Aston Martin Racing team has made history as they sealed the 2018 British GT Championship title at Donington Park. It was a historic day, as the Flick Haigh became the first women to win a British GT Championship. She was accompanied by Optimum Motorsport team-mate Adam. Both were driving the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
Haigh has been making headlines since her debut. She won the season-opener at Oulton Park in April and then another at Brands Hatch in August 2018.
Haigh and Adam came to the 2018 British GT Championship with a 27.5-point lead. They had to secure at least sixth position to become champions. The team was good enough to achieve the fourth spot in the race. A win at the 2018 British GT Championship also made Adam the most successful driver in the series’ history. This was his third title and an overall 14th win in 80 domestic races. The Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 is lucky for Adam as the 34-year old Scot driver won all three races driving this sports car.
Aston Martin Racing partner team TF Sport also sealed Team’s Championship trophy with the second position driving the admired V12 Vantage GT3.
Haigh remarked: “I had never driven an Aston Martin until the start of this year, but Jonny is incredible and he knows the car inside out. He’s helped the team and myself learn the car which was really important, and his work with me in the simulator really brought my driving on. To win when the car is seven years old and being replaced next year is fantastic, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of that story. The thought that a woman had never won the championship hadn’t even crossed my mind because I have come up through the levels of motorsport and have always seen women around. It wasn’t until Oulton Park that I realized there aren’t as many as I thought at this level. I feel as though I have been embraced by the public and the paddock and that I am respected as a driver. That gives me a lot of confidence, and I hope it inspires anyone considering getting into motorsport because the community really does open arms to women and men. This feels like the start of a journey. I started racing 11 years ago and I always wanted to make something of it, this year has just proved to me that I am with a really good brand and I’m excited about the future.”
Adam stated: “Flick has done a great job this year. Optimum was a new team to Aston Martin at the beginning of the year, but they believe massively in the brand. To see Flick put in so much effort behind the scenes off-track, and with the level at the front being quite high now, to have achieved this is great. It was a weird last lap because obviously, it was potentially my last lap in this car so that was a nice feeling passing the chequered flag knowing we had won the championship with it. I’m very proud to be the most successful driver in the history of the championship and to have done it all with Aston Martin only makes it all the more special”
Aston Martin Racing President David King said: “This is a tremendous result for Flick Haigh, Jonny Adam, and Optimum Motorsport. In their first year with the brand, Flick and Optimum have delivered all we could have hoped for, and proved along with all our other customers just how competitive the old V12 Vantage GT3 still is in its seventh and final year of competition. There is not much more to say about Jonny that we didn’t already know, but a third title is no less than he deserves. As for the ‘Old Lady’, we shall miss her, and it is a testament to the durability and competitiveness of the car that in its final race it finished first on the road, clinched two championships and won six out of nine races this season. The new Vantage GT3 and GT4s have a great deal to live up to.”