British GT

It was a very interesting weekend at Thruxton in the British GT Championship. The usual close racing combined with a pit lane fiasco when all the cars came in at the same time to a pit lane that wasn't big enough for them all (!), and a punch up between the mechanics from two teams make this one to catch on TV if you can (there is British GT racing on Motors at midnight tonight - maybe the weekend meeting?) The team I've been working with (Lester/Simonsen in an F430) capitalised on the pit lane chaos and won the first race. There was a very big accident in race two involving several Ginettas, at least one of which was completely wrecked, but as of last night I believe the drivers were OK.

 

I believe Brad Ellis chipped a bone in his neck.

 

I was at Thruxton on Saturday. Here are a few pics.

Jonathan
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Great pic's, thanks for posting

 

Man, that Rover 3500 brings back memories. Also like the silver Aston V8 behind the yellow mini...

 

Seems Thruxton found the Galado's archiles heel.

Tech 9 and Team Modena were left frustrated by an engine problem on the Lamborghini Gallardo that forced both teams out of the second Avon Tyres British GT Championship race of the weekend.

The Tech 9 car had been forced out of race one following an accident for Leo Machitski but was then unable to take the start of the second race when the team discovered a problem with the engine on Sunday morning, while the Team Modena car of Ben de Zille Butler and Guy Harrington retired in race one when its engine let go.

The sister car of Adam Jones and Piers Johnson had finished race one but then suffered an engine failure after taking the chequered flag which put both cars out of race two.


"We've spoken to the other team who are running a Gallardo GT3 race car and they have exactly the same problem,” Team Modena team boss Graham Schultz said. "They have put an endoscope down the bore to have a look and they are seeing the same as us, it seems we all have the same problem, and we need to talk to our suppliers.


"This is an unusual circuit where you are at speed with a side-load on the car for much of the lap, and that seems to have shown up a weakness in the GT3 race car engine when racing under these conditions."

 

Some nice photographs Jonathan. Would you mind if I downloaded a couple of your shots of the number 23 car? I'm sure the team would be interested in seeing them.

Ian

 

Ian,

Please feel free. I'd be happy to e-mail you hi-res if you want. If so PM me an e-mail address.

Jonathan