Ryan Hooker Joins Adam Sharpe Motorsport for the Britcar 24Hrs and Scores a GTR Podium
Ryan Hooker (Upminster) joined Adam Sharpe Motorsport this weekend to take part in the Britcar 24Hr race at Silverstone. The team of four drivers where at the wheel of the mighty Ford Falcon in the GTR class for the event, which is in its second year and is establishing itself as the endurance race of the UK.
The weekend got off to a flying start for the ASM team with strong performances in day and night qualifying to see them third on a grid of over fifty cars.
For the first quarter of the race the Falcon stayed comfortably towards the head of the overall race with slight yo-yo moments as traffic, refuelling and driver changes shuffled the timing sheets.
Ryan was the fourth driver in the Falcon and took the wheel after 11pm for a double stint. "It was great to have a long stint in the dark" said Ryan, "a great experience but it was very difficult to stretch the cars legs as there just seemed to be traffic galore! I'd come across gaggles of cars and could rarely get a clear lap, it was quite mad!"
Ryan's double stint came to an end just after 2am when he handed over to Adam Sharpe. Ryan took a few hours break and after forty winks woke to find the circuit shrouded in fog. Due to fog the race was run for over three hours under safety car conditions.
Back in the pit garage and refreshed for his next stint, due to be another double, Ryan caught up with the news which sadly wasn't too good with his team-mates reporting the car's differential was getting increasingly noisy throughout the early hours.
The team battled on and Ryan was strapped back in just passed 10am. "The noise was increasing" said Ryan, "and as I entered the Luffield complex it was becoming critical so I brought the car in and the team changed the clutch."
After the clutch change Ryan rejoined the race at 11:35am, having lost many laps but still 3rd in the GTR class. "I went out and as I competed one lap the noise was deafening and I had to bring the car straight back in. We were going to have to face the differential!" said Ryan. The ASM team put on another impressive display of quick workmanship and a new differential was fitted and Ryan was back on track.
"The immediate difference was immense, a new car!" he reported back. "So I was able to get in the swing and finish my stint."
The remainder of the afternoon went relatively smoothly with the Falcon retaining its 3rd place in class to the chequered flag to take a well deserved podium spot.
"It was an eventful weekend" commented Ryan, "and very enjoyable. Put me down for next year!"
Now Ryan's focus turns back to the British GTC Championship, in which he lies second in the Championship as the series approaches its final race on Saturday on 23-24 September at Silverstone. "I will certainly be giving it my all to get the title" says Ryan who is backed in the series by Essex company Firesure Ltd, "and it is sure to be a thrilling end to what has been a very eventful season for me."
For the first quarter of the race the Falcon stayed comfortably towards the head of the overall race with slight yo-yo moments as traffic, refuelling and driver changes shuffled the timing sheets. 
The team battled on and Ryan was strapped back in just passed 10am. "The noise was increasing" said Ryan, "and as I entered the Luffield complex it was becoming critical so I brought the car in and the team changed the clutch."