Ben Johansson
Rikki Palmer (r.p.fotography)
15 Jul 2024
The team showed great skill and resilience, finishing P6 in their first-ever 24-hour race at Anglesey despite three major mechanical setbacks.
The team’s weekend began on a strong note, securing P4 on the grid during a tightly contested qualifying session. All five drivers—Scott Parkin, Ollie Furnell, Luca Staccini, Chris Dunster, and Nicole Drought—delivered exceptional performances, with their lap times falling within 0.2 seconds of each other, highlighting their impressive consistency and speed.
Race day started positively with a strong initial performance from Scott Parkin and Ollie Furnell, propelling the Pro-Am team to P1 on the road. However, the first setback came during Luca Staccini’s stint when the left rear drum malfunctioned, seizing and welding itself to the stub axle. This issue resulted in a 19-minute repair stop, dropping the team down to P18.
Undeterred, the team’s resilience shone through. Night stints by Chris Dunster, Nicole Drought, Ollie Furnell, and Luca Staccini saw the car climb back up to P4 within 7hrs. Yet, during Scott Parkin's second stint, disaster struck again. Two wheel studs on the front right wheel sheared off, causing severe vibrations and imminent hub failure. The ensuing 19-minute repair dropped the team back to P8.
Determined to make a comeback, the team fought hard, and under the steady hands of Chris Dunster, they climbed back to P6. Unfortunately, shortly after the next driver change, the challenges continued as the front left hub failed, forcing another 20-minute pit stop and pushing them back to P13.
With the race nearing its end, the Pro-Am Racing Team’s spirit and determination were on full display. Nicole Drought, Chris Dunster, and Ollie Furnell executed impressive stints, recovering the car once again to finish in a commendable P6.
“The race was a test of our team’s resilience and skill,” said team owner Scott Thompson. “We started with high hopes after an excellent qualifying session and early race performance. However, mechanical issues kept setting us back. Despite the setbacks, our drivers and crew showed incredible determination to recover to P6.”
Looking forward, the team is focused on overcoming these challenges and building on their performance. “We’ll be working tirelessly to address these mechanical issues,” Scott added. “Our next race is at Snetterton on the 10th and 11th of August, where both our KA and Clio will be competing.”
The Pro-Am Racing Team extends heartfelt thanks to their sponsors and partners, including ECUmaster, RAC Air Conditioning, Lifeline Fire, and Raceparts UK, for their unwavering support. Special appreciation also goes to Rikki Palmer @r.p_fotography for capturing the essence of the weekend.
