BMW Team SRM Australian GT Review – R6

EVENT

Round 6, 2018 CAMS Australian GT Championship, Hampton Downs, New Zealand

WEEKEND SUMMARY

BMW Team SRM had a difficult weekend at Hampton Downs with drivers Steve Richards and Michael Almond scoring seventh position in the 500km race on Sunday. The team worked hard to improve the car throughout the weekend and the result ensured the team secured third place in the Australian Endurance Championship.
Qualifying proved a challenge with a new format introduced for the weekend that included a pre-qualifying session followed by a 30-lap qualifying race. The team managed to come away from the qualifying race to secure sixth place on the grid.

Almond was first in the car and made a decent start and settled into his stint before pitting and making the driver change with Richards stepping into the car. An 84-second compulsory pitstop time ensured the afternoon would be hard work and the car dropped down the order. Richards managed to close the gap to the cars ahead but had to settle for seventh place by the end of the 101-lap encounter.
The race was won by Geoff Emery and Garth Tander in an Audi R8, giving Emery victory in the Australian GT Championship.

Laser Racing BMW Team SRM made continued progress on the M6 GT3 through the course of the weekend and the despite finishing slightly down the order the result ensured that the team secured third place in the Australian Endurance Championship.

DRIVER QUOTES

Steve Richards:

“I’m incredibly proud of how we turned things around this weekend. We made remarkable in-roads on the front-running pace through the weekend. By the last stint we were as quick as the leaders, so we found a second per lap from Saturday.

“I’m really pleased with that. You’re always looking to improve, so to make a gain that significant is something to be proud of. We’ve built an amazing team, and it’s been a fantastic year.

“To come into the last round of the season in contention for two championships is a huge improvement on the last couple of years. Part of that is down to consistency, and part of it is down to the improvements we’ve made in the performance of the car.”

Michael Almond:

“It’s hard not to be a little disappointed in the result today, the team did everything right and the car kept improving but those pitstop times have hurt us again.

“I enjoyed driving the BMW M6 GT3 this weekend and it was great to get it running as well as we did on a circuit that probably doesn’t suit it the best.

“It’s been a privilege to drive with Steve and BMW Team SRM this year and I’m proud of what we achieved.”

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Australian GT Championship: 5th (Steve Richards)
Australian Endurance Championship: 3rd (Steve Richards/Michael Almond)