Greystone GT ended the 2023 racing season on a high with a maiden podium finish in the International GT Open on a drama-filled weekend at Barcelona.
And with the British GT Championship also coming to a close at Donington Park, it was a busy conclusion to a season that has already featured a maiden title success in the McLaren Trophy for the team from Silverstone.
A successful test day at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was the precursor to a superb weekend performance by the Aberdeen-based father and son aboard the #66 Prosource McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.
From sixth on the Pro-Am grid on Sunday, Stewart drove a consistent and error-free opening section of the race to reach the mandatory driver changes in podium contention as the appearance of the safety car midway through his stint bunched the field together.
Son Lewis took full advantage to string together a series of scintillating laptimes (including the third quickest of the race outright) and pick off a number of rivals to climb to third place – less than two seconds from the class lead – with 10 minutes remaining.
The top three were covered by less than one second when the safety car reappeared moments later. It released the field for two final laps of racing action; during which Lewis held firm and finished third.
His and Stewart’s maiden Pro-Am podium was also the first for Greystone GT in the series and the best overall finish (in ninth place) for the team.
The duo were sixth in class Race One; Lewis having qualified fifth and run as high as second before contact just before the pitstop and Stewart then cementing a solid finishing spot.
British GT Championship
While Stewart and Lewis were treated to a baking-hot Barcelona, the reception was rather different for Mike Price, Callum Macleod and the #3 Mercedes-AMG as awful conditions at Donington Park as they prepared for their own season finale.
Despite this, both drivers showed extremely promising pace in a pair of wet practice sessions on Saturday; Callum setting the third-best time overall during the morning.
More rain before qualifying left the track in a treacherous state with more than half the field – including Mike – spinning during Q1 as most attempted the session on slick tyres in anticipation of a drying track.
From ninth on the Pro-Am grid, Mike settled into a good rhythm on a dry race day and was running inside the top 10 overall when contact sustained in a multi-car incident damaged the Mercedes-AMG just before half-distance and put it out.
Mark McLoughlin, Team Principal, said: “I’m so pleased to see Stewart and Lewis on the podium in Spain. Both drivers, plus the GT Open team – which has only been operating as a crew since earlier this year – have really got to grips with the challenge of an international series, gained speed as the season’s progressed and had the result they richly deserve. Donington threw everything at the British GT team, who – not for the first time this year - had to battle terrible weather. But Mike and Callum did a good job despite these difficulties and it was a shame the race ended like it did. I’m sure that if we return to both series in 2024, we’ll do so in even better shape.”
