Race Report for Round Nine- Sprint Race
Chamberlain edges out de Zille to take sprint race win
A drying track awaited GT Cup competitors for Saturday’s sprint race. Though the conditions were still a bit tricky, drivers were required to put in two green flag laps. Two cars didn’t even make it to the grid however, the Top Cats Marcos’ missed the deadline for assembly and had to start from the pit lane. The #55 Lamborghini of John Seale made it out following an incident in practice but started from the back of the grid due to missing qualifying. Seamus Jennings in the #33 G-Cat Porsche had to sit out Saturday’s running while they waited for a part to arrive from Spa.
Chamberlain took an early lead from Dan de Zille, both setting times well below the two minute mark. The Porsche and Ferrari were barely apart throughout the sprint race, trading positions and fastest laps as they went. Though eventually, it was Richard Chamberlain who came out on top, setting a new fastest lap as he took the chequered flag.
Things looked to be going well for Chamberlain’s GTO rival Grahame Tilley. The Nissan GT-R was climbing the order and putting in a solid performance during the first part of the race. Fuel pressure issues crept in however, and Tilley had to stop the car after just six laps.
Dan de Zille took the GTC group win, and was joined on the podium by fellow FF Corse driver Laki Christoforou, despite Laki picking up a five second penalty for track limits. Tom Webb in the #13 Lamborghini completed the GTC podium.
GTB polesitter Sander Mortensen started from the pitlane, allowing David Frankland to inherit the spot. Frankland quickly found himself robbed, however, and Del Shelton took the lead. It wasn’t to last for Shelton, as soon after there were reports of vibrations coming from the BMW and he had to stop the car. That allowed David Frankland to retake the GTB lead and eventually claim the win. The two Top Cats Marcos’ made good recoveries and finished second and third in the group.
More great driving from Steve Ruston, finishing fifth overall and taking the win in group GTH. The McLaren finished ahead of Josh Jackson in the #21 Team Hard Ginetta and Chris Murphy’s Whitebridge Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage.
And in GTA there was more silverware for Kris Prosser, who took the win for Team Hard.
