Esmee Hawkey ended the Porsche Carrera Cup GB season on a high note as she secured her 12th Pro-Am podium of the season in front of friends, family, and sponsors at her local circuit of Brands Hatch.

Coming into the weekend knowing it would be a tall order to claim the class title, the 21-year old planned to relax and try to end what has been a successful campaign on a positive note.

With qualifying disrupted by red flags on Saturday, Esmee found it tough to set a representative lap time in the second half of the session and was disappointed to start fifth in the Pro-Am class.

Track conditions were difficult on Sunday morning for the first of two 17-lap races, with cool ambient conditions keeping the circuit damp and slippery. However, Esmee kept on top of things and managed to pass some rivals from different classes, ensuring she would start the second race right behind the rest of the Pro-Am drivers, giving herself a chance of success.

Under Autumn sunshine later that afternoon, she got a good start and quickly made her way on the back of the podium places. Hassling Sam Brabham ahead, she forced him into an error, taking over second place, which she would hold until the flag.

The Chislehurst native finishes the season third in the Pro-Am class after an impressive season where she scored points in 15 of the 16 races – an unlucky DNF at Silverstone when taken off by a driver in a different class the only blemish on her record.

Esmee will now take some time to consider options for the 2020 season after a busy year in which she raced in both the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and the inaugural W Series campaign. Announcements on her future plans will be made at a later date.

Speaking after the weekends racing, Hawkey said: “It was a great way to end my year, bringing home some silverware so I’m happy with that. It wasn’t the perfect weekend I had hoped for, like at Thruxton, but it all started in qualifying really.

“We didn’t get the best lap in on the first set of tyres. I had traffic and because it was greasy you could only get one lap on them. We were quick on the second set but there were so many red flags we didn’t get the time we needed or deserved.

“I love Brands Hatch; I always have and always will – it’s my home away from home. I love going there and I’ve always done well, so I was expecting to move forward in race one but the conditions were tricky as it wasn’t wet or dry. It was greasy and the wet tyres were getting too hot and falling off, but I managed to gain a few places and start behind the rest of the Pro-Ams for race two.

“It dried out by then, so we finally had slicks and a nice track to drive on! I knew I would be quick, so I went gung-ho and picked off as many Pro-Am rivals as possible. I had a good battle with Brabham and sold him a dummy which caused him to make a mistake and I got that place.

“To go from having a poor weekend after qualifying, to getting second place after starting fifth in class, I am really happy with, and it is great to end the season on a high.”

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