Angus endurance star Sandy Mitchell clinched the British GT Championship title with a dominant drive in the Silverstone 500 season finale to scoop the biggest success of his motorsport career.
The Letham 20-year-old is the youngest Scot to win the title, and the second youngest ever in the championship’s history.
Mitchell and team-mate Rob Collard overturned a six-point deficit going into the final round to emerge as clear winners in their Barwell Motorsport-prepared Black Bull Lamborghini Huracan Evo GT.
And it came just a fortnight after the pairing won the Pro-Am class in the gruelling Spa 24-Hours.
“It’s my first championship series win overall, which is fantastic,” said Lamborghini Squadra Corse junior driver Mitchell, who started from pole position with former BTCC ace Collard on a packed 37-car grid featuring 2009 Formula One champion Jenson Button on his British GT debut.
WINNERS & CHAMPIONS!@BarwellMotorSpt's long wait is over: @SMitchellRacing and @CollardRob are 2020 GT3 champions!#BritishGT | #Silverstone500 pic.twitter.com/eNRQYDLwVJ
— 🇬🇧 #BritishGT 🏁 (@BritishGT) November 8, 2020
“We’ve won a few big races recently, Spa 24-Hours being the main one.
“But to be able to put it all together in a championship and come out as champions is a great feeling,” said the ex-Dundee High School pupil.
This is massive in my career development. The overall championship win is the standout thing on my CV.
2020 British GT champion Sandy Mitchell
“It’s the first time I’ve done it since karting, so British Champion in GT racing and karting is pretty cool.”
Packed Silverstone grid featured 2009 F1 champ Button
Collard started the race, but quick thinking by the Barwell team after an incident on the opening lap brought out the safety car and allowed the pairing to complete the first of their three compulsory pitstops with Mitchell taking the wheel.
The pair then controlled the race throughout to deliver the dominant victory.
Mitchell’s success maintains a remarkable Courier country grip on the British GT title.
He succeeds Fife-born Aston Martin racer and four-time series victor Jonny Adam as drivers’ champion, with the 36-year-old praising his young friend and rival’s triumph.
Yes!!! Congratulations to good friends @SMitchellRacing @CollardRob on winning the @BritishGT GT3 title. Amazing job this season and great team effort along with @BlackBullWhisky 🏆💪🏻 #BritishGT https://t.co/AdGIPl9yAQ
— Jonny Adam (@JonnyAdam) November 8, 2020
Mitchell, who paid special tribute to personal backers, Huntly-based Black Bull Whisky, said: “It was a fantastic race.
“I was looking forward to the weekend and felt I could do a really good job.
“It’s not every season you go into the last race with a really strong shot of winning the championship. So I tried to enjoy that feeling as well, and not worry too much about what would happen.
I’m glad I was in for the final stint because I’m a lot calmer than watching it on TV in the garage.
BRDC SuperStar scheme racer Sandy Mitchell
“The gap was nice and big at the end, which is exactly what we like at the end of a championship.
“It meant I could stay calm and enjoy the final few laps. I’m glad I was in the car, because I’m a lot calmer driving than watching it on TV in the garage.
“I’m absolutely delighted. Our Black Bull Scotch Whisky Lamborghini was on fire all weekend.
Title triumph ends wait for Barwell Motorsport
“We’ve had a fantastic season with Barwell. The team has come second on a few occasions in the championship, so to win it overall for them is fantastic.
“This is massive in my career development,” said Mitchell, whose win also clinched the British GT Silver Cup for the duo.
“The overall championship is obviously the standout thing on my CV. British GT champion in the Black Bull Lamborghini, with Barwell, sounds pretty good,” said Mitchell.
He has no time to rest on the Silverstone laurels, however, with a World Challenge Europe final at Paul Ricard circuit in France this weekend, where the duo remain in contention for the Pro-Am crown.
