2005 British GT Championship : Round 1 - Donington

keith.ahlers · Post by **keith.ahlers** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:27 pm

The British GT Championship starts this coming weekend at Donington. Testing and qualifying on Saturday 2nd and a two hour race on Sunday.

My Aero will be contesting all rounds and I will be sharing the car with new co-driver Oliver Bryant. Oliver has proved to be very quick in a variety of historic cars during the last two seasons and has impressed in the two test days we have run this year. Following a winter rebuild by Billy Bellinger the car is going well.

I have a few spare team passes if anyone wishes to join us for the race.

Best wishes, Keith.

TonyLees · Post by **TonyLees** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:50 am

If you still have a couple spare I would be very happy to take them off your hands.
Have a great race.
Regards, Tony

Kevin Cheale · Post by **Kevin Cheale** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:32 pm

If you have another couple spare, I would love to have them.
See you there.

Cheers, Kev

Andy Downes · Post by **Andy Downes** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:48 pm

Hello Keith, Billy, Ian, & Oliver,

James and I hope to catch up with you at Donington, bringing back memories of where it all started two years ago.

I'll try and do my usual Qualifying/Race round-up reports.

Go show 'em guys and;

Keep It On The Island
8) 8) 8)

Andy Downes · Post by **Andy Downes** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:59 pm

The Aero8 is running in the GT3 Class (renamed from the 2004 Dailysportscar Cup Class).

There are some 17 potential entries for this Class;

Morgan Aero8
Porsche 911 GT3 - 8
BMW Z3M - 2
Ferrari 360 - 4
Chevrolet Corvette C5
Marcos Mantis

With 30 provisional entries for the race at Donington it should prove very exciting and the Billy Bellinger Racing prepared Aero looks neat and tidy.

An additional feature this year is "Race Radio" from Team Embassy available nationally on 1602 Medium Wave - give it a try. No Race timetable available yet - perhaps Keith can let us know ?

Information as always - courtesy of http://www.dailysportcar.com

Have Fun Guys
8) 8) 8)

Andy Downes · Post by **Andy Downes** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:07 am

The Aero8 went well in Free Practice on Satuday morning running near the front of GT3

Keith Ahlers 1.12.8
Oliver Bryany 1.12.9

So Oliver is obviously not afraid of the car (or the owner) !

The 30 minute Qualifying session for Sunday's 2-hour Race saw them post 1.13.009 for 8th in Class, however 1st to 10th were covered by 1.11.9 to 1.13.6 so things are pretty close and Team Aero traditionally go well in the longer races.

GT3 QUALIFYING HERE - http://www.msttiming.com/singlesession. ... ound01.gif

1- Rich/Westwood Porsche GT3 1:11.951
2 - Masarati/Deverikos Porsche GT3 Cup 1:11.965
3 - Lester/Simonsen Ferrari 360 1:12.131
4 - Beighton/Finnemore Marcus Mantis 1:12.251
5 - Britnell/Stockton Porsche GT3 1:12.271
6 - Burton/Flux Ferrari 360 C 1:13.002
7 - Ahlers/Bryant Morgan Aero 8 GT 1:13.009
8 - Fordyce/Ashburn Porsche 996 GTC 1:13.667
9 - Hulford/Smyth Ferrari 360 1:13.684 16

Race is 2-Hours on Sunday but I still have no timetable try the Embassy Radio broadcast on 1602 MW or use the internet link on http://www.dailysportscar.net

More later...
8) 8) 8)

Andy Downes · Post by **Andy Downes** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:36 pm

No news directly from Keith - but not great I'm afraid.

Listening over the internet on Embassy Race Radio - the very busy first lap had a few casualties and I caught a comment "the Morgan running last with its rear bodywork damaged"...

