2005 British GT Championship - Rounds 4 & 5, Knockhill

[keith.ahlers]

This weekend is the next outing for the Aero GT car. Two one hour races at Knockhill, Scotland on Saturday and Sunday.

Hopefully some of our MSCC Scottish members will join us as they did when we were there two years ago.

[Andy Downes]

OK - eyes down - here we go...

Knockhill Entry List

1 4 GT2 Emotional Engineering Matt Griffin Ryan Hooker Vauxhall Monaro
2 10 GT2 RJN Motorsport Bryce Wilson Ally McKever Nissan 350Z
3 22 GT2 Eurotech David Jones Godfrey Jones Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
4 34 GT2 Scuderia Ecosse Tim Mullen Chris Niarchos Ferrari 360 GTC
5 35 GT2 Scuderia Ecosse Nathan Kinch Andrew Kirkaldy Ferrari 360 GTC
6 42 GT2 Team LNT Andrew Thompson Jonny Kane TVR T400-R
7 43 GT2 Team LNT Warren Hughes Patrick Pearce TVR T400-R
8 55 GT2 Embassy Racing Ben Collins Neil Cunningham Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
9 77 GT2 Eurotech Mike Jordan Michael Caine Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
10 9 GT3 Tech 9 Piers Masarati Dimitris Deverikos Porsche 911 GT3
11 11 GT3 Team Aero Keith Ahlers Oliver Bryant Morgan Aero 8
12 12 GT3 Vision Marketing Phil Burton Ian Flux Ferrari 360
13 15 GT3 Damax Marco Attard Nick Adams Ferrari 360
14 16 GT3 Damax Miles Hulford Jamie Smyth Ferrari 360
15 20 GT3 Trackspeed Fred Moss David Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3
16 21 GT3 United Christian Broadcasters Hector Lester Allan Simonsen Ferrari 360
17 23 GT3 Motorbase Performance Andy Britnell Chris Stockton Porsche 911 GT3
18 30 GT3 Team Parker Racing Martin Rich Julian Westwood Porsche 911 GT3
19 36 GT3 Bill Barrett Motorsport Stephen Warburton Peter Morris Porsche 911 GT3
20 81 GT3 Team Tiger Chris Beighton Jon Finnemore Marcos Mantis
21 96 GT3 Qauife / RPM Alex Mortimer Phil Quaife Porsche 911 GT3
22 99 GT3 Eurotech Stuart Scott Steve Wood Porsche 911 GT3


A bit thin, but perhaps that can help Keith (24 Hrs) Ahlers & Co

Have (Scottish) Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

TV Coverage for Round 2 (3) the very wet Croft is listed as :-

Channel 4 - Thursday 26th May at 03:25 !

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

Knockhill Timetable :-

Saturday 21 May 2005
08:50 - 10:05: Untimed Practice
12:55 - 13:40: Qualifying 1 and 2
17:10 - 18:10: Race 1

Sunday 22 May 2005:
09:00 - 09:10: Warm up
13:30 - 14:30: Race 2

More news later (as soon as I get it !).

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

Saturday morning 'Free' Practice Times:-

1 35 GT2 Scuderia Ecosse Nathan Kinch Andrew Kirkaldy Ferrari 360 GTC 51.052
2 34 GT2 Scuderia Ecosse Tim Mullen Chris Niarchos Ferrari 360 GTC 51.160
3 42 GT2 Team LNT Andrew Thompson Jonny Kane TVR T400-R 51.549
4 55 GT2 Embassy Racing Ben Collins Neil Cunningham Porsche 911 GT3-RSR 51.652
5 77 GT2 Eurotech Mike Jordan Michael Caine Porsche 911 GT3-RSR 51.826
6 43 GT2 Team LNT Warren Hughes Patrick Pearce TVR T400-R 51.956
7 22 GT2 Eurotech David Jones Godfrey Jones Porsche 911 GT3-RSR 52.095
8 9 GT3 Tech 9 Piers Masarati Dimitris Deverikos Porsche 911 GT3 53.311
9 4 GT2 Emotional Engineering Matt Griffin Ryan Hooker Vauxhall Monaro 53.481
10 10 GT2 RJN Motorsport Bryce Wilson Ally McKever Nissan 350Z 53.518
11 81 GT3 Team Tiger Chris Beighton Jon Finnemore Marcos Mantis 53.571
12 20 GT3 Trackspeed Fred Moss David Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 53.708
13 21 GT3 United Christian Broadcasters Hector Lester Allan Simonsen Ferrari 360 53.831
14 30 GT3 Team Parker Racing Martin Rich Julian Westwood Porsche 911 GT3 54.111
15 23 GT3 Motorbase Performance Andy Britnell Chris Stockton Porsche 911 GT3 54.218
16 12 GT3 Vision Marketing Phil Burton Ian Flux Ferrari 360 54.421
17 11 GT3 Team Aero Keith Ahlers Oliver Bryant Morgan Aero 8 54.591
18 15 GT3 Damax Marco Attard Nick Adams Ferrari 360 54.671
19 96 GT3 Qauife / RPM Alex Mortimer Phil Quaife Porsche 911 GT3 54.742
20 36 GT3 Bill Barrett Motorsport Stephen Warburton Peter Morris Porsche 911 GT3 55.088

