Discussion
If anyone who was there today I dont need to tell u how good the race was. It was a brillant battle between the TVR's and the Mosler's. I was pleased that the viper began to pick up pace. The next round should be a cracker if there is more cars as well. 
GTO Results
1st 33# Mosler
2nd 22# Mosler
3rd 69# TVR Tuscan R
4th 27# TVR Tuscan R
5th 23# TVR Tuscan R
6th 50# Corvette
7th 7# Viper
Full results www.dailysportscar.net/britishgt/donington/doningtonraceresult.htm
>>> Edited by Ockside on Sunday 6th April 19:24
GTO Results
1st 33# Mosler
2nd 22# Mosler
3rd 69# TVR Tuscan R
4th 27# TVR Tuscan R
5th 23# TVR Tuscan R
6th 50# Corvette
7th 7# Viper
Full results www.dailysportscar.net/britishgt/donington/doningtonraceresult.htm
>>> Edited by Ockside on Sunday 6th April 19:24
British GT Championship - RACE CLASSIFICATION - RACE 9
POS NO CL DRIVER NAT CAR TIME LAPS GAP MPH BEST
1 33 GTO Balfe/Derbyshire Mosler MT900R 1:15:20.289 62 96.62 1:11.186
2 22 GTO Barff/Herridge Mosler MT900R 1:15:20.445 62 0.156 96.61 1:11.069
3 69 GTO Johnson/Lynch TVR Tuscan 1:15:31.866 62 11.577 96.37 1:11.022
4 27 GTO Evans/Hyde TVR Tuscan R 1:15:21.492 60 2 LAPS 93.47 1:11.680
5 23 GTO Hartshorne/Mundy TVR T440 1:15:43.752 60 2 LAPS 93.02 1:12.861
6 76 GTC Pearce/Griffin Porsche GT3 1:16:10.153 59 3 LAPS 90.94 1:14.369
7 66 GTC Robinson/Cunningham Morgan Aero 8 1:16:07.007 58 4 LAPS 89.46 1:15.777
8 46 GTC Wells/Ahlers Morgan Aero 8 1:15:42.408 57 5 LAPS 88.39 1:16.429
9 44 GTC Edwards/Wyatt Marcos Mantis 1:16:03.629 57 5 LAPS 87.98 1:17.511
10 50 GTO Le Bas/Cole GM Chevrolet Corvettee C5 1:16:18.259 57 5 LAPS 87.70 1:13.944
11 7 GT Stretton/Templeton Chrysler Dodge Viper 1:15:25.158 56 6 LAPS 87.17 1:13.620
12 47 GTC Sharpe/Mucci Renault Clio V6 1:16:29.165 55 7 LAPS 84.42 1:19.274
Not Classified
43 GTC Segator/Colacino Lotus Elise 33:32.166 23 D.N.F. 80.48 1:22.085
20 GTO Brady/Scott Ultim GVR 3:09.998 2 D.N.F. 73.58 1:26.617
POS NO CL DRIVER NAT CAR TIME LAPS GAP MPH BEST
1 33 GTO Balfe/Derbyshire Mosler MT900R 1:15:20.289 62 96.62 1:11.186
2 22 GTO Barff/Herridge Mosler MT900R 1:15:20.445 62 0.156 96.61 1:11.069
3 69 GTO Johnson/Lynch TVR Tuscan 1:15:31.866 62 11.577 96.37 1:11.022
4 27 GTO Evans/Hyde TVR Tuscan R 1:15:21.492 60 2 LAPS 93.47 1:11.680
5 23 GTO Hartshorne/Mundy TVR T440 1:15:43.752 60 2 LAPS 93.02 1:12.861
6 76 GTC Pearce/Griffin Porsche GT3 1:16:10.153 59 3 LAPS 90.94 1:14.369
7 66 GTC Robinson/Cunningham Morgan Aero 8 1:16:07.007 58 4 LAPS 89.46 1:15.777
8 46 GTC Wells/Ahlers Morgan Aero 8 1:15:42.408 57 5 LAPS 88.39 1:16.429
9 44 GTC Edwards/Wyatt Marcos Mantis 1:16:03.629 57 5 LAPS 87.98 1:17.511
10 50 GTO Le Bas/Cole GM Chevrolet Corvettee C5 1:16:18.259 57 5 LAPS 87.70 1:13.944
11 7 GT Stretton/Templeton Chrysler Dodge Viper 1:15:25.158 56 6 LAPS 87.17 1:13.620
12 47 GTC Sharpe/Mucci Renault Clio V6 1:16:29.165 55 7 LAPS 84.42 1:19.274
Not Classified
43 GTC Segator/Colacino Lotus Elise 33:32.166 23 D.N.F. 80.48 1:22.085
20 GTO Brady/Scott Ultim GVR 3:09.998 2 D.N.F. 73.58 1:26.617
Racefan_uk said:I bet whoever was driving the Viper got a nasty shock when the Mosler's went either side through the Craners!
