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Britcar Production Champions!

The Final race of the season was arguably the most important one of the season for APO Sport, after a mammoth effort from the team to get the car ready in just a number of weeks after their nasty crash at the 24 hour race, APO needed to beat their nearest competitor in Class 2 to take the overall production title.

The finale at Brands Hatch Circuit in Kent was the Britcar 'Into the night' race where the cars would start in the light and finish up in the pitch black. Both Qualifying and the race took part on the same day and the morning qualifying was a case of doing just enough to be on the grid for the team, they qualified the car 3rd in class and elected to do the least laps possible and save the car for the race.

The Race started at 3:30pm and James May took the driving duties for the first stint of the race. After a some what hectic start at the front of the field they emerged as class leaders at the end of lap one with bit of help with some early contact up ahead and a good start off the line. This was never to change in the first hour and by the time APO came in to do their pit stop they had lapped all their nearest competitors twice. Also crashing out in the first hour was their title rival, effectively handing the title to the team whatever the outcome of the race.

However the team still wanted to finish the season on a high note and their lead only continued to grow whilst Alex Osborne was in full flow of his stint, increasing the gap to 2nd place by 3 laps without even pushing the car too hard. But with 15 minutes to go and the race seeming all but wrapped up the  the gearbox failed whilst behind the safety car , dissapointly it being the only part that had been outsourced to be built. Testament only to the team for strength of the car they had built. This eventually dropped the team to 5th in class and robbed them of what was an assured win.

Although dissapointed with the outcome of the race, the team celebrated their championship victory with a few well earned beers in the Brands Hatch Bar and contemplated what next season will bring.

It has been a fantastic season for the new endurance team and they have certainly raised a few eyebrows amongst the paddock.