British GT Round 4 - Snetterton

The fourth round of the British GT stormed into Snetterton, Norfolk this weekend. The race weekend consisted of two one hour races.

The number of entries for this weekend isn’t as explosive as the last round which had a huge car entry list of 48 cars. This round had 29 cars who had entered to compete unfortunately only 28 cars raced due to damage to No 23 Rosso Verde Ferrari.

Upon entering the round their was much anticipation as to who would win the races. Trackspeed had dominated the first two rounds, however after a nightmare round at Silverstone it allowed other teams to bask in the glory.

It was announced that ex- F1 Racer Mark Blundell would present the trophies to the top three drivers across the two races. At the start of this weekend the championship leaders were Attard and Bryant in the No 79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW. The BMW who has a new sponsor and is “Powered by Black Bull”

On saturday there were two qualifying sessions for each of the two races. The first qualifying session saw Rembert Berg set a lap time of 2:05:866 in the No 10 Audi R8 LMS whilst the second Qualifying session saw Stephen Jelley, ex BTCC driver take the pole position with a time of 2:04.526. In the GT4 Class, Complete Racing’s Steve Chaplin took his second pole position for the first qualifying session and Redgate Lifetime Racing’s Dan Eagling also claimed his second Pole position of the season in the second session.

British GT Round 4 - Snetterton

Race One

The first race of the day commenced in the morning under dry conditions. A stark contrast to Saturday’s qualifying session where the rain poured. The No 10 Audi started on Pole position and lead the race over the line after the rolling start once the formation lap had been completed. There were problems from the start for some drivers. The No 79 BMW was forced to retire two laps into the sixty minute race whilst the No 80, No 32 an No 16 failed to complete a lap.

The lead runners at the start of the race were Berg No 10 M-Sport Audi R8, Tandy No 888 Optimum Racing BMW Z4, Minshaw No 33 Trackspeed Porsche 997 and Howard No 007 Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

Within fifteen minutes of the race the top four had changed order numerous times and No 007 Beechdean Aston Martin took the lead ahead of Berg’s Audi R8 and soon pulled a two second advantage.

With thirty four minutes remaining the cars started their pit stops and driver changes. First to complete a pit stop was No 888 Optimum Racing, Tandy. At half race distance all cars had made their pit stops and No 1 Oman Air Motorbase Porsche 997 driven by Caine lead the race ahead of No 33 Trackspeed Porsche driven by Keen and third was No 10 M-Sport racing Audi R8 driven by Berg. The No 007 Beechdean Aston Martin who lead prior to the pit stops had fallen into sixth place due to an extra 10 seconds being added to their pitstop. This was a result of their second place position at the last round at Silverstone.

The Demon Tweeks Trackspeed Porsche soon took over the lead on lap 17 ahead of Oman Air No 1 Porsche 997 and Number 10 Audi R8.

With minutes remaining No 31 Trackspeed had to withdraw after suspected engine problems. This was obvious as he started to drop in times and race order. It was later discovered there was a hole in the radiator after contact with another driver. The overall winner was No 1 Oman Air Motorbase Porsche 997 after no 33 Trackspeed Porsche 997 received a penalty for overtaking under yellow flags at the start of the race. The GT4 Class win went to No 44 Optimum Motorsport.

British GT Round 4 - Snetterton

Race Two

The second race of the day followed the same format as race one. The pole position racer was Jelley in the No 32 Trackspeed Porshce. He soon lost the lead within a lap to No 8 Osbourne VonRyan Racing Mclaren MP412C, he pulled a gap of just under two seconds over the space of two laps.

Six laps in and No 8 Osbourne’s Mclaren was in the lead and second runner No 31 Tandy, Trakspeed Porsche 997 had contact which left Osbourne’s Mclaren spinning and falling back into second position ahead of No 32 Jelley. There was an early retirement for No 80 Barwell Motorsport Aston Martin due to power steering issues, Also retiring was No 33 Trackspeed Porsche 997.

With just over half race distance left there was an influx of cars pitting for the mandatory pit stop and driver change. Once all cars had completed the pit stop, the only car to not return was No 40 Ginetta driven by Sharp who had hit a barrier and was forced to retire. With twenty five minutes remaining the lead was No 31, No 888, No 8, No 25 and No 007.

