UKGTL Season 5 GT Classics Cup - Silverstone (GP 1987-90) - April 17

[Mark J]

Didnt really get into that track last night, found it pretty boring on the whole but enjoyed some good little scraps for short spells of the race, notably with Ginsters, Ade and Will at different times.

Dont know what the rest of the field was doing but i had a 20 second gap to the car behind me by lap 13 of 25 !

Some oddly suspect driving by a few individuals again, i couldnt believe that with a track wide enough to get 3 buses side by side, certain people still felt the need to bash their way through or try to overtake at mid apex   The bully drivers tended to be in the yank tank or capris from what i saw in my lowly qually slot (17th?), although i wasnt on the receiving end i still tutt-tutted as i watched incidents around me and found myself in 10th spot by lap 3 !

Enjoyed a good several lap battle with Ginsters,   though it was only a matter of time before his horses pulled him clear on this power circuit.

On about lap 19 whilst 11th? i got clumped mid apex on one of the fastest corners by someone who, looking at his erratic driving, i was amazed was ahead of me!?, and lost about 20-25 seconds and a place to a following Will (who had been 20secs behind!). Not seen replay yet so not going to condemn anyone but the same driver binned it and left the race about a lap later 
I chased hard after Will again to get my place back but he kept his cool and i out-braked myself at the final corner with 2 laps remaining. Would have been a good fight in two 911's to the wire if not for that!..well done Will  

Not really a fan of that layout but you have to have all sorts of circuits that suit different cars throughout the season so not complaining.

[Steve Holmes]

Bit of a missed opportunity for me there, just developed a complete mental block on the final complex of corners early in the race and tensed up every time I approached it and messed it up big time for lap after lap.  Threw away a good opportunity to be fighting for 2nd come the end, as otherwise I'd have been able to hang onto the back of Prib and Assassino and attack them (along with Mike) at the end - I had so much grip left, the car was sticking just as well at the end as at the start.

Weird too, I'd even said on my team forum after testing just how much fun the final corner was, same in qually, but in the race I think I got it slightly wrong early on and then that was that, I tensed up every time and threw away the great speed I had on the rest of the lap with a missed apex or running off track at the final bend.  Took me until around lap 20 to start relaxing and getting it right again, too late by then, I'd thrown away a better result by constantly letting other cars through entering the pit straight.  Mind management needed!   

However, it did make for some superb close racing, particularly with Geoffers.  Two consecutive laps we were side by side round the bottom of the circuit, very enjoyable racing with space left by both of us.    After gaffing again at my bogey corner Geoffers got away and then I very slowly worked on closing the 5 second gap by a few tenths per lap on average but I wasn't going to catch him.  Damn shame when he ran wide, didn't even know it was the last lap, that is so frustrating, I could feel the pain.  Felt unfair taking the place but after my multitude of mistakes I was glad to get 5th.   

[BillThomas]

My first GTL finish in an evening league this year.  With Virgin Media’s poor evening performance, the only place I’ve been able to race has been in an early Sunday morning league.  My new ISP’s ping is great - it’s brilliant being able to race close with another car.

Qualified 15th which was pleasing but I made my usual start and ran too wide in the T2 traffic jam trying to avoid a shunt.  Rejoined in last place, as SBG said its fun to drive back through the field.  I think he joined, after his off, just in front of me and I chased but to no avail – Yank Tank power won out.  Had quite a few laps battle with Mooijekind which was very close at times each trying to take advantage at our best corners.  Eventually I managed to pull away and then had a lonely drive into 16th.  Most enjoyable return.

Bill

[Wiltshire Tony]

My first GTL finish in an evening league this year.  With Virgin Media’s poor evening performance, the only place I’ve been able to race has been in an early Sunday morning league.  My new ISP’s ping is great - it’s brilliant being able to race close with another car.

Qualified 15th which was pleasing but I made my usual start and ran too wide in the T2 traffic jam trying to avoid a shunt.  Rejoined in last place, as SBG said its fun to drive back through the field.  I think he joined, after his off, just in front of me and I chased but to no avail – Yank Tank power won out.  Had quite a few laps battle with Mooijekind which was very close at times each trying to take advantage at our best corners.  Eventually I managed to pull away and then had a lonely drive into 16th.  Most enjoyable return.

