What started as a frustrating weekend for Daniel Perry and JTM Engineering at Brands Hatch ended with two wins and a huge boost of momentum heading into the final round of the GT Cup Championship.
Saturday began with Perry struggling for pace. After qualifying and Race 1, he was well away from where he wanted to be, with overheating differential oil adding to the team’s problems.
“Personally I was very down after qualifying and Race 1, seeing myself so far off the pace and nothing I could do about it. Those are the moments that test you the most in this sport.”
The team quickly set about finding a solution, stripping the car and rebuilding the differential pump between races. Perry stayed involved in the garage and watched as the rebuilt pump came back to life.
“I knew it was down to me to repay the team’s efforts after that.”
Race 2 showed that the pace was returning, although Perry found himself stuck behind a BMW that was much faster on the straights.
“It was frustrating. Brands Hatch GP is a notoriously hard track to overtake on, even more so when different car characteristics come into play. He would gap me down the straights before I’d get held up in every corner after.”
The result was disappointing, but there was a positive to take into Sunday.
“Most importantly it showed my pace was back and I could take confidence into Sunday.”
The changes made overnight were not a major setup overhaul. Instead, JTM reversed the changes made between qualifying and Race 1, where the car had been adjusted to try and nurse the differential issues.
Sunday brought a completely different story.
Race 1 was interrupted by almost an hour of red flags across two incidents, leaving Perry in the car for a long time. The JTM crew kept him hydrated during the stoppages and then produced the fastest pit stop of any car in the race.
“It was just a combination of everything going right.”
With the car working and the team behind him, Perry delivered the result they had been chasing.
“Driving after knowing how much they’d put into the car, I had to give it 110% for that win.”
P1.
After the problems of Saturday, the relief was clear.
“I’m glad our team radio isn’t broadcast because it was loud down the microphone into the mechanics’ ears. Just a moment of huge relief and happiness. Especially after Saturday’s issues it was just so much more sweet to experience. I think I even had a tear in my eye…”
There was still one race to go.
Starting second, Perry took the lead at the first corner and quickly built a gap. With the pressure of chasing his first win of the weekend gone, he could approach the final race with a different mindset.
“After winning the first race I wasn’t so anxious about it anymore. I just went out there and had fun.”
The BMW once again proved difficult to defend against on the straights, while a Ginetta joined the fight. Perry decided to let the Ginetta through and attack the BMW instead.
Then, with two corners remaining, everything changed.
The BMW lost control and collected the Ginetta, leaving Perry with a clear run to the chequered flag.
“Little did I know what would happen next.”
P1. Again.
Two victories on Sunday completed a remarkable turnaround for JTM Engineering. After spending Saturday fighting problems and questioning their pace, the team left Brands Hatch having won both races.
For Perry, it was the perfect response to one of the toughest starts to a weekend he has experienced this season.
Now attention turns to Snetterton, where the GT Cup Championship reaches its final weekend this week.
One more weekend. One more chance to finish the season on a high.