That would be poor-old Annie Templeton, who seemed to be having a bit of a struggle getting a handle on the Viper today; it's a tad different from her more usual sort of ride I guess and it looked like she hadn't quite adapted yet (seemed especially uncomfortable in the Crainer Curves which probably didn't help her nerves any when the incident occurred
). It could well have been trouble with the car that dropped her off the pace tho' as it didn't sound as 'on-song' as it did during Amanda Stretton's stint.
Fingers crossed that she starts to feel more at home with it and can match her team-mates pace so the Viper stays in contention during the season.
>> Edited by Sukerkin on Sunday 6th April 20:31
The Moslers came in 1st and 2nd because they were the best prepared cars along with the Tuscan 440s. As for jv_as and his friends who don't want "dnm" to race their Darrian (which I have no involvement); none of them have even seen Matt's car. So they are in no position to comment.
James
James
i met anje today (someone who comes on pistonheads occasionally and who is viper mad like me!) and we spoke to amanda stretton and annie and they are soo lovely, i put the question to annie that 'its a bit differenet to your 306 isnt it!' and she said, 'yes, thank god im not driving that awful thing this year, FWD is not my kinda car-horid car the 306', and amanda was just as nice and i have a rather nice photo i took on my digital camera that i printed off on photo paper and got that signed!
Great day
Great day
Storming opening to the season! It can only get stronger from here as more cars join the series.
Star of the first lap had to be the Master Motorsport Ultima which passed 4 cars from the back of the grid in the first half lap - the first lap done at racing speed all weekend. Shame it succumbed to oil pressure problems before the end of the 2nd!
Shane Lynch in the TVR had an excellent opening stint taking the lead from the Moslers and the sole Tech 9 Porsche was also giving it everything in the early stages.
As the race wore on the Moslers returned to the front of the field with the Rollcentre car ahead of the Balfe car in a battle that lasted many laps, before the Balfe car took the lead on the final lap.
An excellent race!
Star of the first lap had to be the Master Motorsport Ultima which passed 4 cars from the back of the grid in the first half lap - the first lap done at racing speed all weekend. Shame it succumbed to oil pressure problems before the end of the 2nd!
Shane Lynch in the TVR had an excellent opening stint taking the lead from the Moslers and the sole Tech 9 Porsche was also giving it everything in the early stages.
As the race wore on the Moslers returned to the front of the field with the Rollcentre car ahead of the Balfe car in a battle that lasted many laps, before the Balfe car took the lead on the final lap.
An excellent race!
Somewhat off-topic I know but ... small world Viperman!
I was within six feet of you, circling about trying to get a shot of the Viper, whilst your pic signing was going on (if you spotted a long haired guy in a 'Jaguar Racing' jacket and hat with the aggrieved expression on his face scowling at the crowd for blocking his view then that was me).
