GT: Brands Report
Herridge takes the championship in a drama filled race
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The Mosler MT900R of Martin Short and Tom Herridge emerged victorious at Brands Hatch today in the final round of the BRDC British GT Championship. In a race packed with action and drama, the Rollcentre Racing car came through to victory, which clinched the championship title for Herridge.
The race got underway at a frenetic pace with Derbyshire and Barff side by side into and round the first bend with Barff's Tuscan R inching ahead of the Mosler as they entered the chicane at Druids. Barff led the race but eventually succumbed to a problem with the throttle linkage on the TVR and was forced to retire.
Derbyshire's race was also cut short when Bob Berridge - guest driver in the other De Walt TVR - made a move up the inside of the Mosler at the precipitous Paddock Hill bend. Berridge soon got out of shape as he tried to make the ambitious move stick and wobbled into the side of Derbyshire punting him off into the gravel. The Balfe Motorsport team were furious at the incident which ended their hopes of clinching the title today. Derbyshire stated diplomatically , "It is very disappointing to be removed from the championship by a driver not directly involved ."
The Eclipse team then looked like securing victory in their dayglo orange TVR. It was to end it tragedy for them too however when Lynch hurtled through the blind corner at Dingle Dell to find a Marcos spinning in his path. A huge impact sidelined both cars and any title hopes for Lynch.
With their two contenders out of the race it was down to Tom Herridge and Martin Short to bring home their Mosler at the front to secure the British GT title for Herridge (Short hadn't completed enough races himself to share it). A sensible race was driven by them and secure it they did.
In the GT Cup category, the Morgan Aero 8 of Neil Cunningham/Adam Sharpe snatched a dramatic last-lap victory from the Lotus Elise of Chris Yandell/Dean Lanzante which had shown great pace. Starting the last lap, the Elise was still ahead, but Cunningham caught Lanzante on the final lap and stormed ahead. "Twenty years of experience did that ," reckoned Cunningham. "I just kept pushing on! " Unaware that the Morgan was a GT Cup contender, the Lotus team was caught out on the last lap having turned in a cracking performance on its championship debut. "We were caught napping, but we certainly enjoyed it ," reckoned Yandell.
And so ends another year, with the series back in good shape. Next year promises bigger grids and more excitement.
Results – 44 laps
1 Tom Herridge/Martin Short (Mosler MT900R) 75m16.279s
2 Peter Le Bas/Ricky Cole (Chevrolet Corvette) 75m23.623s
3 Peter Cook/Mike Youles (Porsche 911GT2) 75m30.406s
4 Dan Eagling/Glenn Eagling (Marcos Mantis) 75m36.611s
5 Steve Hyde/Gareth Evans (TVR T400R) 76m07.678s
6 John Hartshorne/Graeme Mundy (TVR T400R) 77m13.105s
GT Cup category
1 Neil Cunningham/Adam Sharpe (Morgan Aero 8) 43 laps
2 Chris Yandell/Dean Lanzante (Lotus Elise) 43 laps
3 Liz Halliday/Tom Shrimpton (Porsche 911GT3) 43 laps
4 Hector Lester/Keith Robinson (Ferrari 360) 43 laps
5 Paul Whight/Gavan Kershaw (Lotus Elise) 43 laps
6 Nick Staveley/Jeff Wyatt (Porsche 911GT3) 42 laps
First time I had seen GTs in full flow and loved every minute.
If any racers are here - thanks for the entertainment.
It was a huge impact
More race report piccies at www.tvrcc-bristol.co.uk
ShaneRulez said:
Awwwww i didnt know his car was that smashed up! Well atleast he didnt get hurt!!! Do you think they'll be able 2 fix the car??
B
Hopefully so! I know that TVR and Eclipse will build it back up for next year.
www.eclipsegto.com
Their website will have details and you can contact them.
James
jamesc said:
ShaneRulez said:
Awwwww i didnt know his car was that smashed up! Well atleast he didnt get hurt!!! Do you think they'll be able 2 fix the car??
B
Hopefully so! I know that TVR and Eclipse will build it back up for next year.
<a href="http://www.eclipsegto.com">www.eclipsegto.com</a>
Their website will have details and you can contact them.
James
Please refrain from personal attacks on this forum and we'll all get on fine 
>> Edited by mrs fish on Wednesday 1st October 07:57
yellow peril said:
Errr, did anyone mention how dark it was at the end of the race ?
Not surprising when you looked at the sky!!!!
By great big black clouds.....enough to send Mid Essex packing anyway....
......//P//
Hi Paula,
I think it was darker on the Grand Prix circuit then on the Indy circuit. The Seat 25 lap Cupra Super Prix was held on the Indy circuit where it was lighter. I noticed all the TVRs had gone by the end of the F3 race.
James
Stiggy Baddos said:
jamesc said:
ShaneRulez said:
Awwwww i didnt know his car was that smashed up! Well atleast he didnt get hurt!!! Do you think they'll be able 2 fix the car??
B
Hopefully so! I know that TVR and Eclipse will build it back up for next year.
<a href="http://www.eclipsegto.com"><a href="http://www.eclipsegto.com"><a href="http://www.eclipsegto.com">www.eclipsegto.com</a></a></a>
Their website will have details and you can contact them.
James
>> Edited by mrs fish on Wednesday 1st October 07:57
Wasn't a personal attack,just an observation of someone who should keep their nose out of other peoples business.
Fe Fi Fo Stiggy.........
>> Edited by Stiggy Baddos on Wednesday 1st October 19:20
ShaneRulez said:
Awwwww i didnt know his car was that smashed up! Well atleast he didnt get hurt!!! Do you think they'll be able 2 fix the car??
B
I seem to recall after the last big smash up (when they still had the Marcos), they had to get an entirely new car! I guess it all depends on whether they're sticking with TVR next year or changing. Can't see there being sponsorship problems when they've managed an impressive 3rd in the Championship overall.
Just a bit miffed I wasn't there myself to cheer the team on but unfortunately attendance was dictated by the need to save money for impending holiday/wedding/house move! Still, a good final position in the championship and a rather spectacular end to the season!
Ro.x
PetrolTed said:
Stiggy, if you want to use these forums I suggest you adopt a more accomodating tone towards your hosts.
Point taken.But I assumed that these forums are for expressing an opinion,and I was doing just that.It annoys me that some people(not naming names this time)seem to have a lot to say about lots of things not concerning them.Let's just say that certain un-named persons were introduced to me earlier in the season,and began name-dropping for England.Unfortunately for said person,I happen to know a few of the names dropped,and they were neither amused nor impressed that they were bieng used to bolster up someone's contacts list.I understand that this forum is for discussing GT racing,but I feel my point is relevant.Those who ride off the backs of others for their own gain give the sport a bad name.That is my opinion,and I would like to share it.If this is not acceptable,then this forum is not for me.Please say so and I will leave.Fair comment?
Outside of that,can I say that this season of the GT's has been excellent,with great atmosphere and action throughout.Many of the people I spoke with around the various cicuits said that this year had been one of the best,probably helped by the diversity of the machines on track,and of course some of the most fantastic weather we have had in ages!It was great to see so many friendly faces around the paddock,lets hope that next year sees GT advance even further.Well done to everyone involved!
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