British GT 2003

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bennno

Original Poster:

11,636 posts

269 months

Sunday 6th April 2003
quotequote all

Sorry to be negative but thought the race meeting at Donnington today was v. poor.

It was the most pityful field of GT cars I have ever seen. With the exception of the immaculately prepared Moslers and the exciting competition between the top 3,particularly when the TVR made its move, the track seemed empty.

Where have all the GTO class 911GT3RS's gone, the F360's, the diversity of cars has always been whats made it exciting, but with the GT's going it needs a well represented GTO class and it just didnt happen.

The Tuscan challenge was also a bit thin on the ground also! Incredible that BS and PW both made it in to the top 6 at one point!

Bennno

The DJ 27

2,666 posts

253 months

Sunday 6th April 2003
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To be honest its one of the best meetings for close racing I've been to in a long time. Yes the GT field was a bit thin, but it was a brilliant race.

PetrolTed

34,425 posts

303 months

Sunday 6th April 2003
quotequote all
I can see where you're coming from Bennno. I think I'll reserve judgement until a few more races.

The Tuscans - despite not being numerous - were bloody thrilling. To have four cars truly battling for the lead hasn't been seen for some years.

Flasher

9,238 posts

284 months

Sunday 6th April 2003
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Ditto, It was fopping awful. As you say Ben, very few cars and very little quality.

At least the company I was in was top notch and the hospitality in the Guglielmi box was superb.

Sukerkin

10 posts

275 months

Sunday 6th April 2003
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I have to agree with both sides of the argument on this one.

The field of cars is a bit thin at the moment but a number of teams didn't make it to the track for this one, so, even tho' the organisers have dropped the ball somewhat this year with their lack of ... er ... organisation (), things may well pick up on that front.

On the other side of the coin, the racing was amongst the most exciting I've seen since 'Rammer' Harvey was dicing with the Lister at Oulton Park last year.

I'm more than a little biased towards TVR's, so seeing one fighting it out with the Mosler's was pretty much guaranteed to get my blood pumping anyway, but an hour long race in which it wasn't clear who was going to win for the majority of its duration is a good race IMHO.

GrahamG

1,091 posts

267 months

Sunday 6th April 2003
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Oh well - guess you'll have to wait for Snet and the extra cars then!!!

How does 5 TVR T400Rs grab you boys????

bennno

Original Poster:

11,636 posts

269 months

Monday 7th April 2003
quotequote all

PetrolTed said: I can see where you're coming from Bennno. I think I'll reserve judgement until a few more races.

The Tuscans - despite not being numerous - were bloody thrilling. To have four cars truly battling for the lead hasn't been seen for some years.



Agreed it was an odd combination of thrilling close battles at the top in both GT and Tuscan, combined with tiny fields of cars in both races.

I can just recall over the last few years watching McF1's / F40's / GT2 Porsche / Lister / Sintura / Speed 12 / Saleen's dicing for the lead. The removal of the top class should not be catastrophic, but how do I put this, some of the better supported GTO entrants have moved on. The Parr GT3RS was superb the year before last, the F360's last year they have all deserted the series.

It just seems that unless something is done to boost the profile of the championship, that the bigger teams left will be off the do the European Le Mans series or FIA next year, which would be bad for the nationsal racing series.

Bennno

marco

1,727 posts

284 months

Monday 7th April 2003
quotequote all
Hi

This was the first GT race that I've attended and whilst as a spectacle it was a good day out (especially the pit walk) on this showing I can't see myself becoming a regular attendee!

In fact, were it not for Jeremy's very generous invite into the Northants TVRCC box I think I would have left even earlier! A couple of hours in there drinking tea and watching the Clarkson Cerbera drag race loop video made it all much more palitable.

And I still made it home for the GP!



Marco

viperman

956 posts

265 months

Monday 7th April 2003
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All im sayin is 'go annie and amanda!!!' excellent job

was also talking to this ne un named person who was an engineer for a top brit Gt team and he siad ther are 6+ cars with drivers avalible just sittin around, no money, no racing im afrai, he also told me something about the stealth 'it is the worst built GT racing car i have ever seen in my life, shockingly built and when hugh chamberlain was asked if hed run them he siad, you will have to giveme 50K just to get them built properly! '

bennno

Original Poster:

11,636 posts

269 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
quotequote all

viperman, does anybody know which car got in the way of the leaders and screwed up the race for the car which had led for 1hr and 10 mins

Bennno

backman

87 posts

260 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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The Viper got in the way going down the craners and pushed Rob Barff towards the grass, then the Corvette partially got in the way up to the final chicane.

fauldss

653 posts

278 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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Viperman, have you read the results correctly? The way I saw it, the Viper was second last and 6 laps down, with only the GT Cup Clio behind it. Not my idea of an excellent job! Or do you mean an excellent job considering they're women drivers? A bit patronising and sexist maybe?

GrahamG

1,091 posts

267 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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But then again the girls had a compulsory 2 minute stop.

fauldss

653 posts

278 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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And why was that? Because the car should have been able to make up for it? Even so, that would have put them around 5 laps off the pace.

tuscansix

535 posts

276 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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The reasoning behind Viperman's comment is twofold. One having seen Annie Templeton racing in the BTCC (where she didn't acquit herself very well) he was not sure if she would be able to cope with driving the viper.
Secondly Annie and Amanda only got the chance to use the car for the first time two weeks ago, now there is a substantial difference between driving a production spec 306 and a GT2 spec Viper. So all in all they made a good first attempt.

fauldss

653 posts

278 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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OK, so would the same comments have been made if it were two male drivers?

flasher

9,238 posts

284 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
quotequote all

fauldss said: OK, so would the same comments have been made if it were two male drivers?


No, they would have been sacked for driving like muppets.....

fauldss

653 posts

278 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
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LOL - you think they are being paid to drive?

GrahamG

1,091 posts

267 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
quotequote all
Well if you think the Championship needs fewer cars then carry on and be negative - They're out there, their lap times, whilst not remotely top drawer were getting better all weekend and I'd expect them to improve

viperman

956 posts

265 months

Tuesday 8th April 2003
quotequote all
well, got a bit of a slagging off for that comment! im sorry but i think they did a good job, women drivers, first time in a viper, both had NO experience of the viper except the media day and a VERY brief test at the rock (stretton trashed the car!) and an airfield near silverstone, now the grid would have looked apauling if it wasnt for the viper (but i supose im biased) And about the incident of the moslers lapping the viper, im sory, but the viper isnt going to move onto the grass to let them pass, i didnt see it so i cant say if it was a bad move, Im sticking to my coment, im just glad the car was in one piece at the end,

AND if having perhaps slightly slower woman drivers with money and potentia sponsors interested, its better than having no car out and it sits in a garage doin sweetFA.