BEC_Editors

2014 – The Season That Was

November 5, 2014 by Phil Hurle in BEC, BEC_Editors, BEC_Featured1, Production, Production_Editors, Production_Featured1, Race Reports 2014, Sportscar_Editors, Sportscar_Featured1 | Comments Off

As you all may well know, the season has been won and run, and we would like to congratulate all our overall & class winners. After 21 Hours of racing all over England and in Europe it came down to the last race to decide the title. With Calum Lockie being hunted down and passed by Javier Morcillo in the dying minutes in the final race, Morcillo had passed Lockie for the lead but it was not enough, the FF Corse ran Ferrari 458 clinching the title in the final race. With the season being a to and fro affair and only the best 12 races being counted towards the final results no one could have predicted that it would come down to a solitary point.

ENDURANCE

1st O/R FF Corse Calum Lockie & David Mason 602 pts
2nd O/R Neil Garner Motorsport Javier Morcillo & Manuel Cintrano 601 pts
3rd O/R Newbridge Motorsport Guillaume Gruchet 535 pts

CLASS 3 – Winners: Intersport Racing – Anna Walewska & Kevin Clarke

Anna Walewska & Kevin Clarke from Intersport took out the honours with a measured drive all season, despite a tough end to the season with the BMW V8 GT4 making a trip to the gravel in the final race of the season the team were able to overcome their issues and take class honours.

CLASS 2 – Winners: FF Corse – David Mason & Calum Lockie The FF Corse crew as the outright winners they have also taken out class 2 honours in their Ferrari 458 Cup vehicle. Throughout the year consistently inside the top 10 and finishing no lower than 6th outright has made them unbeatable in class 2, and has also assisted them in winning the outright championship. Consistency is what it takes to win championships and the FF Corse crew proved just that. With outright honours and class honours there is plenty of silverware sitting on the FF Corse shelves.

CLASS 1 – Winners: Neil Garner Motorsport – Javier Morcillo & Manuel Cintrano The fast Spaniards were never out of contention all year, losing the outright championship by one point they were still able to take the honours in class 1. Remaining virtually unbeaten throughout the season, results outside of the top 10  in Spa & Snetterton saw their championship title hopes slip out of their hands, even a strong showing in Donington wining the final 2 races, clinching pole and fastest laps saw them close  the gap by more than 20 points but it was sadly not enough. Outright victory may have eluded them but they took the class victory in convincing fashion.

SPORTS & TOURING

1st O/R Moss Motorsport Mike Moss & Tom Howard 302 pts
2nd O/R Chris Hayes Racing Chris Hayes & Andy Thompson 295 pts
3rd O/R SG Racing Mark Cunningham & Peter Cunningham 287 pts

The sports and touring was one of the most hotly contested series of the year. Going into the last round there were 5 teams within 20 points that could snatch away the title at any given moment. It came down to consistency as Moss Motorsport took the honours in their BMW M3 GT4, after a sluggish start to the year at Silverstone they bounced back with a raft of consistent results  that placed them in good stead for Donington where they came out on top taking the win in Donington to seal the title. Chris Hayes Racing followed home in second, but couldn’t match the pace of the Moss team at Donington, but in doing so secured a solid second place in the championship in their Seat Supercopa. SG Racing finished out the podium places for the series. Having a tough run at Donington saw them finish 6th for the round, but it was enough to seal the 3rd step on the podium for the championship. Its been a season of ups and downs, and one that has been closely fought on the track, we would like to thank all competitors and crews for a entertaining season. All officials, marshals and staff. Thank you for your tireless hours, all the hard work you put into this sport so we can go and race, without you we would have nothing.

WHAT’S ON NEXT? That’s 2014 wrapped up, time to look forward and upward to 2015 and the next event, the DUNLOP 24 HOURS at SILVERSTONE. Click HERE to register your interest in competing in this great event!

