Monday 14th April 2008

British GT Round 4 - Knockhill

Jones brothers take first Ascari win

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Round 4 race start

Godfrey and David Jones won their first British GT race for three years, and gave Ascari its first win. At the start of the race Allan Simonsen held on to pole and finished the opening lap in the lead, just 0.9 seconds ahead of Griffin with James Sutton in 3^rd in the #14 CR Scuderia Ferrari.  Behind 4^th placed Michael Bentwood Tom Ferrier was putting Hines under pressure and on lap 3 the Lamborghini swept past the Ferrari at the Hairpin.  At the front Simonsen was unable to open up a gap to Griffin, the Chad Ferrari sticking to the leading CiM Ferrari like glue.

Bentwood in the 22GTRacing Aston DBRS9

On lap 4 Ian Stinton went off the track at Butchers in the Stark Racing Ginetta bringing out the Safety Car to enable the marshals to get the stranded Ginetta out of the gravel trap. Two laps later the green flag was waved and the first five cars started to pull away from the rest of the field with Simonsen from Griffin, Sutton, Bentwood and Ferrier. In GT4 Rob Austin was leading from the front in the Rob Austin Ginetta G50, with Alex Mortimer in the #51 Team RPM Ginetta keeping pace with the lead car with Stewart Linn following behind in 3^rd.  4^th placed Fulvio Mussi caught and passed Linn on lap 11 demoting the championship leader from a podium finish.

At the front Simonsen still had Griffin dogging his every move but the leaders were starting to lap the backmarkers.  Allan Simonsen used these slower cars to move ahead of the Chad Racing Ferrari and by lap 24 was 4.5 seconds ahead as Griffin came under pressure from Sutton. When the pit window opened many of the cars came in for their stops while the leaders all stayed out on track. 

Bryant in the Team RPM Viper

The Team Modena Lamborghini of Guy Harrington was right behind the Tech 9 Lamborghini of Leo Machitski as they came into the final corner.  Harrington tried to overtake Machitski but the two cars clashed, the Tech 9 Lamborghini regaining the track after a short excursion on the grass but the suspension on the Harrington Gallardo collapsed leaving the car beached in the gravel at the Hairpin bringing out the safety car for the second time. Allan Simonsen was coming up to the pit entrance as the safety car board was displayed and the Dane dived into the pits.  The slow safety car allowed Hector Lester to regain the track in the lead of the race, to the delight of the Christians in Motorsport team, especially after the stop go penalty at Oulton Park for missing the pit window that robbed them of an almost certain win.

Meadows' Ferrari ends up in the barriers

Rob Austin came into the pits leading the GT4 battle but was unable to hand over to Hunter Abbott after a brake light failure was deemed to be a safety issue, putting the car into retirement.  As the race went green on lap 48 Hector Lester moved ahead of the Chad Racing Ferrari of Peter Bamford as Adrian Willmot (#42 22GTRacing) challenged the second placed Ferrari into the first corner.  Willmot swept into second place with a demon move on the outside, unsighting Bamford who then lost out to Michael Meadows (#14 CR Scuderia), David Jones (#22 Team Eurotech Preci Spark) and Steve Clark (#1 Team RPM) before they exited Scotsman. 

For two laps the top six cars circulated in close order but Meadows was coming under pressure from Willmot, the Ferrari and the Aston Martin side by side into the first corner.  Neither driver was going to give ground and they clashed, pushing the Aston onto the grass and the Ferrari went straight into the airbag wall on the outside of Scotsman, the Ferrari coming to rest with the front wheels on top of the barriers.  Meadows was OK and Willmot regained the track but now behind the Ascari of David Jones. Jones was catching the leading Ferrari, challenging Lester strongly on lap 54.  As they crossed the start line Jones dived out from behind the CiM Ferrari to sweep into the lead as they braked into the first corner.  David Jones then started to pull away from the Lester who then looked like he was going to lose another place to Willmot.  However the Aston driver came under pressure from the Team RPM Viper of Steve Clark, relieving the pressure on the CiM Ferrari.

GT3 Podium for Round 4

Willmot shook off the challenge and was right on the rear of the second placed Ferrari as the final few minutes of the race ticked by.  However on lap 59 the red flags came out after the Beechdean Motorsport Aston Martin N24 of Andrew Howard was beached in the gravel at Scotsman, ending the race. Fifth place for Paddy Shovlin (#15 CR Scuderia) behind Steve Clark was enough to maintain his and Michael Cullen’s lead in the Championship and they head to Rockingham with a five point lead over Hector Lester and Allan Simonsen.

