BRITISH GT - Round 2 - Knockhill
10th May 2010
The Knockhill round does not always attract the full entry so it was good to have 15 cars entered but more importantly 5 G4 cars were down to race.
As a result of still ongoing technical indecisiveness we were subjected to even more weight and ride height penalties for this round.
So it was not brimmed with confidence that we did practice and the qualifying results confirmed our misgivings with P3 and P2 in the two qualifying races.
Race 1
Including a success ballast from the results of Round 1, Ben started this race carrying 105 kg of ballast. but still gained a position on the very quick Piranha Motorsport Lotus 211 which then retired on the next lap with gearchange issues. Ben steadfastly maintained P2 until the pit lane opened and was one of the early changes. Rory lost a place after the stops but soon made it back up to P2 on lap 28 but the strain of all the extra weight clearly affected the car and it tore out a gearbox mounting on lap 32 and car 44 had to be retired.
Race 2
Simon, Marcus and Pete worked tirelessly to try and get the car on the grid for Race 2. Peter also had lengthy discussions with SRO on the weight penalty issue. Fortunately, they saw sense, particularly from the safety aspect and agreed to reduce the amount of ballast to be carried.
The Piranha boys too had been busy and the Lotus was also ready for battle. It's superior speed saw it shoot up to P3 passing Rory who used his circuit knowledge to keep up with the Lotus and Ginettas and moving up to P2 at the driver change over. A three way battle between the X-Bow, Lotus and Speedworks Ginetta then ensued right up till the last 7 laps when all kinds of mayhem broke loose with the ex ABG run Viper embarking on a demolition derby sideswiping the X-Bow and pitching the Lotus into the gravel where it found itself beached as well.
Ben saved the car and raced through to the end to retain P2 in the G4 class.
So a mixed ending for this crazy race with the official results still to be ratified pending several investigations.
Next round will be at the fabulous Spa Francorchamps circuit at the beginning of June which is also hosting the European GT4 round.