See you all there! Twitter: @BritcarNews #areyouthere Youtube: BritcarTv Facebook: Britcar

Britcar Endurance / Sports & Touring Race Report 2 – Donington Park 1st November

November 3, 2014 by Nick Smith in BEC, BEC_Editors, BEC_Featured1, Production, Production_Editors, Production_Featured1, Race Reports 2014, Sportscar, Sportscar_Editors, Sportscar_Featured1 | Comments Off

Calum Lockie and David Mason have been crowned as the 2014 Britcar Endurance Champions after taking second place in the final race of the year. The Britcar Endurance Championship field was joined by the Britcar Sports and Touring Car Championship entrants for the sole night race of the year in which championships were decided throughout the four classes.

A clear start let Calum Lockie show a clean pair of heels to the Mosler of Manuel Cintrano with the entire grid clearly navigating Redgate on the first lap. Four minutes after the drop of the green on the final rolling start of the year the Volvo safety car took to the circuit covering the marshals as they laboured to move a stricken Intersport BMW.

With that cleared the action resumed but only for a matter of minutes before the Volvo was deployed again. The #53 SEAT Leon of father and son duo Mark and Peter Cunningham tripped the yellow flags this time, stricken in the gravel at McLeans. The Cunningham’s did little for the Neil Garner Motorsport duo’s attempt to claim the overall title. In the two laps between the first and second safety car deployment Euan Hankey put his Ginetta G55 GT4 ahead of the class 1 Mosler.

The lights went out on the safety car again but there was no rest for the wicked. The wheels didn’t stop turning as the safety car ran straight through the pit lane and back out on track. James MacIntyre-Ure’s BMW had become stuck in the gravel where Starkeys Bridge used to be and the snatch tractor had to cross to the track to drag the rear wheels clear.

Calum Lockie held the lead through three restarts, controlling the pace to the pit stops which began around the fifty minutes to go mark. Cintrano took to the pit lane first of the title protagonists, handing over control of the Mosler MT900 GT3 to Javier Morcillo, who immediately set his teeth into closing down and passing the FF Corse Ferrari 458 Cup which should soon have been handed over to David Mason.

The money man for the FF Corse effort opted to sit out the final race of the year however, no doubt still feeling the effects of his shoulder injury which forced him to miss Silverstone.

The action in the final minutes of the race was impressive and continued the season long battle between the Neil Garner Motorsport and FF Corse pro drivers. Eventually the Mosler got onto terms with Lockie, who held the lead through the pit stops, before a rare mistake by Lockie allowed the Spaniard through at Redgate.

The clock hit 0 at the end of 24 hours of racing action through the season with Morcillo taking the chequered flag first. Lockie took second ahead of the once BAMD, then FF Corse and finally JHM Automotive run Ferrari 458 Challenge of Darren Nelson and Nigel Greensall.

In the final results the FF Corse duo claimed the title by a single point from the Mosler. Both cars took their respective class championships. Despite being the first of three cars which failed to classify Anna Walewska and Kevin Clarke had already done more than enough to secure the class 3 title. Moss Motorsport claimed the title in the class 4, or Sports and Touring Car Championship.

An impressive debut in night racing came from the Nissan GT Academy 370z GT4 pairing of Ricardo Sanchez and Gaetan Paletou. The Nissan racers joined the Britcar Trophy Series last time out at Silverstone as part of their quest to qualify for the Dubai 24 Hours in January. The programme then opted to use the Britcar Endurance Championship as a chance to prepare the academy winners for night racing.

The duo, who were joined by Paul Brown and Ahmed Binkhannen in a second car, challenged for the final podium position as they raced to victory in class 3 and gave Nigel Greensall and Darren Nelson a serious run for their money.

Richard Nearey’s BMW and the Moss Motorsport entry took fifth and sixth with the Euan Hankey and Salih Yoluc in seventh place for Optimum Motorsport in the Ginetta. Chris Hayes’ SEAT Leon took eighth place with the now class 2 entered Mike Millard in ninth place with his Pro-Sport. The second Nissan crew rounded out the top ten.