Unfortunately the Aero8 was running near the back of the field for much of the race eventually finishing 18th of 26 starters - Best lap time 1.14.140 - this was 10th in the GT3 Class

Results as always from http://www.dailysportscar.com

1 - GT3 Tech 9 Piers Masarati Dimitris Deverikos Porsche 911 GT3 96 laps 2:01:44.791 92.58 mph 1.12.582
2 - GT3 Team Tiger Chris Beighton Jon Finnemore Marcos Mantis 95 laps 1.12.909
3 - GT3 Qauife / RPM Alex Mortimer Phil Quaife Porsche 911 GT3 95 laps 1.12.963
4 - GT3 Damax Miles Hulford Jamie Smyth Ferrari 360 95 laps 1.13.573
5 - GT3 Vision Marketing Phil Burton Ian Flux Ferrari 360 95 laps 1.13.417
6 - GT3 Hector Lester/Glenvarigill Hector Lester Allan Simonsen Ferrari 360 94 laps 1.13.142
7 - GT3 Team Parker Racing Chris Stockton Andy Britnell Porsche 911 GT3 93 laps 1.12.761
8 - GT3 Eurotech Stuart Scott Steve Wood Porsche 911 GT3 92 laps 1.13.681
9 - GT3 Hawthorns Motorsport Rod Barrett Jan Persson BMW Z3M Coupe 87 laps 1.18.597
10 - GT3 Team Aero Keith Ahlers Oliver Bryant Morgan Aero 8 86 laps 1.14.140
11 - GT3 Trackspeed Rory Fordyce David Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 85 laps 1.13.073
12 - GT3 Bill Barrett Motorsport Stephen Warburton Peter Morris Porsche 911 GT3 82 laps 1.14.235
13 - GT3 Bigfish Racing Alastair Davidson Chris Wilson BMW Z3M Coupe 53 laps 1.17.780
14 - GT3 Damax Marco Attard Nick Adams Ferrari 360 37 laps 1.13.542
15 - GT3 Team Parker Racing Martin Rich Julian Westwood Porsche 911 GT3 34 laps 1.12.837

Hopefully Keith can give a few more details later.

TV coverage is listed as 7:30 am on 17th April which I presume is Channel 4 ?

Well Done Team Aero.
8) 8) 8)

Next UK Round is CROFT 7th & 8th May

keith.ahlers · Post by **keith.ahlers** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:09 pm

Not a great day. Pushed into a spin on lap one. Pit stop to repair accident damage, pit stop for a punture, pit stop to investigate unusual vibration and poor handling (caused by contact on lap one) and then a lonely run to tenth in class. At least we weren't last at the end.

Oliver Bryant drove a difficult car very well in the second hour.

With thanks to Kevin Cheale, Tony Lees for support, Andy Downes for postings and Jack Bellringer for helping with the refuelling.

TonyLees · Post by **TonyLees** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:03 am

Thanks Keith for the tickets, your warm welcome and hospitality. The car looked and sounded wonderful. Better luck next time

Cheers, Tony

Kevin Cheale · Post by **Kevin Cheale** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:43 pm

Yes, Thanks Keith,

We had a great time. Aidan (not quite 2 years old) now says "Aero 8 Racing Car" as well as just "Aero 8".

Following the nudge you looked quick compared to the other GT3 cars. Better luck next time.

All in all we had a great weekend with the track day at Mallory followed by the your race at Donington.

A Morgan Petrolheads dream!

Kevin

PS. Aidan beat me to reading Miscellany today.

Andy Downes · Post by **Andy Downes** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:39 am

Keith - when is Round 2 for you guys ? - is it Croft on 7-8/05/05 ?

Many Thanks
8) 8) 8)

keith.ahlers · Post by **keith.ahlers** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:32 am

Round 2 is at Croft on 7/8th May. Oliver will be driving each of the one hour races on his own as I will be at the Nurburgring driving Christian Bock's car in the 24 hours.

Tony Oliver · Post by **Tony Oliver** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 7:05 pm

Hi
I would appreciate a couple of tickets for Croft if possible. Sorry we wont see you there Keith but enjoy the ring.
All the best
Tony