Academy Motorsport continues championship battle at Snetterton

Academy Motorsport continued its title charge at Snetterton (3rd-4th October), for the penultimate round of the British GT Championship. In treacherous conditions, the team secured another pole position start, and two strong results.

Following a slight change to the team’s driver line-up during the build up to Snetterton, Matt Cowley was joined by former team-mate, and Academy Motorsport veteran, Will Moore. A brief shakedown at Silverstone on Friday, gave Moore a quick refresher in the Ford Mustang GT4, before heading to Snetterton.

Wet conditions at Silverstone clearly prepared the duo well for a soggy weekend, as Moore secured a fifth place start for race one, despite his limited time behind the wheel, and Cowley banked the team yet another dominant pole position.

A very wet start to Sunday meant the first 60-minute encounter started behind the safety car, with the pace neutralised for the first few laps. As the opening stint unfolded, Moore managed the conditions to steer towards the pit stops, aware the team had a seven second success penalty awaiting them in the pit lane.

With Cowley now in control, he fought his way to the chequered flag, surviving to claim a seventh-place finish.

A pole position start gave the team the perfect advantage for the second 60-minute outing. Cowley climbed aboard for the opening stint this time around. After 30 minutes negotiating the conditions, he handed the Ford Mustang over to Moore who steered to a sixth-place finish, collecting yet more points towards the championship battle.

Academy Motorsport’s Managing Director, Matt Nicoll-Jones, said: “We were thrilled to claim another pole position, but today (Sunday) has been a trying day. The weather conditions made things very difficult, but despite that, both Matt and Will did well. Especially considering Will hadn’t driven the car since March.”

There is just one round of the 2020 British GT Championship remaining, the three-hour Silverstone spectacular, which takes place next month (7th-8th November). With both the GT4 driver and team championship titles not yet claimed, it’s going to be an exciting end to the season.