Century Motorsport’s Ginetta and Jono Brown in the Tracktorque SEAT took eleventh and twelfth ahead of MacIntyre-Ure who recovered from his off track moment.  Wil Arif and the Cunninghams rounded out the fifteen classified finishers.

The Synchro Motorsport Civic dropped out after a hour and a quarter, joining the Intersport BMW in retirement. ZEST Racecar Engineering lost the most though when they took to pit lane after 49 minutes, not to return to action in 2014. That cost them a shot at the Class 4 title they led heading into the final meeting.

That brings an end to the Britcar action for 2014 but plans are already underway for an even better season next year. Including the return of the jewel in the Britcar crown, the Dunlop 24 Hours at Silverstone, 2015 is already shaping up as one of the best Britcar years yet.

Author – Nick Smith

 

Britcar Endurance Race Report 1 – Donington Park 1st November

November 3, 2014 by Nick Smith in BEC, BEC_Editors, BEC_Featured1, Race Reports 2014 | Comments Off

Manuel Cintrano and Javier Morcillo have given their title hopes a boost by taking victory in the penultimate race of the Britcar Endurance Championship at Donington Park. After qualifying on the pole but losing out to the FF Corse run Ferrari 458 Cup of Calum Lockie and David Mason after a bump in the opening corners, Cintrano spent his first stint recovering before handing over to the professional of the pairing.

David Mason was unable to match the prodigious pace of Britcar, British GT and GT Cup veteran Calum Lockie. Having missed out on two rounds the Am side of the FF Corse duo was playing himself back into the car and was at times up to twenty seconds a lap slower than Javier Morcillo. That turned a Mosler deficit of almost a lap into a six lap margin of victory by the end of the race.

The result brings a twenty-one point gap down to sixteen with the night race still to run.

At the start both of the championship challengers were mugged by a field of hard charging endurance racers. That left the Mosler battling with the second Ferrari, run by JHM Automotive, of Nigel Greensall and Darren Nelson. Contact between the two left the Ferrari in last place and on a recovery run while the Mosler was delayed only slightly.

Ten minutes later the action was further heated when Salih Yoluc rotated at the Goddards Chicane. Thankfully the safety car was not needed to clear the Ginetta G55 GT4 from Optimum Motorsport and the excellent Donington marshals pushed the car back into action. Yoluc handed over to former Porsche Carrera Cup GB racer Euan Hankey at the stops who recovered the car to fourth place, three laps off the leader.

In the stops it was all change, except for in the garage dedicated to the Pro-Sport of Mike Millard. The former Rapier man may have changed his car and class to the class 2 entered LMPX but he continued to race alone. Everyone else handed over to their co-drivers and battle renewed.

The real fight in the second phase of the race was for second, proven as Javier Morcillo blasted past the Ferrari of Mason to take the lead as the 458 completed its first post-stop lap. Javier went on to build a three lap lead over the remaining podium spots, filled by the JHM Ferrari and Mike Millard. Mason fought on valiantly but his pace was too slow to hold off the Optimum Ginetta and he finished a further three laps behind in fifth.

The FF Corse machine was the last classified runner.

The list of cars which failed to make the finish included the Richard Neary entered BMW M3 GTR he shares with Martin Short. The #3 BMW dropped out with fifteen minutes left to run but managed a greater distance than the Saker RAPX of Purbrick and Duckman which was running at the end but over twenty-three laps off the lead.

Suspected clutch problem forced the Century Motorsport Ginetta out of action first, retiring on lap fifteen with Stephen Fresle at the wheel. Nathan Freke didn’t get a chance at the wheel. Neither did Kevin Clarke whose BMW M3 V8 GT4 retired at the hands of Anna Walewska at around the 30 minutes mark.

The final round of the Britcar Endurance Championship and Britcar Sports and Touring Car Championship will get underway at 18:00 hours with qualifying after dark at 17:00.

