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Harper and Leung Celebrate Silverstone 500 Victory

Dan Harper and Darren Leung have solidified their status as two-time Silverstone 500 champions after emerging victorious in the thrilling three-hour race that marked the beginning of the 2025 British GT season.

The drivers of the Paradine BMW now join Sandy Mitchell, the only other racer to claim the title twice, having previously won in their title-winning 2023 season.

In a nail-biting finish, Harper and Leung crossed the line just half a second ahead of the #42 2 Seas Mercedes driven by Kiern Jewiss and Charles Dawson, while the podium was rounded out by the #77 Optimum McLaren, piloted by Marvin Kirchhofer and Morgan Tillbrook.

With a history of unpredictable outcomes, the Silverstone 500 has always been a race shaped by strategy rather than just raw speed. Jonny Adam, qualifying third for Blackthorn Aston Martin with co-driver Giacomo Petrobelli, remarked, “It isn’t going to be a green [flag] race for three hours.”

The qualifying rounds saw Kirchhofer secure pole position in the #77 McLaren with a record time of 1m56.569s, while the #18 2 Seas Mercedes filled the second spot on the grid.

In terms of raw speed, the ultimate race winners didn’t start in the lead pack; the Paradine BMW qualified fifth, behind the #42 Mercedes in seventh, which carried an additional weight penalty for its impressive performance at Donington Park.

Challenges at Silverstone: Strategy Over Speed

Photo by: JEP

In this event, race strategy proved decisive. The 2025 edition highlighted how tactical decisions overshadowed top speeds. The race dynamics shifted dramatically with a full-course yellow flag at the 41-minute mark when Mike Price spun off in his #3 Optimum McLaren, impacting the standings significantly.

As many teams pitted for driver changes during the yellow flag, teams like Paradine utilized this strategy to their advantage, executing multiple pit stops during the caution period. Leung noted, “From the beginning, we were just on the lookout for driver reset strategies that got us off sync versus other people.”

By the time the race restarted, Paradine and Barwell Lamborghini were mixed in the midfield, while Kirchhofer and Hugo Cook led the pack.

Subsequent race incidents only added complexity to the strategies. A collision involving a Ferrari at Club triggered another safety car, further complicating the driving rotations. Notably, despite the shifts in the race’s pace, it was the Paradine team that emerged with a commanding presence.

Strategic Wins Amidst Cautions

Photo by: JEP

Following the restart, Leung skillfully maneuvered his vehicle into second place as the laps dwindled. As the race continued, various penalties further altered the competitive landscape, indicating how sensitive the race was to strategic planning.

With several teams facing setbacks, including both Barwell Lamborghinis, Paradine maintained focus and resilience. Despite facing a minor penalty, they managed to keep the #42 Mercedes at bay, eventually securing their victory with a narrow margin.

Harper expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We made a great call on strategy. It was a bit of a gamble, but we knew that we weren’t going to win the race just on pace.” However, the 2 Seas pairing still leads the championship by 30 points with their consistent performance throughout the season.

Kirchhofer and Tillbrook took home a commendable podium finish, marking a solid start to their season as they aim for the title.

Century Motorsport Triumphs in GT4

Robertson and Ramyead Claim GT4 Title

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In the British GT4 race, Century Motorsport drivers Charlie Robertson and Ravi Ramyead also celebrated victory, following misfortune for the Mahiki Lotus team, which crashed while leading the race.

The Lotus Emira, driven by Josh Miller and Aiden Neate, faced catastrophic issues late in the race due to a wheel stud failure, giving the lead to Robertson and Ramyead, who capitalized on the incident without looking back.

Robertson expressed elation at their win, noting, “Silverstone 500 winners, that was the aim coming into this weekend, and we did it, so absolutely buzzing.”

Mahiki proved strong in qualifying but faced strategic challenges in the race, leading to their downfall. Their effort showcased strong potential, but the unexpected events on race day reshaped the outcome.

Century Continues to Shine

Photo by: JEP

With this performance, Century Motorsport now leads the championship, tied on points with the #90 Optimum McLaren crew. As the season progresses, the competitive dynamics promise an exhilarating battle for the top positions.

As Silverstone winds down, both the GT3 and GT4 races highlight the ever-changing nature of motorsport, where strategy can often determine the ultimate victor.

Source
www.autosport.com