Bill

Hi Bill, can I get some details of that league please (pm me if you want)

[Geoffers]

A bit annoyed with myself for losing 5th on the last lap but otherwise an enjoyable race.

Got a good start (unusual for me) & made up 3 places by Copse. Ran a bit wide at Becketts but then so did a few others. Exchanged places with Stnasky's Corvette a couple of times on the opening laps, he came past on the straights but I retook him on the corners  . Then settled into a great dice with Steve Holmes which saw us side by side for a considerable part of 2 laps. He got ahead twice but as he said made a mess of Woodcote each time & handed 4th place back to me.

My 4th place wasn't too comfortable though as Mike Hammer's 906 was all over me through the bends although my Capri could open the gap on the straights. I thought as long as I can get the bends right he will have a struggle getting past. I did OK for about 5 or 6 laps but ran wide at Club & left the door open.

Gradually the 906 eased away until he caught Assassino & PR. Their dice seemed to slow them up & I started to catch them. I was still 2s behind with a lap to go & thought if I can put in a good last lap & one of them makes a slight mistake I could gain a place. NO, I tried too hard & ran too wide at Club, got on the grass & spun  :'(. Fortunate only to lose one place to Steve & finish 6th.

Congrats to the podium.

Cya all next week at Nurby
Geoffers

[Tibernius]

Let me add my name to the list of people who hate this track. It's horrible. I'd much rather race at the modern Silverstone than this one.

[ginsters sponsored]

Hate is such a strong word We'd much rather hear why you gents hate this/that so we can determine what you fancy. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

[Jeffrey]

I loved the track . Finally a track at which the Vette can stretch it's legs. It's wide, flowing and a fast track. Much better than some Mickey Mouse tracks .

[Wiltshire Tony]

I loved the track . Finally a track at which the Vette can stretch it's legs. It's wide, flowing and a fast track. Much better than some Mickey Mouse tracks .

Agree for all those reasons. Bout time we had a track that you can go flat out on.

[Mark J]

for exactly what JR just said, i dont have a problem with using this sort of track. We have to have the variety to suit all car types and classes.
My 911 was easily outgunned last night on this track but i cant expect to have it always suiting a porker. It would have been easy for me to jump into a vette or Capri if i wanted but i preferred sticking to my fave come hell or high water  
This silverstone config favours the horsepower, the top 10 confirms that but next race the tables may be turned, so rough with the smooth and all that  

If anything, the only thing that made my race a bit duller was the fact that everyone from 12th? down was so far behind by mid race  ..can only presume they stopped for a punch up/cup of tea !

[Steve Holmes]

I rather liked the track, not a huge fan of fiddly slow corners, and dislike chicanes, so it was good.  But, a lot of the corners are almost the same, bang down a gear or 2 and try to find the apex on the map, so I can understand why some might not like it.  Like MJ says, variety is the key.

[Tibernius]

Hate is such a strong word We'd much rather hear why you gents hate this/that so we can determine what you fancy. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

It didn't have enough corners!

I don't mind the occasional race on this kind of track but if it was a season of these...

[BillThomas]

This version is what racing is all about an out and out power circuit - none of those stupid 1st gear corners or chicanes.  What we need is a longer race to give the 906 a chance to exploit it's low fuel consumption and tyre wear.  More Sir, More.

Bill

[Wiltshire Tony]

This version is what racing is all about an out and out power circuit - none of those stupid 1st gear corners or chicanes.  What we need is a longer race to give the 906 a chance to exploit it's low fuel consumption and tyre wear.  More Sir, More.

Bill

well said Sir

[Sandor M]

Had a rather slick race with just a few minor mistakes from my side and one incident after a few laps. 
Have to see the replay before further comment.
Battled with Bill for a few laps and when i made a mistake it was just getting to the finish.

Again no points but made it to the finish which is almost a victory to me

Can't wait for the next race

Nice race tho.. (and grats to to my teammate  )

lol , it was a close race and you ended just one place behind me