Author – Nick Smith

Photo Courtesy – View Photographic

Nigel Mustill returns to Britcar

May 7, 2014 by James Reay in BEC, BEC_Editors, Production, Production_Editors | Comments Off

Nigel Mustill makes a welcome return to the track in his Riley MkXXII TDC, a club race version of the Riley Daytona Prototype, entering into the Endurance Championship.

Forza Silverstone – Double wins for Lockie in Italy’s finest machinery

April 15, 2014 by James Reay in BEC, BEC_Editors | Comments Off

Calum Lockie on Britcars first round at Silverstone – “I had one of those rare and great week ends at Silverstone, starting with testing on the International circuit in David Mason’s Ferrari 458 for the Britcar opener. We had a few new things to try and these worked out well leaving us confident for the 2 x 90 minute races.

A packed schedule on Saturday saw a 30 minute warm up in which we were fastest overall. Then on to first qualifying for a class pole and 4th overall.

The first race went well with David starting and keeping everything ship shape for me to take over just before half distance. I got going and after a frantic stint, which netted us fastest lap, we came home a good second to kick off our championship challenge.

Only a short time later second qualifying was upon us. This gave us our second class pole of the day and 4th overall on the grid. This time I started the race, making my way into second place by Village corner. Then followed a full on stint of about 35 laps holding off the GT3 Ginetta. I had to work hard for that.

Then came a message from the team. David was unwell and had decided to leave me in the car for the rest of the race. Pit stop done, I gave it all, to secure our first class win of the year, and leave us leading the class points as our main competitors were excluded.

An excellent start to the Britcar campaign. Many thanks to David and to FF Corse who ran a perfect car.

With over 4 hours of tracktime, hard but clean racing and a varied grid in every class it was a very good event from Britcar.

With Saturday’s excitements over, a very gentle celebration was in order as I was due to race Sean and Laura Danaher’s 1938 Maserati 6CM Grand Prix car on the National circuit on Sunday. This was part of the incredible VSCC Spring Start Meeting. It’s a huge event with so many classes of racing, a packed paddock and Castrol R in the air the whole time. Well worth a visit if you haven’t been to it.

I had managed a quick few laps earlier in the week end to set an unofficial Maserati 6CM lap record. Qualifying was upon us and I went out ahead of the massed ranks of ERAs which are very quick and have several extremely experience and fast drivers. Giving it plenty saw my best ever time but I reckoned it was not good enough. Then the car started to misfire (my fault as I had let the revs go too low on a cool down lap and flooded the engine). Into the pits and by the time I had stopped it had cleared so off I went again.

Feeling a little under pressure I got going and posted my fastest time which put me on P2 ahead of 8 ERAs! I was over the moon and looking forward to the race.

Later we heard that the car on pole had been withdrawn elevating me to my first ever GP pole. Now the pressure was really on as the ERAs make demon starts. However, when the light went out I was first away and into Copse. Powering down the Wellington straight I scanned the mirrors and saw that I was comfortably ahead. After that I concentrated on opening a gap and ended up winning by 28 seconds and posting fastest lap along the way.

A huge thank you to Sean and Laura for putting me in the car and Casper and Sam for all their fettling work.

What a week end and the bar has been set high…oh boy!!”

 

Newbridge Motorsport opens 2014 Britcar account with many positives

April 14, 2014 by sa in BEC, BEC_Editors, Trophy, Trophy_Editors | Comments Off

Newbridge Motorsport and Guillaume Gruchet had a highly positive start to the 2014 Britcar Endurance and Trophy Championships (BEC) at Silverstone this weekend (12 April).

Chris Valentine took his black-and-green liveried Porsche Boxster to the 1.86mile International Circuit, getting the weekend underway in the opening qualifying session of the Trophy Championship under cloudy, but dry conditions.

Having shaved two seconds off his personal best time here at Silverstone during Friday’s practise session, Valentine took a further second off during Saturday’s 30-minute qualifying session.

After qualifying, it was time for teams and drivers to put their cards on the table as the opening race of the season got underway with Valentine being the first Newbridge Motorsport driver to take to the track under race conditions in the Trophy Championship.

