Donington GT Cup triple tonic for duo
SAM Randon and Richard Marsh began their partnership in the GT Cup championship with three class wins from four attempts at Donington Park at the weekend.
The only race to burst their bubble was the opener, when Randon spun off with the class win in the bag.
The competition looks hotter than ever this season with 38 cars taking to the grid and 11 manufacturers represented.
Randon, from Ashbourne, and Marsh, from Kniveton, in their Team Hard Porsche 911, are competing in the GTB class, meaning they are up against a fair few quicker cars competing in different classes, amidst an array of Aston Martins, Lamnorghinis and others.
In regular GT Cup weekends, there is a morning sprint race on each of the two days, then an afternoon endurance race in which the drivers have to swap over mid-race.
A new driver classification – sport-pro – limits the time drivers classed as pro, including Randon, can spend in the car, meaning Marsh, has to start each endurance race.
Randon is familiar with the Porsche after last season but, experienced as Marsh is, the car represents a learning curve for him.
“I’ve not driven a Porsche for a long time, so it was quite the experience getting back into the swing of things at the test day on Thursday,” said Marsh.
“It was the first time in the car. But the new tyres transformed the car at the weekend and I was much more comfortable on the brakes and looking forward to the racing.”
Randon started by taking pole position in class in qualifying before things went wrong in the race.
“Qualifying was busy and I think my fastest lap was actually my first,” he said.
“It was always going to be tricky to get a clean lap in. Thankfully, I was able to early on and secure the pole. To be honest I wasn’t happy with the lap time and I was determined to better it in the race.”
After five laps, he was nine seconds in front of chasing GTB competition with the class victory in the bag.
Then, inexplicably, coming out of the Hollywood bend into the fast Craner Curve section, Randon put a wheel on the grass and
spun 360 degrees into the gravel, ending his race.
It was, he said, no-one’s fault but his own.
“The sprint race was going pretty swimmingly, out in the lead and battling some of the faster GTC and GTO class cars,” he said.
“I even got the time I wanted before I dropped a wheel on to the grass. I was so gutted for the team and I can only apologise. I hold my hands up, it was my error.
“I just felt so bad spinning out in front of Richard in our first race weekend.”
At least the format gives drivers a chance to put things right.
Marsh made a great start to the endurance race and came in at halfway with the class lead.
Bizarrely, they then hit trouble as the course computer suggested they were a whole lap down and in last place.
Randon went out to drive and kept them in the lead on the track before they made a series of appeals after the race.
Finally, the glitch was sorted out. It appeared the computer had missed Marsh’s arrival in the pit and, eventually, the class win was confirmed.
“It was a good stint and when I handed over to Sam, I thought we were in the lead,” said Marsh.
“Then the timings said otherwise and we were actually fourth in class and 33rd overall. I couldn’t believe it!
“Fortunately, there was a timing issue and Team Hard spoke to the officials and got it sorted, meaning that we took home our first win of the season and I’m delighted.”
The next day saw Marsh take on the sprint race, starting off by posting his best lap of the weekend in qualifying.
It put him in P2 for the race but he soon got in front, before being chased all the way in the 30-minute race by Nick Phelps in another Porsche.
“That was hectic. One mistake and a train of four or five cars would came past,” said Marsh.
“The GTC cars were faster in a straight line but held me up in the corners.
“It was so much fun and so competitive.”
When Marsh started the endurance race later, he was behind Phelps but, with his confidence in the car growing, he was able to out-break the other Porsche into the chicane and get past.
At halfway, Marsh arrived at the pit entry four seconds before the pit window opened, forcing him to follow the safety car for another lap.
It meamt Randon had to take over with the others having gained an advantage – but he was up to the challenge of regaining the lead and brought home their third class win.
“Missing the pit window cost us dearly but it is part of the strategy in GT racing,” said Randon.
“Richard was forced to do a very slow lap behind the safety car, while most of our competition swapped drivers.
“When we finally got to swap places, they were all at race speed so jumped in front of us in track position.”
Marsh was impressed with Randon’s efforts to sort out the problem.
“They were impressive times that Sam did to recover the position” he said.
“What a great start to our season,” Randon added.
“Richard and I worked well together and he was fast from the off despite very little time in the car.
“I hope he has enjoyed his first weekend, that qualifying lap was brilliant.”
The next round will be at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix layout in a one-day shoot-out format on May 1, with with 42 cars registered this time.