The race that we discussed earlier on in the thread. This Super GT series is still struggling for entries and grids are filled out with some cars that frankly you would not associate with these classes. It must be hoped that the recession does not prevent a few more coming out next year, because these cars can be mighty, and mighty entertaining too. Although he has now relinquished his role, well done to Stephen Archer for getting this series up and running.
The race was for 40 minutes with compulsory pit stops, although at least half the field drove solo. Notwithstanding the above comments, there was some fine racing, particularly at the front between two cars that absolutely epitomise what this class of racing should be all about. David Ellis had his Aston GT700R, based on the Virage shape on the front row, but on pole was Anthony Reid on the Marsh Plant Aston V8 seeing its first race in 9 years, since the late Gerry Marshall campaigned it with gusto. It was the superior power of the Ellis car that told off the line, and he took the lead chased by Reid, and the two cars left the rest for dead; no great surprise there, though.
Further back a cluster of Astons, Ancient (DB4/5s) and Modern (Vantage N24s) head into the Old Hairpin for the first time. The N24 at the front is the Scott/ Brooker-Cary car which was to finish 10th. Behind is the N24 (90) of George Miller/Les Goble and the DB5 (56) of Ian McCallum and John Bussell and I'll return to them in the next pic, and would ask you to note the position of the two cars relative to each other. Behind them is another N24, in which Tom Black was to finish 9th, and the Le Blanc/Smithers DB4 which finished 11th:-
The N24 and the DB5 were alongside each other going into the Old Hairpin, and neither were prepared to give way. Now I'm not sure whether they actually touched but clearly the N24 was forced to run wide into the gravel (here) and the DB5 gyrated. The upshot was that the whole field passed them. The N24 finished 12th of the 13 classified finishers, and the DB5 retired after just 2 laps:-
Meanwhile, Anthony Reid was still giving chase to David Ellis:-
Peter Foster (Ex DB4 man!) and Tim Mogridge just got on with it in the Ferrari 355 Challenge and took 6th place:-
In fact, Reid got ahead briefly a couple of times but in the wrong places enabling the superior power of the GT700R to retake the lead on the straights:-
However, this one worked! A superb move started back up the Craner Curves saw the Marshplant car get up the inside into The Old Hairpin, and from there on Reid kept the lead. Although Ellis tried to hold on, he started to slip back and retired the car with mechanical woes. It had been wonderful to watch these two whilst it lasted. More, please!:-
As well as the Ellis car, Reid expected a strong challenge from the very modern Caparo T1 (an invitation car? and no, I'm not going to put a pic of it up here) but although starting from the back and working through to 3rd place it's best lap was 3 seconds off Reid's. Instead 2nd place, albeit a lap behind was the Arthur and Boysie Thurtle Chevrolet Camaro Z28, driving in their usual fast and controlled style. Challenged early on by the Sunbeam Tiger of Jackie Cochrane, Cochrane later had to park it at Starkey's:-
The Le Blanc/Smithers DB4 was 11th:-
The beautifully presented Ford Mustang of Robin North was 7th:-
