Tag Archive for 'FIA GT3'
GT3 Report: A late change in Tim Sugden’s plans meant that Trackspeed were after another quick driver to pair alongside the team owner David Ashburn, so a few days before the FIA GT event in Oschersleben Sean got a call from team manager Riki to ask if he could drive the GT2 and GT3 car. Prospeed having already signed the young Brit for GT2 meant only GT3 would be possible.
“It was a last minute call and it did mean a busy schedule between two teams, but I was up for it.” Sean explained… “We had some technical issued in both practice sessions, which was unfortunate as this put us on the back foot regarding the setup for qualifying. So David had to enter it blind, with a setup based on Adria and qualified in a very respectable 22nd place. We made a few modifications to the car in between the sessions and I just went for it, matching the pole position time in sector one and two, but as I exited the last corner I saw the red flags, a Viper had crashed heavily and this meant my lap was over! I went out afterwards, but the tyres had gone past their best and I could only manage 9th.”
“I received a call on Thursday afternoon from my manager Phil Hindley, to drive with Oliver Morley in the Muhlner Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S in the first two rounds of the FIA European GT3 championship” Sean recalled.
Last minute situations are never perfect, let alone, having never driven a 997 GT3 Cup ‘S’, but Sean relished the challenge to return to the series, that he won in 2006.
A last minute call to Sean Edwards has put him in the Porsche 997 Cup S seat alongside Oliver Morley for this weekend’s two FIA GT3 races at his home track of Silverstone.
“I got the call today from my manager Phil Hindley to see if I was available and although very last minute I am looking forward to working with the team and Oliver for the first time. The last time I raced GT3 was back in 2006 and we won, so I expect to pick up where I left off and do a good job this weekend as I am sure the Porsche is more competitive now then it was back then. The weather looks suspect for this weekend too and these cars are superb to drive in the wet and I know the track very well, which brought me victory last year in the British GP Porsche Supercup race!” commented Sean.
Sean Edwards was asked if he could come and help with the commentary for the FIA GT3 championship, which he won last year. He accepted and tried his hand at commentating on the first race of the 2007 FIA GT3 Championship and the feedback from the fans and TV directors was so good that he has been asked to do it for the whole season.
“I really enjoyed it, it was a different experience to watch and commentate on a race from behind the scenes and really interesting to see how it all works. It looks easy from the outside, but I can tell you that it is a very hard job for them, especially when going out live to thousands of people!” said Sean. “I will be helping them out for the rest of the year now, with what little time I can spare during the FIA GT weekends.”
Sean Edwards has made history in being the first ever FIA GT3 European Champion, with his two victories at Mugello securing it for him. He also won the Porsche class Championship and helped Tech 9 Motorsport to clinch the Constructors Championship! He is one of the youngest International Champions ever and his future is looking bright. He said “I cannot believe I have just won the FIA GT3 Championship! It’s such an amazing feeling and I don’t think it will fully sink in for a good few weeks yet.”
He secured the championship on his own, because he had two co drivers during the season. This was because Dimitris Deverikos had financial troubles in the later part of the season and was replaced by Phil Keen. Edwards said “It was a real shame to loose Dimitris, because we worked very well together and he got three second places with me, but Phil stepped in and did a great job, clinching three victories and helping me to the championships” Continue reading…