British GT – Oulton Park

Last week I wrote for Race Tech, with no little despair, of how race meetings these days seem constantly to be blighted by rain, in particular those at Oulton Park. I can officially confirm that Groundhog Day has arrived. Now I’ve just got to figure out how to break the cycle.

Easter Monday has traditionally featured the opening salvos for the British F3 and GT championships. With a slight programme shuffle, the young aspirants in Formula 3 competed on Saturday, with the GT competitors taking headline billing with two 60 minute bouts on Easter Monday. The weather forecast had been bleakly prophesising rain for Monday and so it transpired, with no precipitative respite all day.

For the second GT encounter the cloudfall was so severe it put me in mind of the GTs’ 2002 visit to Oulton. At that time, the championship still featured a GT1 class which had allowed spectators the opportunity to see McLaren F1 GTRs, 911 GT1s, Lister Storms and Saleen S7Rs competing on the domestic racing scene for a number of seasons. This was never less than spectacular. In 2002, however, the spectacle was rather more dramatic than anyone might have wished. A sudden, but ferocious, cloud burst soaked the track and carnage ensued. Stood as we were at Knickerbrook, we became witness to one of the most infamous racing shunts of recent years – apparently the video below is still used in marshal briefings to this day. As immensely powerful, slick-shod, GT cars hit standing water at speed, the Knickerbrook Chicane quickly became an expensive automotive graveyard as sickening thud followed sickening thud, with mangled bodywork strewn over a wide distance. Graham Nash Motorsport lost its entire fleet of Saleens in the incident. That no marshals were injured, given their proximity, is a miracle.

Ten years on and despite the meteorological similarities, the brace of GT races showcased some stunning wet weather driving – a genuine credit to the level of talent in the British Championship. The first race was an Audi rout, as Matt Bell and Charles Bateman put in a stellar performance in their R8 LMS. Despite the mid-race appearance of the safety car, they had the lead under control as they entered the final lap, just 9 seconds prior to the 60 minute cut-off. However, as they rounded the fearsome Island Bend, it was clear all was not well as the R8 slowed dramatically, its LED lights blinking impotently. The car ground to a halt just after the cambered hairpin at Shell Oils. A dominant performance giving way to last-lap retirement was scant reward for an excellent drive.

So, through for an unexpected victory came the sonorous BMW Z4 run by the phoenix-like Ecurie Ecosse team; reformed for campaigns in GT3 in Britain and the Blancpain Endurance Championship. Behind the BMW, pitched battle had ensued as evocative Mercedes SLS, Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R and Ferrari 458 machinery fought for what became second place. In what must have been the drive of the race, Allan Simonsen performed his usual heroics in Hector Lester’s 458, including a stunning move on the Nissan ofAlex Buncombe into the Britten’s chicane. Although sadly the McLaren MP4-12C of Glyn and Jim Geddie was absent at Oulton, the packed field served to underline the strength of GT racing at the moment, and the British Championship in particular. The presence of drivers of the calibre of Simonsen, Richard Westbrook, Tim Harvey and Nick Tandy helps to raise the profile of the championship further.

If the first race was soggy, the second was biblical. This seemed to give a significant advantage to the rear and mid-engined cars, as well as the pro drivers. Once again, the driving standards were exemplary with Richard Westbrook showing all the skill which has made him one of the most sought-after 911 pilots in the world. Shrewd tactics left his team mate David Ashburn with an unassailable lead which was held to the end, despite the atrocious weather. The final podium position went to Tim Harvey and Jon Minshaw in another 911 GT3 RSR. Minshaw must have felt like he was experiencing Groundhog Day as well, having been sliding his lightweight E-Type Jaguar around Oulton only a couple of weeks previously in damp conditions. New to contemporary GT racing, the Demon Tweeks boss put in an inspired drive, keeping himself in the hunt for a podium throughout his stint.

So, an entertaining pair of encounters with close racing, multi-marque battles and deeply impressive driving; the British GT Championship is on a roll.

EVO Triangle

Panic descended across the UK last week due to the threat (imperative word) of striking tanker drivers leaving motorists stricken; bereft of fuel. In reaction to this possibility, the entire motoring populace filled their own tanks, ironically enough leaving many others at the risk of being stricken; bereft of fuel. It seemed somehow unjust that this occurrence coincided with a trip away in my rattly old Lotus. I was choked to find the only super unleaded in the area priced at 161.9p/litre. However, the tank was brimmed, tyre pressures moderated from the previous week’s track activities, harnesses strapped and we hit the road destined for North Wales. 20-something miles of road works on the M62 ensured there was no danger of any fun on the country’s motorway networks and fuel economy hit a VHPD record high.

Over in Wales, the reason for taking the Exige was to try out some of the country’s fine driving roads. The ‘evo Triangle’ is triangulation of three roads forming a neat loop across glorious open countryside between Betws-y-Coed and Rhuthin. This section of highway has adopted the moniker due to evo magazine’s regular occupation for road testing. Accompanied by clear blue skies and warm sunshine, the first day of April promised much. The Triangle itself is spectacular – with the ever present danger of errant sheep and pontificating farm vehicles keeping one on high alert at all times. There are some fairly quick sections, with good visibility for the most part, and the surrounding countryside ranges from rolling valleys to woodland and desolate moorland. It’s almost like the North Yorkshire Dales compressed into a half hour blast. It seemed only to last a few minutes. Given sufficient time, it would be easy to justify three or four passes to get a proper feel for the road.

From there we decided to head up to Rhuthin for something of a minor pilgrimage. Tom Pryce was one of the UK’s most promising racing drivers of the 1970s, with a flamboyant style which earned respect from his peers and the general public. He had found a home at Shadow, first alongside Jean-Pierre Jarier, then for 1977 leading the team himself. He was killed in the most appalling circumstances at Kyalami during the 1977 South African Grand Prix. He had yet to win a World Championship Grand Prix but that famous sideways style and trademark deerstalker hat were already lost to the Formula One fraternity.

It gladdens me to know that Tom’s home town of Rhuthin has seen fit to pay tribute to him by erecting a permanent memorial to their fastest son. Right in the centre of the town is a brass plaque depicting him behind the wheel of a brace of Shadows – distinctive black stripes on his helmet obviously visible. I imagine many younger residents didn’t know the name ‘Tom Pryce’ until the unveiling of the memorial but I hope some have chosen to research his legend. His was a natural, world-class talent, aided by an apparently gentle personality – definitely a Welshman to be proud of.

Race Retro Rally Stage 2012

The organisers at Race Retro take a delightfully liberated approach to photographers’ safety and there are some awesome vantage points out on the rally stage. A decent miscellany of machinery was tackling the course with varying degrees of vigour. A low sun, suprisingly mild conditions and appreciative crowd offered a pleasing atmosphere and a cracking tonic compared to previous Race Retros

Albert Park

In previous blogs I’ve posted motor racing photos from my grandfather, father and even a few of my own. I never expected that I might receive anything relevant to our beloved sport from my great, great, grandfather. William Peile was quite a guy: a well-respected engineer, he travelled the world in the late 19th century, taking photos, collecting memorabilia and keeping a comprehensive diary. There cannot be too many British Victorian gentlemen who found themselves in the Antipodes…

I was sent this fascinating photo earlier in the week. It wasn’t taken by William, but he picked it up while in Melbourne and captioned it appropriately. It would seem that he clapped eyes on the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit 105 years before Formula One found its new home, having moved from the fearsome Adelaide street circuit. Albert Park hosted Grand Prix in the 1950s, but never for the World Championship. I wonder what William would have made of today’s F1 circus, having surveyed the park all those years ago…?