With "Thanks" as always to http://www.dailysportscar.com

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

OK - Qualifying for Race 1 (today) and Race 2 (tomorrow) :-

Right on the pace in GT3 :-

GT3 Qualifying

Session 1
"Oliver Bryant (tipped for future greatness by Marcus Pye in the current edition of Motorsport magazine) was determined to show that Croft was not a one-off and wasted no time in heading the field around this short, tight track. Chris Beighton (although appearing on the timing screens as Jon Finnemore) was having none of it, however, and signalled the start of a great session by leaping into the lead and ahead of all but four GT2s."

~~~~

"Into the last five minutes and things weren’t decided yet. Just as it looked as though Tech 9 had pole, Chris Beighton found the space to set a 53.286 and go back to the top of the GT3 times; seventh overall.

Despite pitting with just under three minutes left, this pace was enough to cement pole position for the afternoon’s race. The car may not be pretty at the moment, but there’s nothing wrong with its speed (in the dry at least). Deverikos held on to second and Bryant stayed in third."

QUALIFYING for RACE 1
1 35 GT2 Kinch/Kirkaldy Ferrari 360 GTC 51.680 15 90.46
2 77 GT2 Jordan/Caine Porsche RS 51.844 16 0.164 90.17
3 43 GT2 Hughes/Pearce TVR T400R 51.851 12 0.171 90.16
4 55 GT2 Collins/Cunningham Porsche RSR 51.984 15 0.304 89.93
5 22 GT2 Jones/Jones Porsche GT3 52.174 16 0.494 89.60
6 34 GT2 Mullen/Niarchos Ferrari 360 GTC 52.174 17 0.494 89.60
7 81 GT3 Beighton/Finnemore Marcus Mantis 53.286 11 1.606 87.73
8 4 GT2 Griffin/Hooker Vauxhall Monaro 53.330 7 1.650 87.66
9 10 GT2 Wilson/McKever Nissan 350 Z 53.385 16 1.705 87.57
10 9 GT3 Masarati/Deverikos Porsche GT3 Cup 53.646 15 1.966 87.14
11 11 GT3 Bryant/Ahlers Morgan Aero 8 GT 53.957 16 2.277 86.64
12 30 GT3 Rich/Westwood Porsche GT3 54.054 15 2.374 86.48
13 20 GT3 Ashburn/Moss Porsche 996 GTC 54.413 14 2.733 85.91
14 36 GT3 Warburton/Morris Porsche 911 GT3 54.515 13 2.835 85.75
15 23 GT3 Britnell/Stockton Porsche GT3 54.577 15 2.897 85.65


And qualifying for Race 2...

GT3 Qualifying

Session 2
"Keith Ahlers was struggling with the Team Aero Morgan. From looking strong at the start, Ahlers spent 14 frustrating laps trying to improve his times, but could not get faster than 55.036. He was certainly trying, evidenced by some very entertaining power-slides out of Clark Curve. Eleventh fastest (ni Class) is not representative of the talents of either driver or car."

QUALIFYING for RACE 2
1 35 GT2 Kinch/Kirkaldy Ferrari 360 GTC 50.436 17 92.69
2 34 GT2 Mullen/Niarchos Ferrari 360 GTC 51.047 17 0.611 91.58
3 43 GT2 Hughes/Pearce TVR T400R 51.207 17 0.771 91.29
4 55 GT2 Collins/Cunningham Porsche RSR 51.501 17 1.065 90.77
5 77 GT2 Jordan/Caine Porsche RS 51.671 15 1.235 90.47
6 22 GT2 Jones/Jones Porsche GT3 52.192 17 1.756 89.57
7 10 GT2 Wilson/McKever Nissan 350 Z 53.240 14 2.804 87.80
8 9 GT3 Masarati/Deverikos Porsche GT3 Cup 53.256 15 2.820 87.78
9 81 GT3 Beighton/Finnemore Marcus Mantis 53.369 13 2.933 87.59
10 30 GT3 Rich/Westwood Porsche GT3 53.585 15 3.149 87.24
11 21 GT3 Lester/Simonsen Ferrari 360 53.654 14 3.218 87.13
12 12 GT3 Burton/Flux Ferrari 360 C 53.991 16 3.555 86.58
13 23 GT3 Britnell/Stockton Porsche GT3 54.204 16 3.768 86.24
