Jake Dennis: "My aim was to take pole or crash"

Despite a blistering pole lap, Jake Dennis’ celebration of winning the Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy for the Bathurst 12 Hour was short-lived. Hours after the number 62 R-Motorsport Aston Martin GT3 came across the finish line in a time of 2:02.4946, the Swiss team was taken out of the results for the Top 10 Shout-out due to a technical infringement. What remained was the memory of a spectacular lap.

“The Super Pole lap was sensational,” Jake Dennis described his phenomenal lap immediately after qualifying, still oblivious of the disqualification that was to follow.

“I saw Marciello do a strong lap. It looked quite difficult for the guys out there, so obviously a 2.02.9 isn’t the fastest we’ve seen today, I though the track was quite far off. I didn’t know the last five drivers’ lap times as I only saw the first five and didn’t want to know if anyone had beaten 2.02.9.

“We’ve been struggling to get the tyres to work properly, but I had a different warm-up procedure this time and I arrived at turn 1 and instantly had the grip. That gave me confidence throughout the rest of the lap.

“The balance was really strong, and the lap was pretty good in all fairness. There wasn’t too much left in it.

“When I crossed the line there was no emotion, I just didn’t know if it was enough or not, but the lap was spot-on.

“We’re very strong in sector 1 and 3 and to only be 0.5-tenths off in sector 2 was we knew we had a good chance and I didn’t leave anything left. My aim was to be either P1 or I crash. There was nothing left.

“I went balls out and did the lap and everything came together.”