Young guns Tom Bewley and William Exton showed front-running pace at the Nürburgring in their recent one-off appearance in the GT4 Germany Championship and learned enough to leave them wanting more.
Although Lady Luck conspired against them with an inconvenient Full Course Yellow, variable weather, and contact from another car, the dynamic duo showed their class with an eye-catching pace throughout practice, qualifying, and both races.
The main prize for their own outstanding campaigns in the 2023-2024 Toyota 86 Championship, the weekend’s race meeting at the iconic German track – along with all of the build-up – presented a golden opportunity to take their racing experience and driving skills to a new level.
“It was a fantastic ten days overall,” said Bewley. “It’s hard to explain how different literally everything was, from trying a world-class simulator at TGR Europe to working with a new team of engineers and even driving on a circuit that in the wet has a lot more lines and a lot more grip than any of the tracks we have here at home.
“But for me, those were the things that stand out during the week as highlights. I loved the car and the track and the racing was really close. There’s a lot to learn, of course, but I think the big thing for me was learning how to keep the tyres alive for as long as possible and managing them in a very competitive race.”
The racing left a lasting impression on both drivers and left them wanting more.
“It really was full on in the one-hour races,” added Exton. “I love practising and tuning the car, and of course, it went well for me in qualifying, getting a time that was only three-tenths of pole position. But when that meant eighth on the grid, you’ll get an idea of how competitive this championship is and how fierce GT4 is as a category.”
Bewley, too, reckons the two one-hour races were amongst the most competitive he’s ever competed in.
“Even watching Willie on Sunday when he did the first half hour, I enjoyed it as it was more like watching a sprint race than an enduro,” he said.
“That is what I’ll prepare for if I can do more GT racing. I loved that part of the experience; it’s what we want as drivers, and it was very exciting.”
The big weekend was a glimpse into the future for both young Kiwis, and they were left with no doubt they wanted more, especially as events outside of their control left them a few places shy of their goal of two top-ten results.
“Neither of us really know what the next opportunity will be, but it’s certainly something I want to do again. Working on the simulator, working with a new team and adjusting to their engineers, it’s all things I want to do again,” said Bewley.
Exton, too, is itching to get back behind the wheel of a GT car.
“It’s a great class. Fast, challenging and really competitive. An ideal next step for drivers like Tom and myself, really.”
