British GT
Lucky Numbers

By Lindsay Morle
Oct 13, 2005, 09:51

The number thirteen is often considered unlucky but that’s clearly not the case for Nathan Kinch and Andrew Kirkaldy. The Scottish pair took pole position in every single one of the British GT events in 2005, that’s 13 out of 13!

The first two events of the season were long-distance, single-headers at Donington Park and Magny Cours and Andrew Kirkaldy was on qualifying duty for both races. Once the season moved on to its regular double-header race weekends Nathan Kinch had to deliver to keep the perfect results rolling in and this he did in style, taking pole position at Knockhill, Thruxton, Castle Combe, Mondello Park and Silverstone.

The only man who looked able to stop the Scots was Tim Mullen in the sister Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari. Although he was ultimately beaten by Kirkaldy and Kinch in qualifying, Mullen showed his mettle in the races and his tally of six fastest race laps is the top score for 2005.

Kinch and Kirkaldy had won the Championship by the time they arrived at Silverstone for the final two rounds of 2005 but were very keen to keep their perfect run of results in qualifying.

“I was delighted when Nathan took pole for round 12 at Silverstone,” said Kirkaldy. “Then I realised it was down to me not to mess up in the very last session; I didn’t feel nervous as such but slightly apprehensive, yes! As usual though the car was great and I was able to take that last pole of the season. We didn’t start the year saying ‘we’ll get every pole’ but once you’ve got a few you don’t want to break the chain so it felt great to get all 13!”

BRITISH GT STATISTICS 2005:
Victories –
Nathan Kinch 11
Andrew Kirkaldy 11
Ben Collins 2
Neil Cunningham 2

Pole Positions –
Andrew Kirkaldy 8
Nathan Kinch 5

Fastest Laps –
Tim Mullen 6
Andrew Kirkaldy 5
Nathan Kinch 2
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