Four winners populate the GT Cup podium at Brands RACE WINNERS
Two different McLarens, a Lamborghini and a Radical provided a varied list of winners in the home-grown GT Cup championship when it supported the GT World GT Challenge Europe.
A solo-driver sprint race on each day gave victories to Steve Burgess (Radical RXC) and Morgan Tillbrook’s McLaren. Saturday’s longer pitstop contest went easily to the Simon Orange/ Michael O’Brien McLaren after several others, including Marcus Clutton in Tillbrook’s car, suffered drivethrough penalties. Clutton retained second, and another McLaren shared by Ian Campbell and Oli Webb finished third.
Changing weather conditions were an important factor in Sunday’s pitstop race. Orange and Tillbrook were in a class of their own early on but had to stop for slicks and John Dhillon’s Lamborghini took over the lead. He was lucky to be there after a first-lap mistake sent him through the gravel trap at Clark Curve. He made the most of his second chance and handed over to Andrea Amici for victory by more than half a minute.
Lucky Khera (Ferrari) faltered on Saturday while chasing GTC honours, and inherited second in race two when quicker cars made their tyre stops. He finished third with co-driver David McDonald behind the recovering Clutton. The Saturday race winning Radical stopped with electrical problems.
Two Porsche Club Championship races were cut to one when their first appearance only lasted to lap three when Vikram Sudera rolled his Boxster at Paddock. Pete Morris was leading Kevin Harrison at the time, but a tight programme left no space for a rerun.
Harrison has a reputation as a quick starter, and he was in charge of race two from the first corner, Morris chasing in vain. Teammates James and Bill Caley were third and fourth, but a disappointing fixture for the Porsche squad ended early with a car off at Surtees.
Four outings by the 7 Race
Series produced two double winners. Phil Jenkins triumphed in the 420R class but had Anthony Barnes in close company throughout. An early chequered flag thwarted what looked likely to be a last-lap slipstreaming contest in their first race.
Races for the less numerous 1600 class were more entertaining. Gary Smith survived
GT Cup Championship
Race 1: Steve Burgess (Radical RXC); Race 2: Simon Orange/ Michael O’Brien (McLaren 720S GT3); Race 3: Morgan Tillbrook (McLaren 720S GT3); Race 4: John Dhillon/Andrea Amici (Lamborghini Huracan GT3)
Porsche Club Championship Kevin Harrison (996 C2)
7 Race Series – 420R class Races 1 & 2: Phil Jenkins
1600 class
Races 1 & 2: Gary Smith
a brief gravel trap visit to win the first encounter, and even starting ninth on a partreversed second race grid wasn’t going to keep him from the top of the podium.