11/08/26

REVIE: Part Two

Revie Lake's first season in British GT has been anything but straightforward. At just 16 years old, the former Ginetta Junior racer has been thrown into GT4 competition in a McLaren Artura alongside Blake Angliss, facing established drivers and some of Britain's most demanding circuits.

From Pit-Lane Starts to Spa-Francorchamps

There have been crashes, technical problems and team changes, but there have also been moments that suggest the teenager has the raw pace to become a serious contender.

A difficult opening at Silverstone

Lake's British GT debut came at Silverstone in the three-hour Silverstone 500. It was not the start he would have wanted.

The #84 McLaren's race ended prematurely after an accident, leaving Lake and Angliss without points from the opening event. For a young driver making his first appearance in GT racing, it was a harsh introduction to the championship, but the next round would tell a very different story.

Oulton Park: starting from the pit lane

Oulton Park produced perhaps the clearest early indication of Lake's potential. The weekend had already gone wrong before the racing began. Lake damaged the original McLaren during a test after losing the car on wet grass while entering Island Bend. The damage meant the team had to resort to a spare car. That car then developed power-related problems, preventing the team from achieving the qualifying performance they had hoped for.

The result?

A pit-lane start.

For many drivers, starting from the back would effectively end any realistic chance of a strong result.

Lake and Angliss had other ideas.

A remarkable recovery

In the opening race, the McLaren fought its way from the pit lane to fourth in GT4.

Lake took the car for the second stint and produced a strong defensive drive as the pair climbed through the field.

Race two produced another recovery.

Lake started the race before handing over to Angliss, with the pair eventually finishing fifth in GT4.

Suddenly, the weekend that had begun with a damaged car, technical problems and a pit-lane start had become one of the most encouraging weekends of Lake's young career.

More importantly, Lake emerged with a valuable lesson. He later explained that he was learning not to drive at 110 per cent all the time, but instead to build his pace progressively. For a young driver coming from sim racing, that lesson could prove crucial.

Spa: from virtual circuit to reality

The championship then headed to one of the world's most famous racing circuits: Spa-Francorchamps.

For Lake, the visit had particular significance, as he had previously experienced the legendary Belgian circuit through simulation. Now he would tackle Eau Rouge and the rest of the 4.3-mile circuit in a real GT4 car.

Before the weekend, he described Spa as one of his dream circuits.

And his first real-world sessions suggested that the excitement was justified.

Top of the GT4 order

During the opening free practice session, Lake and Angliss put their McLaren at the top of the GT4 timing sheets.

Lake's lap was enough to put the Artura ahead of the leading GT4 competition. It was a major statement from a teenager who had only begun racing cars competitively the previous year. The race itself proved considerably tougher.

The McLaren was eventually classified 23rd overall, meaning the result did not reflect the pace demonstrated earlier in the weekend. Nevertheless, Spa had provided another important piece of evidence.

Lake could adapt quickly.

He had gone from learning the circuit virtually to setting the pace there in a real racing car.

An unexpected team change

There was another major development around the same time. Mahiki Racing closed its operation during the 2026 season, with its cars transferred to other teams.

The GT4 McLaren moved to Paddock Motorsport.

Lake and Angliss remained together, but suddenly found themselves operating under a different team structure. For a young driver, another change in environment could have been disruptive.

Instead, the partnership continued.

Paddock Motorsport was now responsible for operating the McLaren, and Lake's British GT education continued.

Learning what GT racing really demands

The first half of Lake's British GT season has therefore been less about collecting trophies and more about learning.

He has experienced the consequences of mistakes.

He has experienced mechanical problems.

He has learned how to recover from a pit-lane start.

He has driven one of the world's most famous circuits for the first time.

And he has shown that, when everything comes together, he can run at the sharp end of the GT4 field.

There is still a huge amount for the 16-year-old to learn, but the flashes of pace are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and at Snetterton, Lake would produce perhaps his strongest qualifying performance yet.