The Norfolk-based team, competing at its “home” Snetterton circuit, accumulated five podiums including three wins, two “pole” starts and three fastest race laps in the opening three races of the season, earning Elite an early lead in the Teams Championship.
2018 Ginetta Junior champion Adam Smalley was in exceptional form throughout the weekend. Having recorded just five-laps in qualifying, comfortably claiming pole-position on his fourth lap by a very impressive 0.415secs – a perfect 50th birthday present for Adam’s father, Darren – Smalley went on to totally dominate the opening race on Saturday evening, setting the race’s fastest lap to underline his authority.
Sunday morning’s 12-lap Race 2 was a carbon copy, a pole-start and lights to flag victory with Elite team-mate Josh Rattican claiming the fastest race lap. Josh, who netted fifth-place in Race 1 with a last lap overtake, claimed an impressive third-place in Race 2. In the final Race 3, SuperCup newcomer Rattican made a poor start from the front row, allowing second row starters Tom Hibbert and Smalley to get ahead at Turn 1 with Emson, fifth and third in the previous races, also leapfrogging the luckless Rattican who had found himself bogged down at the green light.
Having closely shadowed Hibbert, Smalley cleanly seized the lead at Turn 1 on the sixth lap but then suffered multiple hits from the pursuing Hibbert, the final one resulting in right rear suspension damage to Adam’s car and instant retirement. Rattican benefitted from the collision by snatching the lead in the chaos, Josh going on to score his maiden victory while also setting the fastest lap. Emson challenged Hibbert for second-place but a mistake late in the race meant he had to be content with third.
Rattican, Smalley – who was named Millers Oils Star of the Weekend – and Emson start the next round of the GT4 SuperCup at Brands Hatch (26-27 Jun) placed second, third and fourth respectively in the Pro Driver standings.
Eddie Ives, Team Owner & Manager:
“It was a fantastic weekend for us, winning all three races along with three fastest race laps, giving Elite and our drivers a great start to the championship. Adam [Smalley] did a really good job all weekend, winning the first two races and leading the third. Unfortunately, Adam’s car was hit multiple times which ultimately caused a DNF. Josh [Rattican] was really strong too.
“He didn’t get his new tyre run in as planned in Friday’s practice which meant quali on Saturday morning was his first run on new tyres around Snett. But in all three races his lap times improved, grabbing a podium in Race 2 and winning Race 3. A very impressive SuperCup début weekend. Tom was mighty in Friday’s practice, struggled a little in quali, but got better in each race. Now it’s a case of continuing our momentum into Brands Hatch.”