ROUND 4 - PROVISIONAL RESULT

1 - 22- GT3 - David Jones / Godfrey Jones - Ascari KZ1R - 57:25.728 - 59 laps

2 - 23 - GT3 - Hector Lester / Allan Simonsen - Ferrari 430 - 57:26.971 - +1.243s

3 - 42 - GT3 - Adrian Willmot / Michael Bentwood - Aston Martin DBRS9 - 57:27.427 - +1.699s

4 - 1 - GT3 - Steve Clark / Paul O'Neill - Viper Competition Coupe - 57:28.408s - +2.680s

5 - 5 - GT3 - Paddy Shovlin / Michael Cullen - Ferrari 430 - 57:37.017 - +11.289

6 - 40 - GT3 - James Gornall / Jon Barnes - Viper Competition Coupe - 57:40.907 - +15.179s

7 - 20 - GT3 - Craig Wilkins / Aaron Scott - Viper Competition Coupe - 57:42.807 - +17.079s

8 - 8 - GT3 - Oliver Morley / Tom Ferrier - Lamborghini Gallardo - 57:44.597 - +18.869s

9 - 4 - GT3 - Peter Bamford / Matt Griffin - Ferrari 430 - 57:46.642 - +20.914s

10 - 88 - GT4 - Matt Nicoll-Jones / Stewart Linn - Ginetta G50 - 58:06.538 - +2 laps

11 - 52 - GT4 - Nigel Redwood / Fulvio Mussi - Ginetta G50 - 58:23.525 - +2 laps

12 - 9 - GT3 - Leo Machitski / Jason Templeman - Lamborghini Gallardo - 55:55.795 - +3 laps

13 - 16 - GT3 - Jeremy Metcalfe / Luke Hines - Ferrari 430 - 54:22.055 - +4 laps

14 - 50 - GT4 - Steve Tandy / Phil Bailey - Ginetta G50 - 57:29.754 - +4 laps

15 - 14 - GT3 - Michael Meadows / James Sutton - Ferrari 430 - 50:19.363 - +8 laps

16 - 5 - GT3 - David Ashburn / Richard Williams - Porsche 997 GT3 S - 52:28.565 - +8 laps 

17 - 71 - GT4 - Neil Clark / Ian Stinton - Ginetta G50 - 57:43.798 - +8 laps

 

NOT CLASSIFIED

DNC - 21 - GT3 - Guy Harrington / Ben de Zille Butler - Lamborghini Gallardo - 33 laps

DQ - 99 - GT4 - Andrew Howard / Jamie Smyth - Aston Martin N24 - 55 laps - Causing Red Flag

DNC - 55 - GT4 - Hunter Abbott / Rob Austin - Ginetta G50 - 33 laps

DNC - 51 - GT4 - Joe Osborne / Alex Mortimer - Ginetta G50 - 26 laps

DQ - 2 - GT3 - Oliver Bryant / Nick Foster - Viper Competition Coupe - Overtaking under waved yellow flags at post 10

 

FASTEST LAPS

23 - GT3 - Allan Simonsen - Ferrari 430 - 51.040 - 89.57mph - 144.31kph - NEW LAP RECORD

55 - GT4 - Rob Austin - Ginetta G50 - 54.661 - 83.73 mph - 134.75kph -NEW LAP RECORD  

[huge]

Brilliant day......long time since I went to the GT's but I will be going more regularly !
The "support" card was equally exciting to watch,the Ginetta G50'S in particular produced some sparkling racing (and a spectacular pile-up,right in front of where we were standing)......


ps how on earth did that 911 pass any sort of noise regulations/checks ???

[Crow555]

I'm glad to see this is gonna get some TV coverage for the next round on ITV4. I've always wanted to see more GT on TV and this will be perfect sunday afternoon viewing for me.

[timewatch]

Knockhill needs to be re-designed or extended, once a car gets in front it's almost impossible to get past, the cars are getting longer and wider and the circuit has stayed the same for years, it really needs a makeover !

Some say thats okay but I found it a frustrating watch and even having driven on it still found it boring !
The facilities are poor too and it's awkward to get to from most parts of Scotland, it is a bad advert for Scotland all round.

Scotland needs to have a national circuit dedicated to this sort of event in a central area, I'm sure that it would be well received and supported.

TW>>>

[rude-boy]

timewatch said:

Knockhill needs to be re-designed or extended, once a car gets in front it's almost impossible to get past...

Are you sure you were at Knockhill? Seriously there was barely more than one or two laps in of any of the races where there wasn't at least one pass at the hairpin.

[Felix7]

rude-boy said:

timewatch said:

Knockhill needs to be re-designed or extended, once a car gets in front it's almost impossible to get past...

