The long awaited return to racing!

With all circuits being closed due to the Covid-19 Lockdown, Martyn and Warren had only driven the Praga a total of two times prior to the season opener.

Warren said, ‘I was a little concerned before the qualifying started, as we have had so little time to get to know the car and adapt to driving with aerodynamic downforce. As soon as I was strapped into the car, all those worries disappeared, and I was focused on attacking the track.’

Posting a lap time of 1:23.4 the guys qualified P2 in class and P6 on the overall grid. A result far beyond anybody’s expectation and a great position for the first race.

Martyn said, ‘Driving the Praga is a steep learning curve, but it’s a challenge I loved. Such a great car to drive! The team around us are second to none, making us feel welcome and helping us settle in like we’re part of the family.’

Warren was set to start race 1 until a fuel pump relay blew on the out lap to the grid, forcing an emergency visit to the pits. The VR Motorsport crew worked their magic and fixed the issue quickly, however they were unable to take their grid position and had to start from the end of the pit lane.

Warren said, ‘Fighting my way through the slower traffic was great fun and I soon found myself on the tail of the cars I should have started alongside.’

The driver changeover was faultless from the VR crew, meaning Martyn re-joined the race in P5 overall and P3 in class. Martyn drove a great race and continued to fight his way up the order, eventually claiming P2 in class and a whisker away from a P3 one the overall podium.

"Driving the Praga is a steep learning curve, but it’s a challenge I loved. Such a great car to drive! The team around us are second to none, making us feel welcome and helping us settle in like we’re part of the family."

Martyn took to the grid for the start of the race 2, with grid positions decided from the previous race he lined up on the second row in P4. After a strong start he held P4, chasing hard for the podium spot that had eluded him in race 1, Two faster class cars came through the pack after starting down the order due to issues in the previous race. As the faster cars caught up and overtook, Martyn took the opportunity to attack for P1 in class and made the move stick.

A safety car was deployed as the pitstop window opened, leading to a very busy pitlane. A move that proved to be decisive, as Warren re-joined in the P2 overall and a big lead in class 2. As the pit stops unfolded Warren was sitting P3 of a Praga 1 2 3, holding off the challenge from Ross Wyile in a Ferrari 488 challenge car behind.

However the motorsport gods had different plans, with the car developing an intermittent throttle issue, which quickly became a permanent issue forcing an unscheduled trip down the pit lane. Unfortunately there was no ‘Quick fix’ this time and the car was retired from the race with throttle position sensor failure.

Martyn said, ‘Although we were very disappointed not to have reached our full potential at Croft, I’m very proud of the way Warren and I performed. Joining a new team, driving a very different car to anything we’re used to, around a circuit we hadn’t raced before. I cannot wait to resume the battle at Brand’s Hatch!’

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