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RAM Motorsport back on-track following testing incident
An incident during pre-event testing at Sydney Motorsport Park threatened to derail RAM Motorsport’s LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour campaign, but it will compete this weekend in a new Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Completing a final test day prior to this weekend’s event, the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 hit the wall and the damage was deemed to be too severe to be repaired in time.
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However, with the team scrambling to find a solution a 2020-specification Mercedes was sourced meaning the RAM Motorsport will make its GT racing debut at the Mountain.
Michael Sheargold will share the entry this weekend with regular co-driver Garth Walden and leading GT Trophy competitor Brett Hobson, with the Sydney businessman explaining the frantic last few days.
“During the test day, I was becoming more confident with the car and to be honest, I just pushed a fraction too hard and it caught me out,” Sheargold said.
“It oversteered at Turn 6 and once I hit the grass, there was no chance of stopping it before it hit the wall. Unfortunately, there were no tyres in that section of the track and it just went straight into the concrete, so the chassis bore the brunt of the impact.
“I was kicking myself afterwards, but since then I’ve gone away and analysed what went wrong, to ensure it doesn’t happen in the future. Crashing is never a good feeling, but I will learn from the mistake.”
He also took a moment to thank the Australian motorsport community for aiding in the team’s hour of need.
“When you have an incident like that, you realise just how strong the camaraderie is in the motorsport fraternity,” Sheargold said.
“Organisations such as HWA in Germany and Triple Eight here in Australia were able to assist us with acquiring the car from its previous owners, but I’ve also had phone calls from other teams and drivers offering to lend us a hand.
“Occasions like these really do demonstrate that while we might be fierce rivals on the track, we’ll all do everything we can to help one another off the track.”
Preparations are continuing at GWR Australia ahead of on-track action taking place on Friday for the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour where it will contest Class A Am.
“I need to say a huge thanks to Garth and the GWR squad,” Sheargold concluded.
“They are working absolutely tirelessly to set the new car up for the Mountain and wrap it in the RAM Motorsport colours. It’s a massive effort, but it will all be worthwhile once we hit the track.”
The upcoming LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour opens up the endurance portion of this year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS season and also forms a part of the globally acknowledged Intercontinental GT Challenge.