McKenna still sits fifth in the overall Carrera Cup GB standings, but only eight points adrift of the top of the Rookie standings with more wins from the opening two rounds. The Stokesley man next heads to Oulton Park in Cheshire in two weeks’ time (22/23 August) for the latest pair of races.
Races will once again be broadcast LIVE on ITV4 in support of the British Touring Car Championship.
Scott McKenna (#82 Redline Racing):
“One of those weekends unfortunately. Two collisions ruined our weekend when we were in a position to mix it for potentially another podium or two. The pace we showed in testing in the run-up to the weekend was very promising. If we can transfer that into qualifying in the next few rounds then it will give us a shot like we had at Donington.
“After plenty of travelling in a short space of time, I’m looking forward to a short relax now to regroup and get myself ready to attack at Oulton Park, a circuit where Redline has plenty of success around – let’s try and keep that success going!”
Photo credits: Dan Bathie/Porsche Motorsport GB
Scott McKenna 