From ninth on the grid the BRSCC Porsche Championship graduate utilised his strong qualifying position to climb two positions claiming the class lead on the opening laps as the field scrambled for position.

As the laps tumbled, an unfortunate failed wheel bearing hampered the experienced Porsche Boxster driver’s running forcing him into a premature retirement on lap ten.

Valentine commented: “On the positive side, I am heading in the right direction as I knocked off at least two seconds from my personal best here at Silverstone in Friday’s practise and then another second this morning. That is a very good positive for us, which we can take with us to the next round.”

On the other side of the garage was Frenchman Gruchet in his stunning newly acquired Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, who, having qualified 11th, navigated his way through the field climbing two positions on the opening lap to break into the top ten.

As the race reached the half-way point and many teams opting to switch drivers, Gruchet continued to win the battle of nerves and stamina by consistently setting personal best times to place himself comfortably within the top ten.

As the clock continued to countdown, Gruchet showed his incredible form that garnered him a tenth place finish overall in the Britcar Production Cup Championship standings last season when he became entangled in an enthralling brawl with the two Ferrari 458 Italias. The 997 driver put up a brave fight, but reluctantly surrendered his position dropping him to third in class in the dying laps of the 90-minute race.

The chequered flag waved signalling the end of the first Endurance race of the 2014 season as Gruchet brought his car home much to the delight of himself and the team to put a huge handful of points up on the board.

Spurred on by the day’s previous results, Gruchet lined-up on the grid for the weekend’s final Endurance race looking to go one step further, which looked very promising when, again, he claimed several positions within the opening laps on what would unfold into a heated event as the sun started to break through the clouds.

Gruchet and Hayes were inseparable throughout much of the 90-minute race as Gruchet showed his dominance sticking his elbows out as far as possible to hold onto his fifth position up until the chequered flag to finish second in class, adding to his rapidly expanding trophy cabinet.

“It has been really positive as we have had the maximum amount of track time you can achieve over the weekend. The car felt good and I’m very pleased with the final results from both races as it was the first time we have had long stints in the car and for it to go without any problems is very positive.

“To finish second and third in class, which again is a very good result. We come away with seventh overall in the standings and I hope we can take this momentum and carry it forward to Donington.”

Team Principal, Richard Tovey, said: “It has been a really positive day. We’ve seen lap times come down with Chris (Valentine), who has improved by two and a half seconds over the course of the weekend, which is fantastic!

“I am really pleased that Guillaume has had a great first race in the new car and have seen some really good, consistent laps times from him over the course of both races.

“We are looking to improve from where we currently are ahead of Donington in a few weeks time.”

The series will return at Donington Park Circuit in four weeks time (10-11 May).

http://www.bam-promo.com/index.php?cID=681

JENSEN Motorsport tests new TTS Performance power plant ahead of 2014 Britcar Challenge

April 1, 2014 by sa in BEC, BEC_Editors | Comments Off

The new Endurance Class 1 Jensen Motorsport Chevron GR8 GTS had its first shake down of 2014 at Silverstone on the 29th March. Following extensive dyno work and build modifications working alongside engine tuners TTS Performance and software / mapping experts TDF, the Hampshire based GT team finally got to see what this years car potential is.

The morning started slowly with driver Alistair Lindsay getting in track time in the Clio cup car whilst the engineers worked on set-up and final tweaks on the GR8 GTS, the first outings for the GT car were based around systems tests and little effort was paid to lap times or speed, as the day progressed with both Jensen and Alistair taking turns on development runs the car approached its true race pace which, in the words of a fellow GT competitor was “blindingly quick”.

The team finished off the day just a fraction off the desired pace and giving a few 458’s a good run for their money, with a list of final developments planned over next two weeks in preparation for round 1 at Silverstone there is no time yet to catch up on sleep for the crew…

Driver Alistair comments “The comparison from this power plant against last years is indescribable, the team, engine partners at TTS Performance and technical Advisors at TDF have done a fantastic job, the power delivery is drivable and breathtaking, I cant wait for Silverstone”, the new power plant build in association with TTS Performance based at Silverstone has been a considerable project with the space restrictions within the GR8 engine compartment, JMS wishes to thank Darren, Alex and Richard of TTS for such an impressive effort and very much looks forward to having them on board as the teams official engine partners for 2014.

