Generation AMR Macmillan Racing will be back on the British GT grid at Rockingham this weekend less than a fortnight after their Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 was severely damaged at the championship’s Brands Hatch season opener.
Although from some angles it appeared to have suffered mere cosmetic damage, the car has in fact required a full rebuild around a new shell and engine at Aston Martin Racing’s headquarters.
Indeed, the team and AMR have both worked tirelessly to help transform the badly-damaged Vantage from wreck to racer over the course of just six days in time for Rockingham’s two-hour event this weekend.
The accident ended what had been a hugely positive British GT debut for the team and starting driver Matty Graham, who was battling for second in class when he and GT3 driver Phil Dryburgh came together approaching Pilgrim’s Drop. Both drivers were fortunate to walk away from an airborne incident that also saw the Motorbase Performance Aston roll several times.
With the rebuild now complete, both Graham and Generation AMR Macmillan Racing are eager to again demonstrate the sort of pace that had them fighting for a podium on debut.
“Heading into round two at Rockingham, I’m feeling confident in myself and in the team,” said Graham. “We have a fast car that is capable of a good result, as we showed in the race at Brands Hatch before the incident, and I was really happy with how the pace was in the race.
“I’ve been to Rockingham twice in a single-seater before; I’ve never raced there but I’m looking forward to this weekend. I really want to get back out in the car and get the result that I think we deserve.
“If I hadn’t had that incident I would have been in a really strong position when I handed the car over to Jack [Mitchell]. We’d have been either in the lead or in second and if Jack had have had his chance in the car he would have also shown what we as a team are about.”
Team Principal David Macmillan is also looking forward to getting back down to business at Rockingham.
“These things happen in motor racing,” he said. “It’s just really unfortunate that it happened on our very first weekend. Looking at the positives, I suppose you could say that the season can only look up from here!”
“Both Matty and Jack showed great pace and maturity for two young drivers in their first GT race, especially given how intense the competition is in the GT4 class this year. It may have ended a little prematurely but we have all been enormously enthused by the performance of the team and drivers. Bring on Rockingham.”