After a promising qualifying for No 32 Jelley/Fisken, the car had to retire after a disappointing weekend for the racing duo who failed to complete either races. With a retirement in race two fifteen minutes before the end of the race with a crack in the exhaust.

As the race drew to a close the front runner was No 31 driven by Ashburn who had 0.775 gap ahead of No 888 Optimum BMW Z4 driven by Tandy who was stalking his prey, trying to get the race win. Third was No 25 Patterson driving the United Autosports Audi and fourth was No 8 Mclaren driven by Mowle. This line up did not change as the cars crossed the finished line and saw the chequered flag.

The two races had results completely different to each other with three different teams on each podium. The winner of the GT4 second race was No 44 Optimum Motorsport Ginetta.

British GT Round 4 - Snetterton

Race One Results

1 No 1 Oman Air Motorbase Porsche 997GT3 R – 1:00:17.853
2 No 10 M-Sport Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra +0.287
3 No 9 VonRyan Racing McLaren MP412C +20.716
4 No 007 Beechdean AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 +21.574
5 No 25 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra + 24.040
6 No 14 Fortec Motorsports Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 +24.267
7 No 33 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R +24.571
8 No 24 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra +24.998
9 No 18 FF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 +29.235
10 No 23 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra +35.436
11 No 40 CWS 4X4 Spares G55 Ginetta GT3 +37.412
12 No 6 PGF- Kinfaun Aston Martin Vantage GT3 +46.476
13 No 22 Perci- Spark McLaren MP412C +50.320
14 No 888 888 Optimum BMW Z4 GT3 +54.240
15 No 13 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 +56.972
16 No 8 VonRyan Racing McLaren MP412C +1:13.212
17 No 78 Barwell Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3+1:41.607
18 No 44 Optimum Motorsport Ginetta G50 +2 Laps
19 No 53 Complete racing Aston Martin GT4 +2 Laps
20 No 43 Century Motorsport Ginetta G50 +2 Laps
21 No 50 Redgate Lifetime Racing Ginetta G50 +2 Laps
22 No 69 APO Sport Ginetta G50 +2 Laps
23 No 31 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 +5 Laps
24 No 41 Mtech Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 +10 Laps

DNF

25 No 79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 + 30 Laps
26 No 80 Barwell Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3
27 No 32 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R
28 No 16 Team LNT G55 Ginetta GT3

Race Two Results

1 No 31 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 – 1:00:05.835
2 No 888 888 Optimum BMW Z4 GT3 +0.454
3 No 25 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra +1.290
4 No 8 VonRyan Racing McLaren MP412C +1.829
5 No 007 Beechdean AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 +13.215
6 No 14 Fortec Motorsports Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 +29.027
7 No 79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 +29.958
8 No 1 Oman Air Motorbase Porsche 997GT3 R +31.034
9 No 13 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 +33.797
10 No 10 M-Sport Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra +34.447
11 No 9 VonRyan Racing McLaren MP412C +45.701
12 No 6 PGF- Kinfaun Aston Martin Vantage GT3 +51.384
13 No 22 Perci- Spark McLaren MP412C +1:07.893
14 No 24 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra +1:26.255
15 No 18 FF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 +1:39.390
16 No 16 Team LNT G55 Ginetta GT3 +1:41.047
17 No 78 Barwell Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3 +1:46.593
18 No 23 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra +1 laps
19 No 44 Optimum Motorsport Ginetta G50 +2 laps
20 No 69 APO Sport Ginetta G50 +2 laps
21 No 50 Redgate Lifetime Racing Ginetta G50 +2 laps
22 No 53 Complete racing Aston Martin GT4 +3 laps
23 No 43 Century Motorsport Ginetta G50 +3 Laps
24 No 32 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R +10 laps

DNF
25 No 40 CWS 4X4 Spares G55 Ginetta GT3 +15 laps
26 No 41 Mtech Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 +22 Laps
27 No 33 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R + 25 laps
28 No 80 Barwell Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 +27 laps

Previous articlePreview: RM Auctions at Pebble Beach 2013
Next articleGallery: Lumma Design Range Rover CLR-R

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here