A PROBLEM with the gearbox prevented Speedworks Motorsport’s car from racing in Sunday’s Avon Tyres British GT Championship second round.

The Northwich-based outfit’s Corvette Z06R did not even make the start line at Snetterton.

“It’s hugely disappointing,” said team boss Christian Dick.

“We could not fix the car at the circuit so had no alternative but to pull out.”

Driver pair Piers and Ron Johnson had qualified on the grid’s eighth row after the car had taken to the track in wet conditions for the first time on Saturday.

Ninth fastest overall in the first free practice session the duo, who tested the Corvette at the Norfolk circuit last month, piloted the 560bhp machine on a shower-hit surface later on.

Dick said: “We knew from the weather forecast that it might be wet.

“The car hadn’t run in the rain, so it put us on the back foot in terms of finding a set-up.”

The Corvette lapped the new 300 circuit configuration almost ten seconds slower as a result in the second free practice session.

Speedworks’ weekend ended prematurely with Johnson and Johnson occupying 16th place – 15th in the GT3 class – on the timesheets after Saturday’s half-hour qualifying period.

The series resumes for round four at Brands Hatch next month.