Bartholomew Continues Run of Form with another Double Podium at Oulton Park

Jack Bartholomew added to his tally of podiums this weekend at Oulton Park with yet another double podium, pole position and fastest lap just one week after achieving the same at Silverstone.

Qualifying was wet and Jack was lying in P6 when he elected to pit for new tyres with only 5 minutes of the session remaining, a quick turn around by his team got him back out with 4 minutes remaining and enough time for only two flying laps. Knowing that he had to make this count Bartholomew snatched pole on his first flying lap by 0.235 seconds over the #54 car.

For race one the track was now dry and as the lights went out Bartholomew got a fantastic start to lead into turn one and by lap 6 had created a healthy lead of just over 1 second, as the laps counted down Bartholomew’s tyres had started to go off and he was now suffering with understeer, with the #54 closing in, on lap 11 he dived up the inside of the last corner snatching the lead from Bartholomew. Struggling with the front-end grip Bartholomew tried everything to retake the lead but had to settle for second place at the line and achieving fastest lap of the race.

Race two was again dry but with rain threatening, Bartholomew lined up second on the grid and as the lights went out Bartholomew again got a blistering start and drew level with the #54 car hanging on around the outside into turn one, by turn two Bartholomew had snatched the lead but was under immense pressure from second place. As they approached turn 12 on lap two Bartholomew hit some coolant left on the track by a damaged car on the previous lap and went wide giving the lead to the #54 car. With time now lost to the leader Bartholomew set about catching back up whilst also fending off an attack from the now closer car in third place, unfortunately the time lost on his turn 12 excursion was too great to make up and he had to settle for P2.

Jack Bartholomew

“Overall, I’m happy with the results of the weekend, during the week we have been analysing the data from our starts as we have been struggling up to now and we found a small issue which is now rectified as proved from my two starts this weekend. I’m disappointed to have lost the lead but we got a great haul of points again and showed our pace with another pole in qualifying and a fastest race lap”.

The next round of the Championship is at Thruxton on August 28 & 29 supporting the British Touring Car Championship but before that Jack will be driving at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 8-11 taking the Lamborghini up the famous hill.