Steven Kane was one of the undoubted stars of the second round of the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone last weekend. Living in Northampton just 10-miles away from the track, Kane was truly on home ground.
In the closing stages the Northern Irishman was in 6th position but soon hunted down the battle 4th and in a thrilling finale to the race he dispatched both of them during one of the most memorable final laps in the history of the Blancpain Endurance Series.
We caught up with Steven after the race and he gave us a cockpit view of what transpired in his JRM Racing Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.
“It was quite good actually because all our stint strategies were really connected, and we looked after the tyres nicely. All of our stints were really good so we could do quick laps at the end of the race, 2m3s, easy. Peter (Dumbreck) and Lucas (Luhr) did great jobs earlier in the race and when I took over we had a nice balance and I was able to attack.”
“The driver in the Kessel Ferrari (Zampieri) was obviously struggling, and I could see it because there was quite a big gap and then I brought it down very quickly in the closing stages.
“With three laps to go, I could see both the Ferrari and the (Marc VDS) BMW ahead and I was told to ‘go for it’ on the radio by the team. So I just pushed really hard and all of a sudden I was behind them. I had good pace, I made no mistakes, and when I arrived behind them I think they just started to panic a little.
“Then, the BMW forged its way through at Club corner and I just stayed behind him and went through as well. So I then tried to pass (Markus) Palttala too but he pushed and squeezed me against the (new pits) pit-wall a little. It was not that bad, he was just unhappy to see me on his tail I reckon, which is fair enough. So I sat behind him and passed him at Brooklands after a mega exit from Aintree corner on to the Wellington Straight. I got him in to Brooklands which was pretty nice to do it in front of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) of which I am a member! I know that corner really well from my Touring Car days and you can take so much speed in there. I knew that it is a corner where I could pass him. I went on the inside, he went right, I touched him a little but it was good and clean.”
“I was aware it was the last lap so it was a ‘now or never move’. I knew it was my last chance to do it. The JRM team was really happy afterwards. From where we were, I think it was a pretty good job, and doing that in the last lap, I guess everyone was happy. The team and the fans too! It was exciting and in keeping with this great series, which I am really enjoying with the JRM Racing Nissan at the moment.
“And I was able to get home in 10-minutes too to see my baby daughter Holly! Happy days!”