Tolman Motorsport collected British GT’s PMW Team of the Weekend Award at Snetterton on Sunday after successfully rebuilding one of its Ginettas between first practice and qualifying.
Luke Davenport was busy bedding in brakes early in FP1 when he lost control of the Ginetta and crashed heavily. Upon being returned to the garage it was clear that Tolman’s mechanics would have their work cut out to fix the substantially damaged G55 GT3.
While some of the damage was cosmetic - front and rear bumpers, bonnet, rear clam and wing - the accident had also ripped the front crash box from its suspension mountings. On another day that would have been game-over for the car, but Tolman’s crew got to work welding the components back together.
At the same time a van was dispatched to the team’s Warwickshire headquarters - a 240-mile round trip from Snetterton - to collect further replacement parts, including a new radiator.
And remarkably the car was rebuilt in time for that same afternoon’s qualifying session. David Pattison, turning his first laps in the car since Silverstone after skipping the previous round at Spa due to business commitments, duly qualified 11th before Davenport followed suit.
An unrelated paddle-shift gear selection issue subsequently sidelined the pair in Sunday’s two races after initially making up positions in both.
Nevertheless, team principal Chris Tolman was overjoyed that his crew’s hard work hadn't gone unnoticed.
“I’m blown away and feel quite emotional, actually, because it really does reward the guys for their incredible effort,” he said. “Normally in that instance you’d pack up and go home, but because Luke swiped the barrier it just tore all the bodywork off without touching the suspension.
“Even so, the guys had to weld a lot of the front end back together in a very short space of time. They did a great job and just got on with it.”
The PMW Expo Team of the Weekend Award highlights the sporting attitude, dedication and spirit that might otherwise go unnoticed in the paddock during each British GT weekend.
This year’s previous recipients include Optimum Motorsport, Team Parker Racing, TF Sport and Simpson Motorsport.