For the first time since his Formula 2 days, Jack Aitken wins a race at Zandvoort: Why success was overdue and Emil Frey was still shaking at the end
Jack Aitken has now also successfully arrived in GT3 racing: The Briton won the second race of the 2022 ADAC GT Masters at Zandvoort together with his teammate at Emil-Frey-Lamborghini, Albert Costa.
For Aitken, it was his first success since 8 September 2019, when the Briton in the employ of Campos Racing won the Formula 2 sprint race in Monza. He has been competing in GT3 racing for the Emil Frey squad since last year. “It feels like the win was long overdue”,
The Brit continued, “I have a really experienced and fast teammate, and the team is doing a mega job. We’ve had a few opportunities before that we haven’t been able to take advantage of for various reasons.” Indeed, there could have been more in it this year for Aitken and Costa in the top-flight 63 Lamborghini.
Jack Aitken and Emil Frey shine on Sunday
It was Aitken himself who slipped up on the opening lap at Oschersleben, laying the foundation for a messed-up race. In Spielberg on Saturday, he triggered a chain reaction of mistakes with his “false start” at the pit stop, which earned the 19 a penalty lap.
But all those fatal errors now seem to have been put to rest. Aitken shone in qualifying at Zandvoort on Sunday, securing pole position. In the race, he left no stone unturned and controlled the action from the start.
“I had the opportunity to control my pace because I opened up a gap on the 33 quite early on. After that I just avoided all the obstacles,” explained Aitken. Finally, it was a case of being gentle with the tyres. “It’s a bit crazy that we have to drive like that. But I was super careful,” he says.
Lambo win at Zandvoort Saturday a morale boost
Netheless, Aitken was shaking again at the end. “In the last five laps, four or five cars had punctures. It was a very sensitive situation.” After all, tyres blew on several cars, including Maximilian Paul’s T3 Lamborghini. But Aitken had faith in his team: “I wanted to let the engineers do their job. “
First pole in GT, first victory in GT, BOOM!
The car was on it, as was @ACostaBalboa we didn’t risk the tyres with punctures happening everywhere and outpaced the field. Perfect day. And we’re up to P4 in the championship, it’s game on again pic.twitter.com/nKeWxaGerX
– Jack Aitken – 한세용 (@JaitkenRacer) June 26, 2022
“Albert said he manages everything and doesn’t risk anything. That’s what I wanted to hear. That’s why I left them alone.” And so it turned out to be a one-two for Emil Frey Racing: on Saturday, Mick Wishofer/Konsta Lappalainen won in the
