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WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST 2009
SILVERSTONE CLOSES CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD TO ONE POINT
Imagine if you'd entered a championship with argueably
the best car, won a bunch of races and was leading
the whole deal to suddenly find that the car was not
legal. All you're poinst wiped and the car thrown
out?
That is exactly what has happened after protests
from David and Godfrey Jones and their Preci Spark
Ascari team. The MSA's National Court has ruled that
the Mosler MT900 GT3 is no longer eligible to race
in the GT3 Class of the British GT Championship. Yikes!
That's going to piss some people off.
It's a complex issue pinpointing exactly why this
has happened but it appears the SRO (the body that
promotes FIA GT racing around the globe) neglected
to add two words to the FIA homologation documents
- "and national" - which would have allowed the Mosler
to contest the British GT Championship, one that is
considered "National".
But as is inevitable, one tradgedy is offset by another
victory.
With Dan Brown, no longer in the points or the championship,
it would be down to three cars to take the title:
A Viper, an Ascari and Allan Simonsen/Hector Lester's
Rosso Verdi Ferrari 430 GT3.
Whilst it was not mathematically impossible for Simonsen
to take the title, he was 10 points adript of his
team mate.
The odd timing of the Le Mans 24 Hour race had forced
the Dane to miss Knockhill. Only if Hector was unable
to drive would the situation change and this was most
unlikely. Consequently all efforts were now behind
Hector, to secure him his first national title.
Thirty kilograms of ballast still lay in the Ferrari,
albiet strategically placed. It would make the job
difficult, but so long as Hector kept out of trouble
and handed the car to Allan as early as possible with
out losing too much time, there was a good chance
of grabbing points.
On a full tank of fuel, Simonsen headed to practice
and the result was encouraging - only the new generation
GT3's (F430 Scuderia, Ford GT) could keep in touch.
Suddenly, Hector heading infield, in the final moments
of practice, with the fire extinguisher setting itself
off! More clean up work for the team and an early
shower for Hector.
Racing can be so weird. how can things suddenly change
so dramatically? With P being very positive, Allan
set out for qualifying only to find the car unable
to rev over 4000rpm. Game over! They would now start
from rear of grid.
Hector did what he could as the race unfolded, clearing
the GT4 cars to hang onto the rear of the GT3 field.
At the 30 minute mark, the Chad Racing Ferrari touched
their Ferrari, tearing the front bumper off, causing
handling problems.
That meant 20 minutes of pain for Hector, before
he could come in to swap driving duties to Allan.
In that time he lost a lap.
At handover time, the engineers looked at the damage,
costing a further 3 laps. The front bumper mounting
points were damaged and were unable to be repaired,
so with 70 minutes left, Allan headed out sans front
aero aids! Not pleasant.
Never let it be said that Allan Simonsen is one to
give up, no matter what the odds. With the car less
than optimum he would set the fastest race lap on
his 2nd lap. But 4 laps down is too much for anyone
and the team salavaged 6th place.
This now put Hector in 70 points, 1 down from the
leaders, Allan in 4th, with 60 points.
With 20kg of ballast now able to be shod for Brands
Hatch, things are looking very positive indeed for
an exciting finale.
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