Highs, Lows, and Unyielding Determination for Trice at Silverstone
Race Data
Location: Silverstone National 2.6km
Qualified: P9 56.486s
Race One: P12
Race Two: DNF
Race Three: P13
Silverstone, UK – Toby faced a challenging yet confidence-boosting weekend at Silverstone as part of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB. With a mix of wet weather conditions and unpredictable races, the weekend tested both driver and team, culminating in results that didn’t fully reflect the potential shown.
Heading into the weekend, Toby felt strong and optimistic. “The car felt incredible in free practice, and we were consistently in the top three on the timings. Everything was looking great, and we just needed to carry that momentum forward,” Toby commented.
However, qualifying didn’t go as planned, placing Toby in P9 on the grid for Race One. “I was really disappointed with qualifying,” he admitted. “In this championship, qualifying is absolutely key to a good weekend as Race One and Two are set based on the respective first and second fastest laps. I seem to have decent pace in qualifying but making small errors is really costing us. P9 was not ideal, but we shifted focus to moving forward in the races.”
Race One saw tricky conditions that forced strategic decisions. “We gambled on lower tyre pressures, hoping the track would be drier than it actually was,” explained Toby. “It just meant the tyres didn’t quite switch on in the wet, and we were sitting ducks. Frustrated and unable to make progress, we had to settle for P12.”
Race Two, however, started with promise. “The team and I worked on the setup overnight, and we came back with a wet setup that was just fantastic—thank you, Clean Racing! The car felt so hooked up and gave me the confidence to push forward,” Toby shared. With the car dialed in, Toby quickly moved up the order and was battling for P5. But a coming together with another car bent the rear suspension, forcing a DNF. “The DNF is not the result we wanted, but it gave us so much confidence that we’ve got things right in the wet.”
Race Three presented the most dynamic conditions of the weekend. With rain in the air and a drying track, it was a tough call on tyre choice. “We opted for wets as the weather looked like it was turning,” Toby said. “For the first part of the race, it was the optimal choice, and we moved up the field, picking off drivers. But as the track dried, the slick tyre drivers started gaining the advantage. It turned into a game of cat-and-mouse as some corners stayed wet, and others dried out. In the end, the rain didn’t come back in time, and the slick tyre prevailed, placing us further back than we would have liked.” Toby finished Race Three in P13 but highlighted the thrill of the battle.
Reflecting on the weekend, Toby said, “My confidence was really tested coming back to Silverstone, especially after the tough conditions last year. But I learned to look forward and concentrate on the positives. That approach allowed us to show great pace and learn valuable lessons.”
Toby also took the time to express his gratitude to the team and partners. “A massive thanks to the team at TestHim, LogixX Pharma, and our latest partners, Fenix Freight. We put on a superb show despite the challenges, but I feel responsible for not bringing home some silverware.”
Looking ahead, Toby’s focus is clear. “Next race weekend, the goal is to get qualifying right. The racing part comes naturally to me, but we need to nail qualifying to set ourselves up for success.”
With a renewed determination and lessons learned, Toby and his team look forward to the next round, eager to turn potential into podiums at Brands Hatch next month.
