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Tim Slade samples GT Trophy winner’s ride
Team Blanchard Racing’s Tim Slade stepped back into a GT car for the first time in nearly two years this week when he tested Brad Schumacher’s Audi R8 GT3 LMS at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Slade’s success in GT machinery is underrated having finished second in the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour in an Erebus Motorsport Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, while international success came at Laguna Seca where he took victory in the Intercontinental GT Challenge round there in 2019 driving the HubAuto Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3.
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Experience in an Audi is limited for Slade and the opportunity to complete a day in Schumacher’s example was one not to pass up.
“I’d driven Brad’s previous Audi and that was the first time for me driving an Audi, but yesterday I drove his new one,” Slade said.
“It was definitely different to any GT car that I have driven. I’ve heard a lot of things about the balance of the Audi and it all made sense after driving it.
It’s always good to drive a GT car around a fast, flowing track to make the most of the aero that the R8 has got.
Slade praised Schumacher’s performance after coaching the reigning GT Trophy winner throughout the day.
“It was a good day,” Slade summarised.
“Brad did a good job and hadn’t done a dry test in that car before, though he did dry laps at Bathurst.
“He’s really good. He doesn’t have a lot of experience racing, but he’s very teachable with the limited time we’ve worked together I can tell him what he needs to do to go faster, which more often than not he can achieve that.
“It’s rewarding to work with him, because he’ll do what you ask him to do.”
Although Schumacher hasn’t confirmed his plans, Slade signalled his interest in racing alongside the Bathurst businessman as upgrades to the Audi will need to be made to enable it to race in GT Championship.
“I’ve tried to drive as much as possible because that’s what I love to do and the GT cars are awesome,” Slade acknowledged.
“I really enjoy driving those and something I want to do as much as possible outside of my Supercars commitments.”
Wall Racing was also in attendance with the Adrian Deitz-owned Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and Vince Muriti was also there driving his Mercedes-AMG GT3.