Beechdean Motorsport Fights Through Changing Conditions to Double Podium at Oulton Park

This year’s Oulton Park British GT round arrived later than usual, moved from its traditional Easter weekend slot to the late May Bank Holiday — but while the calendar may have shifted, the competitive intensity remained as strong as ever.

The sun shone over the Cheshire circuit on Saturday, providing ideal conditions for free practice and qualifying. Andrew set an excellent lap to line up P2 in the Silver-AM class for Monday’s first race, while teammate Tom Wood once again demonstrated his speed by securing class pole for race two.

When race day arrived on Monday, the weather took a distinctly more "British" turn. Cooler temperatures greeted the teams for the morning’s opening contest. Unfortunately, contact at the first corner resulted in a puncture for Andrew, forcing an early pit stop. The Beechdean crew performed a rapid tyre change, allowing Andrew to rejoin the race. Tom took over the wheel and fought hard until the flag, ultimately bringing the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 home P2 in class after a determined recovery drive.

The afternoon’s second race brought even more classic British GT drama, as rain showers made tyre strategy critical. With Tom starting on class pole and P10 overall, the team faced a tricky decision: wets or slicks? With the track wet but conditions shifting lap by lap, many opted to switch off wets as the race progressed. Beechdean, however, chose to stay the course — a decision that would ultimately pay dividends.

Initially, slick-shod cars had the edge, but as heavier rain returned, the advantage swung back to those who had gambled on wets. The team’s strategic call proved the right one, and Andrew brought the car across the line to claim another P2 finish in class — securing a double podium from a weekend of changing fortunes.

Andrew Howard:"Oulton Park is always a challenge, especially with the weather this weekend, but I’m proud of how the team adapted. The first race was unfortunate with the early puncture, but we fought back. The second race really came down to tyre strategy. Another pair of trophies and more points in the bag!"

Tom Wood:"It was another weekend where adaptability was key. Qualifying was great, and it was nice to get another pole. Race one was unlucky, but we got everything we could out of it. In race two, conditions were really difficult, but the team made the right call and we kept pushing. Spa next — I can’t wait!"

Next up for Beechdean Motorsport is a true endurance test — the three-hour British GT round at Spa-Francorchamps. The team will be aiming to continue their strong form at one of the world’s most legendary circuits.