I was within six feet of you, circling about trying to get a shot of the Viper, whilst your pic signing was going on (if you spotted a long haired guy in a 'Jaguar Racing' jacket and hat with the aggrieved expression on his face scowling at the crowd for blocking his view then that was me
).Absolutely bloody fantastic! One of the best GT races I've seen in a long time. Felt sorry for the Master Motorsport Ultima. Was talking to one of the mecahnics just before the warm up and they worked so hard to get that car out. But Rob Barff must be gutted. Fantastic race though. Can only get better as well with more cars.
You call that racing? Yesterday was the first British GT race I've seen, and I was shocked at the lack of actual racing that goes on. Have I missed the point? How many overtaking manoeuvres between cars on the same lap were actually made during the 75 minutes of 'racing'? Maybe 5?
What is the attraction for the regular fans of this series? I just don't understand what makes you want to pay money to stand around for an hour and a quarter to watch a procession of cars. Yes they look nice, and they sound nice, but that's not really the point of racing. Or is it?
Maybe I'm the odd one - wanting to see lots of racers driving on the ragged edge and making ballsy overtaking moves, but it seems odd when it's so recently been fashionable to knock F1 for processional racing that the GT's (and F3's) still get away with it.
I'm not trolling BTW - I'm genuinely interested in people's motivation to go and watch this stuff, since it draws a much bigger crowd than 'lower level' but closer racing.
Stuart
What is the attraction for the regular fans of this series? I just don't understand what makes you want to pay money to stand around for an hour and a quarter to watch a procession of cars. Yes they look nice, and they sound nice, but that's not really the point of racing. Or is it?
Maybe I'm the odd one - wanting to see lots of racers driving on the ragged edge and making ballsy overtaking moves, but it seems odd when it's so recently been fashionable to knock F1 for processional racing that the GT's (and F3's) still get away with it.
I'm not trolling BTW - I'm genuinely interested in people's motivation to go and watch this stuff, since it draws a much bigger crowd than 'lower level' but closer racing.
Stuart
I think for many the spectacle of the Lister, Cerbera Speed 12 and Vipers was an attraction in the last couple of years. This year should turn into a battle between Mosler and TVR which could be quite a spectacle. The other cars trolling about at the back did make it look a bit of a nonsense at times. Give it time - they've made changes to try and make it more exciting. It may just take a couple of races to fine tune things.
Errr...three different leaders (swapped at least five or six times), a change in the lead on the last lap (in that double overtaking maneouvre 
) and two cars seperated by 0.156 seconds after 75 minutes of racing: I reckon that's pretty good. Much better than watching a Saleen scoot off into the distance. 
Mind you, the two Caterham R400 and two Tuscan Challenge races were even better.
) and two cars seperated by 0.156 seconds after 75 minutes of racing: I reckon that's pretty good. Much better than watching a Saleen scoot off into the distance. Mind you, the two Caterham R400 and two Tuscan Challenge races were even better.
Jeremy, part of the reasoning behind my posting was the point you made about the other races. For the GT and F3 races you could hardly see the track from Redgate for the crowds lining the fence, but for the R400 races there more people queing for the burger van than watching the racing. 3 different leaders in the GT's? The Caterham's managed that in one lap!
It may have been a good race by British GT standards, but it certainly wasn't a good race. I don't buy the 'spectacle' angle either - OK they're pretty, sound good and spit flames, but for a real spectacle I want to be made to draw breath at some of the driving skills on display, not the paint job on the cars.
It may have been a good race by British GT standards, but it certainly wasn't a good race. I don't buy the 'spectacle' angle either - OK they're pretty, sound good and spit flames, but for a real spectacle I want to be made to draw breath at some of the driving skills on display, not the paint job on the cars.
So, the passing move for the lead where two cars split either side of another on one of the fastest and most challenging points on the track wasn't good enough for you to draw breath then. If I were you, I'd check you have a pulse!
I agree on the Caterham front, but then, they have always had really close racing, its what Rob Barff and Shaun Balfe cut their teeth on and they are now doing the same in GT's.
The main problem is the lack of cars. It is great to see the battle at the front of the GT's being so close again this year, just like 2002. With more cars on the grid it would be even better.