Are you sure you were at Knockhill? Seriously there was barely more than one or two laps in of any of the races where there wasn't at least one pass at the hairpin.

Have to agree with Rudeboy, plenty of passing in all the racing categories and some very brave attempts at a number of points around the circuit (not alwys successful judging from the amount of Safety Cars though).

The morning Formula Ford race yesterday saw what must be one of the saves of the season, the No.4 car (2?) - it was red anyway, span as it braked for the hair pin so it almost faced back down the track looking at the rest of the field bearing down and made the most amazing of recoveries and prehaps even more incredibly they all made it around hte hairpin without any contact as a result.

[ginettag27]

Agree with ^^^

Although I think it would be good to have an extended circuit, a la Anglesey... It was a superb couple of races! Loads of action.

[timewatch]

rude-boy said:

timewatch said:

Knockhill needs to be re-designed or extended, once a car gets in front it's almost impossible to get past...

Are you sure you were at Knockhill? Seriously there was barely more than one or two laps in of any of the races where there wasn't at least one pass at the hairpin.

Sorry guy's ment to say I was not at this race above, but I have attended touring car races and track days in the past and I felt they could do much better !
I am glad that you enjoyed your day though !

Tw..

[renkadima]

Crow555 said:

I'm glad to see this is gonna get some TV coverage for the next round on ITV4. I've always wanted to see more GT on TV and this will be perfect sunday afternoon viewing for me.

Eh, wot? Where did you get that from?

[Luke Pearson]

Is there a possibility of getting the DBRS9 in higher res? Do quite fancy a new desktop background

[ld50]

Luke Pearson said:

Is there a possibility of getting the DBRS9 in higher res? Do quite fancy a new desktop background

Me too. Should be picture of the week.

[micron750]

What a shame the Gt's not longer go to Castle Combe one meeting i really used to enjoy

[KJR]

renkadima said:

Crow555 said:

I'm glad to see this is gonna get some TV coverage for the next round on ITV4. I've always wanted to see more GT on TV and this will be perfect sunday afternoon viewing for me.

Eh, wot? Where did you get that from?

The FIA GT at Silverstone is on ITV4 LIVE on Sunday.

[Nicol@]

KJR said:

The FIA GT at Silverstone is on ITV4 LIVE on Sunday.

Great, will record that (might be as entertaining as British GT)

[AMD87]

Felix7 said:

The morning Formula Ford race yesterday saw what must be one of the saves of the season, the No.4 car (2?) - it was red anyway, span as it braked for the hair pin so it almost faced back down the track looking at the rest of the field bearing down and made the most amazing of recoveries and prehaps even more incredibly they all made it around hte hairpin without any contact as a result.

got it on video!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_2hdajo9BY4 

huge said:

the Ginetta G50'S in particular produced some sparkling racing (and a spectacular pile-up,right in front of where we were standing)......

and that one too
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4ZCqJRWt5aU 

Edited by AMD87 on Tuesday 15th April 14:55

[Crow555]

renkadima said:

Crow555 said:

I'm glad to see this is gonna get some TV coverage for the next round on ITV4. I've always wanted to see more GT on TV and this will be perfect sunday afternoon viewing for me.

Eh, wot? Where did you get that from?

It was advertised after the Touring car at Rockingham on sunday. Looking forward to it myself, it'll be good to not have to watch it at 3:15am on a monday.

[Nicol@]

FIA GT on TV this weekend:

Saturday, Men and Motors
FIA GT live 3.30pm-5pm
FIA GT qualifying 5pm-6pm

Sunday,
ITV4
FIA GT 12pm-2.30pm
then change channel to
Men and Motors
FIA GT live 3.30pm-5pm
(I have just set sky+ to record all of this)

maybe this should be in the FIA GT thread.

[ginettag27]

Richmond Racing website updated, with report (brief) and some photos from the weekend, http://www.richmond-racing.co.uk/

TV Schedule, it's on tomorrow morning (2am!!!!!!) on CH4, or 3am on CH4+1...

23rd April 2008 02:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK (Ch4)

23rd April 2008 03:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK (Ch4 + 1)

26th April 2008 18:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

28th April 2008 04:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

28th April 2008 10:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

28th April 2008 23:59 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

30th April 2008 03:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

1st May 2008 20:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

3rd May 2008 22:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

4th May 2008 04:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

6th May 2008 15:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK

7th May 2008 03:00 Rounds 3 & 4 (Knockhill) UK


The times are from : http://www.britishgt.com/tv.php there are also European and German feeds detailed on there, which might help those abroad / with satellite access to pick it up..

[Nicol@]

Motors tv show all the broadcast times in their GT section too.

Thanks for the Ch4 listing, saves me waiting for the weekend Motors tv show.