UKGTR Endurance Masters - Spa - Dec 3

[Paul Richards]

Many congrats to Ruskus and Leuven on their wins.

I had a nightmare first stint. Lost it on the first lap so to the back of the field it was. Then lost it again at the same spot (Les Combes) just after passing Leuven while making my was past the NGT cars. Car went on to the grass backwards and pretty slowly but then wouldn't stop! Ended up sliding slowly back into the path of Leuven and we made contact. Many apologies mate and very glad to see it didn't slow you down too much!!

After the pit stop the car was much better and was able to gain a second or two a lap. Was trying to be helpful to the front running GTs as they passed me. Thought I gave Radius room up the inside at La Source but we made contact. Not sure if you broke a bit late or I turned in too soon so many apologies if it was the latter. Its my birthday today so need a couple of beers after all that!

[Bernie Lomax]

Yep, great battle for first 50 mins or so with Jonzo. Took over from where we left off at Bruno. Was getting caught in the corners but seemed to have the pace on the straights. Got a tap while being overlapped and that was the end of the battle. Sorry to hear you suffered the same fate mate. Not sure I would have been able to hold you off much longer.

Lost 2nd place to Minton a couple of corners from the end of the last lap. Although i didn't know it was for second or the last lap at the time.

[Martin Steinmetz]

Well, I'm really sorry for bumping into you Bernie, was on the brakes when i touched you, but obviously not hard enough. :-/
Otherwise my race quite good, i never liked Spa and despite being in the fastest car i couldn't match Jons or Jeffreys pace. Much to my surprise i found myself in the lead after everyone had pitted, but i lost the lead in Blanchimont with 2 laps to go.

Grats Ruskus and i really hope i didn't ruin your race completely Bernie.

[Bernie Lomax]

No worries, these things happen. Cost me one place at the most so it wasn't a total disaster.

[PaulW]

I came, I saw, I drove like I was concussed

Good fun regardless but never quite there all night. Got a tap from a GT driver which meant an extra pit stop for the resultant puncture too. Not to worry, just one of those things although you had the whole darn straight coming up to get past fella!

Also witnessed some splendid driving in qualifying from a GT driver who decided he'd rather ruin my lap than his and physically barged into me at the entrance to the Bus Stop- hope you got a good time out of it

[Jimmie]

Quite nice race, Vette drives very neat, but just lacks a bit speed somehow. But the car is such great fun

Too bad my engine gave up at lap 26... :'(

And sorry for the slight touch PaulW, I was waiting to pass and you suddenly lifted off throttle?

[picnic]

Replay and provisional results posted

[Jeffrey]

The raced started hard for me. After the formation lap, my tyres were still cold and the Lambo was very twitchy at through Eau Rouge. So I had to correct there, giving me an awefull exit and being eaten by another Lambo and a Saleen. I braked earlier than normal and see the two go wide, si I could get my 2nd place back .

I could slowly increase the gap and try to come closer to Jon. But at sometime something happened (forgot what ) and after that I couldn't match Jon's pace. When the backmarkers came, I won again and I was behind Jon for some laps. He tested the wall at the busstop  so after that I was in 1st.

Me and Jon were right behind eachother going into the pits, so I was afraid we would share the same box, but luckily that wasn't the case. I pitted with 40 minutes left, and filled her up to the top. When I wanetd to drive away, I stalled it  . My 1st gear was so late, I had to turn the limiter off, and do a burnout to get away . Almost getting a s/g in the progress .

When I came out, Radius was right behind me again, and I had a problem. I was on cold tyres, with full fuel, while he was already at racepace again. I had to be carefull at the straight. After Kemmel straight he was on my inside. Les Combes is a righthander, but right after is the lefthander, so I stayed at his side, and so I had a better line in the 2nd part and I kept 2nd. When my tyres were at good temp, I could slowly increase the gap again.

I had somebody infront of me that time and I thought he still had to pit, but when I saw it was Martin, there was a good possibility that he already did his stop. Must have been a very quick stop as I didn't see him the whole race. Amazing .

I was following for many laps, but the speed of the 575 was too great, and there wasn't a way to overtake. But he went wide at Blanchimont and I could take the inside at the busstop. At that point there was still 8 minutes to go. But the lap after that we finished .

The whole race was very enjoyable, and grats Leuven for the win.

[Madd-RIP]

  Managed areasonable quali but had to check around the car for the 500Kg of ballast! times were way off the top guys ( as per usual) but the car felt reasonable so had better hopes for the race.....That was until I sat down and bumped the gear lever nudging me forward for a false start... wasn't sure if I could serve it after pace lap so completed one lap then pitted, result, LAST place, felt a bit like Groundhog day!
Still went as fast as I could and finally got up to 6th, enjoyed tbh giving the car hell for 80 minutes  , made a few errors and was very unhappy with myself when lapping the NGT battle as I very nearly took them out with a slightly rash manouvre into la source, car locked up so kept going straight on rather than possibly collect anyone, my apologies to all those concerned, hope I didn't mess up the battle too much.
Still, I feel as if I'm drowning a bit lately, just nowhere near the pace. I think I've reached my ceiling, ah well roll on the next race.

Ps sorry about the start, pressed the wrong buttn for limiter, just not my day.

PPS congratulations to both the GT and  NGT podiums!

[Minton]

Good race for me even without a pitboard , i didnt have a clue where iwas for after the pitstops.  Got held up at the start and Leuven Managed to get a 3 second gap ... Think he must of tangled with a gt car as i suddenly caught and passed him. Had good battle for 2 laps untill i took to much kerb and spun dropping me to 4th. After TT spun the first time this left me in 3rd and was pushing hard before my pitstop .  Had quite a good pitstop , but didnt have clue where i was so just pushed hard and managed to catch Bernie,   Had a bit of fortune when Luis Lapped us and just scrapped past Bernie for second in class, Sorry bout that Bernie just had to be done.
Grats to Ruskus and Leuven on the wins and as usual great driving by everyone!
Cheers

[Jeffrey]

Unofficial Lapchart

[Minton]

I very nearly took them out with a slightly rash manouvre into la source, car locked up so kept going straight on rather than possibly collect anyone, my apologies to all those concerned, hope I didn't mess up the battle too much.

Yeah that did make me laugh Matt, one minute you were behind me the next you were out braking 4 cars but no harm done...Good result for you mate.

[Radius]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!! lol that Saleen is a blast to drive...but my tires were shot loooooooong before i realised what track i was at .......

Great racing all round but i had to push real hard to get that car up front with the others. Good defensive driving and overtaking...hard and clean! and very much on the limit!

Real fun..i as a bit sad to see the end so soon thou.

Sry to MJ for the tap thru Blancimont (or whatever its called)....i had a big lift off the gas on entry and when i thought id get pass on the exit you seemed to have slowed a tiny bit but it was enough for a slight kiss and as i looked in my rear i saw you scrape the wall..really felt like apologising but didn't want to chat. Sry anyway..unintentional of course.

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

That was until I sat down and bumped the gear lever nudging me forward for a false start... wasn't sure if I could serve it after pace lap so completed one lap then

For future reference I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't be allowed to serve it at the end of the pace lap. GTR2 won't mind as it thinks the pace lap is a racing lap, and the other drivers won't mind because you'll still come out last regardless (especially at Spa with it's looooooon pit lane).

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

Me and Jon were right behind eachother going into the pits, so I was afraid we would share the same box, but luckily that wasn't the case.

In a field of 26 nobody should be sharing at Spa - it has far more pit boxes than anywhere else, and far more boxes than the server can support drivers.