Surely you can't complain, as already pointed out, that a 0.1s finish and extremely close racing for a full 75 minutes is not impressive?
New season, new regs, new cars, new race formats. I'd say it was a definate positive start for the GT series.
And as for people wanting to watch GT racing. Well, if it was a toss up between that and watching a bunch of rep mobiles smashing each other to bits in the name of the BTCC, I know what I'd rather see.
I agree on the Caterham front, but then, they have always had really close racing, its what Rob Barff and Shaun Balfe cut their teeth on and they are now doing the same in GT's.
The main problem is the lack of cars. It is great to see the battle at the front of the GT's being so close again this year, just like 2002. With more cars on the grid it would be even better.
Surely you can't complain, as already pointed out, that a 0.1s finish and extremely close racing for a full 75 minutes is not impressive?
New season, new regs, new cars, new race formats. I'd say it was a definate positive start for the GT series.
And as for people wanting to watch GT racing. Well, if it was a toss up between that and watching a bunch of rep mobiles smashing each other to bits in the name of the BTCC, I know what I'd rather see.
Racefan (interesting name!) - I did see the 2 Moslers going either side of the Viper at Craner, but it had taken over an hour for something exciting to happen, and that was lapping a 6-lap-down backmarker. It's hardly nailbiting stuff!
I think you've summed up the problem I'm trying to get at - it's race snobbery. There are thousands of races in hundreds of series in the UK every year, and the only alternative to GT's you can come up with is the BTCC. It's a very blinkered view, and I think that's what depressed me about yesterday. There's a lot more to racing that big cars and bigger budgets - I just wish people would make the effort to find that out.
Stuart
I think you've summed up the problem I'm trying to get at - it's race snobbery. There are thousands of races in hundreds of series in the UK every year, and the only alternative to GT's you can come up with is the BTCC. It's a very blinkered view, and I think that's what depressed me about yesterday. There's a lot more to racing that big cars and bigger budgets - I just wish people would make the effort to find that out.
Stuart
Stuart, don't forget this is endurance racing, it is generally not edge of the seat stuff because to win a race you have to get to the end first and a ding-dong battle at 10 minutes into the race could well see a DNF result. These races are won by completing the laps at the best average speed, allowing for refueling and other stops without breaking the car. Ding-dong leader changes are common in sprint races.
>> Edited by kevinday on Monday 7th April 12:47
>> Edited by kevinday on Monday 7th April 12:47
fauldss said: Racefan (interesting name!) - I did see the 2 Moslers going either side of the Viper at Craner, but it had taken over an hour for something exciting to happen, and that was lapping a 6-lap-down backmarker. It's hardly nailbiting stuff!
I think you've summed up the problem I'm trying to get at - it's race snobbery. There are thousands of races in hundreds of series in the UK every year, and the only alternative to GT's you can come up with is the BTCC. It's a very blinkered view, and I think that's what depressed me about yesterday. There's a lot more to racing that big cars and bigger budgets - I just wish people would make the effort to find that out.
Stuart
First, you said that it took over an hour for that move to happen. Yes, you're right, but what about the lead changes that happened before then? The Moslers battled it out a couple of times and the fight between the winnng Mosler and the Eclipse TVR over the first 30 minutes was great. And yes, it is endurance racing, so the pace isn't necessarily like that of a sprint race (Hence the name - endurance!)
Second, with regards to other motorsport, I definately know the length and breadth of motorsport that appears across the UK. I have been a regular at many circuits across the country for over a decade now and have seen some spectacular racing, from saloons to sportscars and single seaters. However, there is more attraction to the general public at least for bigger events. Maybe it is because the drivers are on a bigger stage or that the crowd expects more to be delivered. There seems to be a different atmosphere at larger events, like F3/GT or TOCA.
As for race snobbery, I know it is out there, mainly though, I have found, to be from BTCC fans wanting to see nothing but Touring cars weekend in weekend out. I have worked in the BTCC, GT's and high profile Single Seaters, and from my experience, the GT paddock is by far the better atmosphere.
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