George Gamble described his first-ever victory in the British Touring Car Championship as ‘unbelievable’ after he claimed top honours in the reverse-grid race at Knockhill.
Gamble, like the other BMW drivers, was on form throughout the weekend, qualifying his Ciceley Motorsport 3-Series in sixth on Saturday to give him a strong start to the weekend.
In race one, the 26-year-old improved that to take fifth at the chequered flag. In race two, whilst trying to progress forwards, Gamble ended up back in ninth, before he was able to fight his way back past Dan Cammish and Stephen Jelley to earn seventh at the finish.
That gave Gamble the partially-reversed grid pole for race three, and from there he kept his composure to claim a lights-to-flag maiden win in the BTCC.
“Unbelievable! I’ve not raced for a couple of years, and it’s been such a journey to get back racing,” said Gamble. “I was so emotional on the in-lap, this is something I’ve dreamed of since I was 14 in Ginetta Juniors, to win a race in the BTCC.
“I just can’t thank everyone involved enough. The team, the sponsors, everyone that made this happen. I really wouldn’t be standing here without you.”
Gamble had to withstand strong pressure from Rory Butcher in the opening half of the race, before the Scot’s tyres faded and Gamble was able to extend a lead of over four seconds at the front.
“I think up to the last lap I was a bit cautious, I could feel the tyres going and the brakes and I didn’t want to make a silly error.
“But if you were to picture your first race win, that’s exactly how you’d want it and what a feeling, I can’t believe it. Unbelievable.
“We opened at Donington Park with a podium and just had a couple of rounds with bad luck, through no fault of anyone’s, but all day we’ve been strong.
“We’ve got two independent wins, a fifth and a seventh and then an overall win, Jack Sears and Independents’ in the last race so I’ve got three trophies and it’s unbelievable.”