Mondello round: GT championship

[up-the-dubs]

Off I went today to Mondello (bout an hours drive) to see a GT race. Missed Le Mans last week so I needed a fix! I've never been to a GT race before and to be honest I was surprised. Several things struck me. For starters, Mondello and Ireland are not particularly good at hosting events like this so it was a bit ramshackle around the pits. The single seaters had dibs on the pit garages which left the GTs in their lean-two camper vans. Confused me into wondering who was the main event.

However, I was there for only one race and it was time to spectate properly. It started off good but the Panoz got off to a good lead that looked unasailable. When two 911s tangled on the first corner the safety car was required at which point the farce began.

The safety car missed the leading Panoz.

So now we have the situation of 2nd place being behind the safety car and the leader being at the back of the procession and a lap ahead of 2nd! Only in Ireland! They tried to rectify the situation at the end of the safety car session but it all went arse over tit and the race was decided then.

There was a good battle for the podium positions right up to the flag (.027 seperating them if I heard the tannoy correctly) that added at least a good bit of interest.

For my first GT race that I could actually follw (Le Mans is a procession of cars of which you have no-idea who's leading who!) it was great. Long may the GT series continue.

Any chance of more cars though?



Some pics anyway:

Mainstraight:


THAT Pacecar! Seriously, a Volco Cross Country!




Last Corner:

[mutley]

up-the-dubs said:

For my first GT race that I could actually follw (Le Mans is a procession of cars of which you have no-idea who's leading who!) it was great. Long may the GT series continue.

Any chance of more cars though?

Glad you enjoyed the races, tbh, it's just a shame it was so close to Le Mans otherwise I woulda made the trip.

up-the-dubs said:

The safety car missed the leading Panoz.

It doesn't have to catch the leader, it is scrambled to neutralise the race. Once the incident has been cleared cars are waved passed until the leader is behind the SC.

[up-the-dubs]

mutley said:

It doesn't have to catch the leader, it is scrambled to neutralise the race. Once the incident has been cleared cars are waved passed until the leader is behind the SC.

It was broadcast on the tannoy that the pace car was ready to pick up the leader to allow the safety crews to remove the 911s. Except that the pace car missed the Panoz by about a second! Car roars up the straight as teh pace car comes out of the pits!!!!! D'oh. Commentator couldn't believe that it had gone wrong!

And yes, cheers, I enjoyed it alot .

[V8 Archie]

up-the-dubs said:

The safety car missed the leading Panoz.

So now we have the situation of 2nd place being behind the safety car and the leader being at the back of the procession and a lap ahead of 2nd! Only in Ireland! They tried to rectify the situation at the end of the safety car session but it all went arse over tit and the race was decided then.

That sounds pretty standard for BGT. I'd say that farce seems to follow the series - but a lot seems to come from inside.

[mutley]

V8 Archie said:

..but a lot seems to come from inside.

I agree with that.

Would be interested if it was the regular SC driver was at the wheel.

[rooster]

Did you hear me yelling for the panoz? I have been to virtually every race and I keep loosing my voice, came back from Le Mans very hoarse. Brill fun tho, cracking good weather on the Sunday in Mondello and it was my blokes birthday!