Brands Hatch Indy - GT Cup - October
Photos:
GT Cup Report - Brands Hatch, 25th October
Gardiner Double Victory But Pushed All The Way
Mark Gardiner ended the 2009 GT Cup season with another double victory in the season finale at Brands Hatch.
After a wet qualifying session on Saturday, Sunday’s two races were held in dry, sunny conditions and brought Gardiner’s Dodge Viper two hard fought overall wins.
Race 1
At the rolling start Peter Seldon (#23 BMW E46 M3 GTR) was not planning on giving up his hard earned pole position easily but Gardiner made what even he thought was a very brave overtaking move at Paddock and took the lead.
Seldon refused to let him get away and the two of them had a superb battle as the race progressed as they weaved their way through the field.
However at the end of the race Seldon ran into fuel pressure problems and the Viper eventually took what looked like an easy win but one which Gardiner admitted had been very hard indeed. Howard Spooner in the #4 Morgan Aero 8 was third in class also with failing fuel pressure. The #89 Lotus Europa of Chris Randall was in frame for a podium spot until a drive shaft let go,
In Group Two Jim Geddie (#78 Porsche 997 GT3) was in control and looking good for a group win until on lap 22 he ran wide at Paddock and arrived in the gravel trap. All the Group Two action had been going on behind him… Alex Martin in his #87 Porsche GT3 Cup car had qualified 5th in the Group but was on a mission and got involved in a great battle with Vicki Butler-Henderson (#36 Ferrari 430 Challenge GT). Eventually they touched and Martin picked up a puncture and retired.
Initially Jeff Leadley and his #34 Ferrari 430 Challenge GT had started the race quietly but he made his way through the field picking up speed all the time and he went on to win the Group ahead of Butler-Henderson and Ray Dias (#40 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup) who came third.
In Group Three Richard Denny in his #25 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup car had surprised everybody, including himself, with a cracking qualifying session that put him on pole in Group Three. He went on to drive an excellent race keeping out of trouble and winning the Group ahead of the fast charging Marco Pullen in his #13 Ferrari 360 GTC. Gary Eastwood (#55 Porsche 996 GT3) and Henry Firmin (#22 Porsche 996 GT3) had a race long scrap that ended when Firmin admitted he had made an ambitious move on Eastwood and made contact putting Eastwood out of contention with a puncture.
Group Four saw the return of Chris Everill in his remarkable #75 Ginetta G20 and he turned his Group Four pole position into a race win ahead of Matt Cummings in his nimble Lotus Exige (# 89) and Robert Koenig in his immaculate #38 Porsche 993.
Race 2
Once again the #23 BMW E46 M3 GTR was on pole, this time driven by Matt Seldon.
After Gardiner’s heroic overtaking manoeuvre in Race One, Matt was ready for it and he hung onto the lead. Seldon then set about the double challenge of fending off the Gardiner Viper and finding his way past cars that he was lapping. It all went well until the BMW sprang a leak in the cooling system and had to retire. But the BMW had certainly taken the fight to Gardiner who then cruised home to win with neither the Morgan Aero 8 nor the Lotus Europa finishing the race.
In Group Two it was once again Geddie (#78 Porsche 997 GT3) who capitalised on his Group pole position and this time he made no mistakes and took a well deserved Group Two win.
Things were less hectic this time in Group Two and Leadley brought his #34 Ferrari 430 Challenge GT home in 2nd place with Butler-Henderson coming 3rd in her Fox Motorsport with FF Corse #36 Ferrari 430 Challenge GT after rather a lonely race and very impressive debut in GT Cup!
In Group Three things got very busy at Paddock Bend on the first lap and the unfortunate Richard Denny (#25 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) got sidelined. This left Pullen in his #13 Ferrari 360 GTC being chased by Eastwood in his #55 Porsche 996 GT3. Pullen held on for another well deserved Group Three win with Eastwood 2nd and Jon Dhillon 3rd in his #15 Ferrari 360 GTC.
In Group Four Everill in his #75 Ginetta G20, was not able to start so it was down to Matt Cummings (#62 Lotus Exige) and Robert Koenig (#36 Porsche 993) and the ever present David Botterill in his venerable #8 Porsche 944 Turbo to take Group Four honours.
Race 2 TV Coverage:Race Two Video - Matt in-car:
