British-Kiwi rising star Emily Cotty achieved an impressive top-ten result on her Michelin Le Mans Cup debut, as well as showing brilliant speed in European Le Mans’ post-season testing at Portimão.
After two seasons in Formula 4, Emily Cotty joined Bretton Racing for her first-ever race in Michelin Le Mans Cup’s LMP3 class at Portimão on the European Le Mans Series support bill.
Competing alongside Bruno Ribeiro in the main LMP3 class, Emily took to the track for Wednesday’s tests and Thursday’s practice sessions to prepare the car for Saturday’s two-hour endurance.
In her first outings with the car, Emily showed quick pace from the get-go, lapping consistently close to her more experienced teammate and competitively around the rest of the field.
After a difficult qualifying session, their #26 Bretton Racing Ligier gradually climbed the order and into the top seven as the pit cycles began, during which Emily took over driving duties.
When she got in the car, she inherited three drive-through penalties from earlier in the race, which dropped her down the order, but while cars around her also received penalties, Emily began clawing back lost time and positions. A fast, consistent final stint by the British-Kiwi earned her a 10th-place finish and the team’s first points of the season.
After that, Emily took part in Sunday’s European Le Mans Series rookie tests with fellow LMP3 team Forestier Racing by VPS, founded by endurance racing specialists Matthieu Vaxiviere and Aurelien Panis.
In her first outing with the team, Emily set the fourth-fastest time in the morning session, the fastest proper rookie, and a strong ninth-best time overall across the two sessions.
Team Manager for Bretton, Michaela Dorcikova commented, “Emily has proven much more than speed this weekend. She is a professional, talented, and hard-working driver who became a true team player in such a short time, qualities essential in the endurance world.
“Many aspects of this weekend were new for her, but she overcame every challenge and fought until the chequered flag. That brought her, but also our car 26, the first point in the championship. Fully deserved for her impeccable performance, and I am just glad that Bretton Racing could be a part of her journey.”
Header Image: Supplied
