UKGTL Season 5 Classic Endurance Cup - Hungaroring - May 1

[Jeffrey]

Unofficial Lapchart

[Mr.BMW]

Unofficial Lapchart

Thanks, this will be good reading material at work

[Blunder]

Wow 3rd! I still can't believe it!!
Qualified in 4th with a PB!
Got a lowsy start but after a couple of cars span at turn 2 and I threaded the needle between them then we were away in 5th!
Had some fantastic battles with Ade and Steve.. Ade made a minor mistake and I was through, was behind Steve for what seemed like ages!
Didn't want to risk a forced pass so was patient until eventually all that tail sliding in the Daytona took it's tole, a minor slide got me through!
Was then pushed really hard by Ade but he eventually had some sort of issue and he dropped back.
Then back to sticking in a few quick consistent laps for as long a stint as possible! JR and Mike must have pitted at that point cos I was leading!
That fact nearly had me off at every corner! the pressure!! 
On the last lap before pitting an unforced error into turn 1 saw me bumping into the inside barrier and a 360 spin! Rejoined cursing
I had not pitted sooner.Luckily no damage!  Exited the pits in 5th, and thought I had blown it! 4th place pitted leaving me with 7 secs behind Syd in 3rd.
Threw caution to the wind and went for it! Syd must have had a couple of minor issues cos I caught and passed him reasonable quickly.
Syd then seemed to find another gear and kept me honest to the end!
I think this equals my best finish ever!
Will be skipping round the office until next weeks race brings me back to earth.
Thanks guys, a real pleasure !

[Sandor M]

mmm, Bit of a strange race.
After only 3 laps there was nobody to fight with and all i could do was bring the car back to finish in one piece.
For that I succeeded although sometimes it was hard to keep your mind focussed.

On to the next race.

[Mark J]

My apologies for quitting the race so early, not something i like doing. I shouldnt have attented, doing two mid-week enduros in consecutive weeks is a tough call with a missus. I had no practise except a few familiarisation laps and missed the pre race practise and qualifying through some 'domestic bliss'  .
I can usually pick up the pace quite quickly in GTL, but starting from the back of the grid in an unfamiliar car with no qually time and then dropping behind a horde of elans to the tune of -7 seconds within 3 laps told me it was better to leave. 

LOL, looking at the car entry list, ....with regards to the Elan 

Hungaoring is a great add-on track mod, but i think it would make a better circuit for our modern GT racing than the classics. I prefer older vintage tracks for GTL.

[mr_oily]

Awesome race this end, thanks again organisers and grats podium - probably my favourite to date with 25 overtakes woohoo!

Had good pace and qually'd 5th thanks to a sweet setup from Mr.Beemer and help from Wiltshire in praccy. Got a good start but I thought everything was looking a bit rosy and after a little dancing with Geoffers (no need to quit dude, waiting would have been fine!  ), went all the way to the back of the grid.

Too many tussles to remember but enjoyed some great close and fair racing, ended up three abreast into turn one at one point which was an eye opener and then joined the lads in the lime green Prodigy train we had going. Swapped places with Will a few times and then thought i'd try my luck by doing an early stop to get some clean air and not changing tyres to save some pit time. It seemed to pay off and when the stops were over i'd leapfrogged a few and got up to tenth. Towards the last laps saw Tinman on the horizon and went about trying to catch him. Had a great little dice before trying a last of the late brakers move into turn one....and failing miserably. Luckily Tinman got off his roof, back onto four wheels and we rejoined in the same places - sorry mate!

At this point we were racing for sixth place (which is quite exciting for us greenies) but all the theory went out of the window and instead of waiting for an opportunity patiently and then taking it decisively, I did an Oily special, got all excited and just went about hounding the little yellow Elan from all angles. Ended up trying a switchback on the last corner of the last lap, got up the inside, got the power down but it was a fraction too early sending me a bit sideways. Thought I was going to take it for a minute but it wasn't to be and TinMan pipped me to the post by a foot max! Thanks and well done dude, that was brilliant  

[ginsters sponsored]

How on earth did I manage to finish only one place behind you after my nightmare first stint?! Were the Elans really that much faster?!

I had no defence against that ruddy car, except sideways through corners. You make a fair point though, I did kill you last night and deserve to gain far more points than I did

The fact that so many chose the Elan means that it's undeniably popular, for whatever reason, and it would be just wrong not to cater for those people. It will remain an option whilst so many enjoy it. However, I can't wait to reap my revenge with the GT40 at Goodwood

[Mark J]

but ginsters, arent you missing the point slightly on 'why' so many people took the Elan ?  I'm pretty sure its not because its so many peoples favourite classic sportscar 

Sounds like it needs some ballast added  ...runs for the hills..

[Wiltshire Tony]

I'm completely missing the point about what the issue is with people choosing the Elan.
It was available, it was chosen. End off.

[ginsters sponsored]

but ginsters, arent you missing the point slightly on 'why' so many people took the Elan ?  I'm pretty sure its not because its so many peoples favourite classic sportscar 

Well no, hence I said for "whatever reason"   The reason doesn't really matter, people took it because they enjoyed it and thats enough for me. The open selection policy only runs in Enduro, which was part of its attraction, so don't worry the Elan won't have a huge advantage in any sprints. I think it made a change for them to have the upper hand last night, it won't happen at Goodwood

By the way, nothing should take away the gloss from some of the Elan clan results last night. Twas great to see some score their best results  and some new faces at the top (same old one right at top of course ).

[Mike Wrightson]

I thought I would have more bother with the Elans in the race TBH, they weren't far off in qually and I expected to find them buzzing round the Cobra and Daytona like flies

It was one hell of a workout driving the Cobra though 

[Jeffrey]

I'm very happy for those with their greatest result in the Elan .

However, we missed a few big names last night, and I think when they would have picked an Elan (Bara, Madd etc), I think they would have won it hands down.

I know open car selection is good, I absolutely support it, but I don't like one car sticking out above the rest. That's the reason why the GT40 wasn't allowed.

[Mike Wrightson]

I hope I'm not coming across as arrogant with my post, I've never driven the Elan so I don't know exactly how good it is 

[Jeffrey]

I'm very happy for those with their greatest result in the Elan .

Thats a little churlish :'( Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of the Elan but those that did well in it, i.e. beating other Elans, do deserve honest credit not sarcasm.

Where on earth am I being sarcastic there? I used no teal, no wink smileys  . I think you are pulling my post out of proportion.

And if there is something I can't stand, that's being falsely accused of something.

[Mike Wrightson]

I think Ginsters misunderstood that post, perhaps instead of <-- looks like its laughing.