British GT having fun at Spa

Friday, July 11, 2014



With the teams having made their way across the Channel to the iconic Circuit De Spa Francorchamps earlier in the week for what would Round 5 - races 7 and 8 and final double header of the season, fans will need to make themselves available for what is a rather unusual timetable.

As the British GT was acting in almost  'support' of the now infamous Funcup 25Hr Of Spa race both free practice and qualifying was held earlier this afternoon in readiness for two 60minute races BOTH taking place tomorrow Saturday 12th July.

With the exception of the Aston Martin GT4 teams all of the GT3 Vantages had already enjoyed a day's test at the Spa circuit a week or so ago at the Official Spa24Hr test so track data had already been set. Come the end of Free Practice this morning a notable achievement for an Aston Martin team was made when Paul White (who hadn't attended the previous test day) was only just pipped to the post for being fastest by non other than WEC regular Toni Vilander in the #15 AF Corse Ferrari - a margin of just 0.070seconds.


Qualifying 1

With the Amateurs having the first qualifying session early times were being set by Jeff Smith who was returning to the #5 Oman Racing Team car with Rory Butcher after his initial Snetterton outing. With 5minutes to go Andrew Howard was in P2 behind the quicker Ecurie Ecosse. In GT4 the Beechdean and TF Sport Vantages were holding 3rd and 5th respectively in class.

Then another red flag halted the proceedings and with little over 3minutes of the session remaining the organisers waved the remaining time and with many teams getting caught out the Race 1 grid would look like this.

GT3

P2 #4 Oman Racing
P3 #1 Beechdean
P4 #5 Oman Racing
P11 #6 PGF Kinfaun
P17 #28 HPR
P21 #38 MP Motorsport
P22 #21 Strata21

GT4

P28 #49 TF Sport
P29 #407 Beechdean

Qualifying 2

With the red flag issues being quickly settled it was then the turn of the professional drivers to ply their trade. Early paces were again being set by AMR teams with Onslow-Cole squabbling for bragging rights with the Nissan Academy driver Wolfgang Reip.

With only moments remaining Beechdean's Jonny Adam slotted his car home in P2 just half a second behind the pole setter. A very elated Tom Onslow-Cole nets a great fourth just 0.7 seconds off pole but notably about a second off his best time set at the Spa24Hr test! Taking it easy maybe?!

The qualifying grid for Race 2 was set to be almost an inverse of that in Race 1.

GT3

P2 #1 Beechdean
P4 #21 Strata21
P6 #6 PGF Kinfaun
P14 # Oman Racing
P16 #38 MP Motorsport
P20 #4 Oman Racing
P21 #28 HPR

GT4

P29 #407 Beechdean
P32 #49 TF Sport

With the title battle now really heating it reigning champion Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam have at least got the closest championship rivals, the #79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 within eyesight but we all know has treacherous this circuit can be if the weather turns against them and the pressure it places the car and driver under.

With some live streaming video and timing being available at http://www.vwfuncup.eu/stream.aspx all will become apparent very soon.






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