Channel Islander Jack Butel and English teammate Dominic Paul endured a tough weekend in the UK LMP3 Cup with the British pairing retiring from both of the one-hour races despite flashes of front-running pace throughout the weekend.
After Snetterton silverware last time out, hopes were high in the Speedworks camp of a first win in 2018 with Jack Butel and Dominic Paul hungry for success at Donington Park – the scene of Butel’s first sports car win a year ago.
The Ligier LMP3 pairing got off to a fantastic start on the Saturday with an electric run in qualifying to put them right in the mix at the front. Paul started and broke into the lead – a position he would hold until the mandatory pit stops. Butel took over the sports prototype and set about a rostrum position before an uncharacteristic spin in the wet conditions in the closing stages put the Speedworks team out of the race.
The second day was sadly not going to provide any reward for Butel or Paul either. Dominic once again started and was once again vying for victory. Unfortunately Paul also made a rare mistake as Butel’s teammate locked up on the way into the pitlane and slid into the barrier, forcing the team into retirement.
“It just wasn’t our weekend,” explained Butel. “Sometimes everything clicks and works for you but at Donington we just didn’t have the luck. I am gutted I made a mistake in the first race and I know Dominic is disappointed with his in the second race. That’s racing and when you are fighting for positions, mistakes can be made. We have to pick ourselves up and look ahead to the series finale at Silverstone where we will be giving everything to claim that first win together.”
The final two rounds of the UK LMP3 Cup will be on the 13-14 October with Butel and Paul teaming up for the final time this season to take on the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.
Source. Jack Butel
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