Principal Sponsor and Director of Capital compactors Mrs Joanne Lindsay adds “the JMS crew have been working relentlessly, we are so proud of what they have achieved and am confident this will turn into podiums and strong racing this season, its a pleasure having our name associated with this project, roll on Silverstone and Britcar in 2014 !”.

Topcats Racing set to open massive new workshop

March 25, 2014 by sa in BEC, BEC_Editors | Comments Off

Topcats Racing are due to open a brand new custom built 8000sq.ft workshop in 4-6 weeks at Westcott Venture Park, Near Aylesbury. It will house 7 ramps, machine room and paint room as well as room for car storage and will even house their race transporter.

Charlotte Gilbert from Topcats said “This will enable us to effect major rebuilds, repairs and preparations more quickly and efficiently and take on new clients.”

The team are having a Grand Opening Day on Saturday 28th June from 12.00pm until 5.00pm. Please follow the link for more details.

http://www.topcatsracing.com/2014/03/topcats-racing-announce-the-date-for-their-grand-opening/

MacG Racing 2014 Ultima Launch

March 24, 2014 by sa in BEC, BEC_Editors | Comments Off

After 3 seasons of development the MacG Racing Ultima GTR has completed its development stages and is being launched at Silverstone on 12th April. It will compete in the Britcar Endurance Championship opening round, with two 90 minute races. The car will be driven by MacG Racing’s Technical Director and Works Driver, Jonny MacGregor.

Every aspect of the car has been modified over its development period to develop it from a fast road car to a competitive GT endurance racer. Fitted with a 7 litre V8 engine, the car has a fully sequential race gearbox by Albins, front and rear suspension and brakes developed in house, and a full range of specially developed aerodynamic aids. The electronics have also been updated and full LED lighting fitted.

Testing at Donington two weeks ago showed the car to be easier to drive, more responsive and significantly faster than last season.

Team Principal, Richard MacGregor said “It has taken us several seasons, with the help of our Sponsors Just Doors UK, to develop the car to its current level and we are delighted with the end result. We are confident of making a strong showing in the Britcar Endurance Championship this season”.

Adding to the development of the Team is a move to new workshop premises at Donington Race Circuit. This is a major step up for MacG Racing, putting them at the heart of the action, adjacent to the new Formula E Grand Prix workshops that are currently under construction.

MacG Racing have booked for the following Britcar rounds:

• 12th April at Silverstone

• 10th May at Donington

• 7th/8th June at Spa, Belgium

• 5th July at Oulton Park

Further dates for the team will be announced in due course.

MacG Racing would like to thank their Sponsors, Just Doors UK, for their continued support and their Team Members, who all work on a voluntary basis to enable MacG to develop and prepare the car.

MacG Newsletter March 2014

 

Saxon Motorsport Unveil 2014 Car

March 10, 2014 by sa in BEC, BEC_Editors, Drives Available | Comments Off

Saxon Motorsport have unveiled their exciting new car for the 2014 season.

Following on from their extremely successful Diesel powered BMW 1 series they have built a new 1 series powered by a V10 5.0 Litre petrol engine. The new car has undergone a rigorous testing programme pre season which it is now nearing the end of. The car is currently running on a development engine with the race engine now being built in time for the season opener.

Saxons Diesel car has proved to be the class of the field at the Nurburgring over the last 2 seasons, being 100% mechanically reliable and winning all of its races including last year’s 24 Hour race.

The new petrol car is going to be campaigned in the British based ‘Britcar’ series which features 7 races in the UK and one at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium. The car will be driven by the team owner Nick Barrow and various other guest drivers. Anyone interested in driving the car should contact Saxon on or email .

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