14 15 GT3 Attard/Adams Ferrari 360 54.384 15 3.948 85.96
15 16 GT3 Hulford/Smyth Ferrari 360 54.453 16 4.017 85.85
16 20 GT3 Ashburn/Moss Porsche 996 GTC 54.542 16 4.106 85.71
17 4 GT2 Griffin/Hooker Vauxhall Monaro 54.992 6 4.556 85.01
18 99 GT3 Scott/Wood Porsche 996 55.022 14 4.586 84.96
19 11 GT3 Bryant/Ahlers Morgan Aero 8 GT 55.036 14 4.600 84.94
20 96 GT3 Mortimer/Quaife Porsche GT3 Cup 55.449 13 5.013 84.31
21 36 GT3 Warburton/Morris Porsche 911 GT3 56.376 10 5.940 82.92


I will report on Race 1 later this afternoon.

Details (and quoted reporting) with Many Thanks to http://www.dailysportscar.com


Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Mary Lindsay]

Thanks Andy for keeping us so brilliantly informed.

[Andy Downes]

The Results of Race 1 (Schedule must have been brought forward) - no further details yet, Race finished at 16:50.

RESULT RACE 1
1 55 GT2 Collins/Cunningham Porsche RSR 1:00:25.667 66 85.10 52.145
2 35 GT2 Kinch/Kirkaldy Ferrari 360 GTC 1:00:32.110 66 6.443 84.95 50.809
3 34 GT2 Mullen/Niarchos Ferrari 360 GTC 1:00:54.519 66 28.852 84.42 51.236
4 77 GT2 Jordan/Caine Porsche RS 1:01:11.567 66 45.900 84.03 52.408
5 22 GT2 Jones/Jones Porsche GT3 1:00:30.327 65 1 LAP 83.70 52.445
6 43 GT2 Hughes/Pearce TVR T400R 1:00:33.577 65 1 LAP 83.62 51.847
7 10 GT2 Wilson/McKever Nissan 350 Z 1:00:45.199 65 1 LAP 83.36 53.713
8 9 GT3 Masarati/Deverikos Porsche GT3 Cup 1:00:42.856 64 2 LAPS 82.13 54.306
9 15 GT3 Attard/Adams Ferrari 360 1:01:11.239 64 2 LAPS 81.49 54.810
10 30 GT3 Rich/Westwood Porsche GT3 1:00:36.553 63 3 LAPS 80.98 54.727
11 96 GT3 Mortimer/Quaife Porsche GT3 Cup 1:00:49.530 63 3 LAPS 80.70 54.880
12 16 GT3 Hulford/Smyth Ferrari 360 1:00:52.613 63 3 LAPS 80.63 54.809
13 12 GT3 Burton/Flux Ferrari 360 C 1:01:11.241 62 4 LAPS 78.95 54.661
14 36 GT3 Warburton/Morris Porsche 911 GT3 1:00:26.857 60 6 LAPS 77.33 55.005
15 11 GT3 Bryant/Ahlers Morgan Aero 8 GT 1:00:37.691 60 6 LAPS 77.10 54.768
16 20 GT3 Ashburn/Moss Porsche 996 GTC 1:01:06.989 60 6 LAPS 76.49 54.491
17 23 GT3 Britnell/Stockton Porsche GT3 1:01:14.137 60 6 LAPS 76.34 55.028
18 21 GT3 Lester/Simonsen Ferrari 360 1:01:06.822 58 8 LAPS 73.94 53.748

More later once the Race Report is up on Dailysportscar.

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

News from Race 1

At the start the conditions were very variable and most though it was going to rain. The Morgan Aero 8 was on full wets along with many of the other runners - it seems the rain never came and those on slicks romped away.

Oliver Bryant started but conditions dictated an early stop to change to slicks and Oliver was then on the Class pace albeit a long way down.

From http://www.Dailysportscar.com ;

"Oliver Bryant was one of the last to stop. About ten minutes before he gave the car to Keith Ahlers, Bryant became aware of a fuel pick-up problem. This continued throughout Ahlers’ stint, but was eased by utilising the reserve tank. This was, however, a new problem for the team and a spot of overtime was in prospect for Saturday evening."

So that probably explains the result yesterday. The Morgan starts further back on the Grid for Race 2 today but let's hope Keith and Oliver have a better time of it.

More later.

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

Result for Race 2

1 35 GT2 Scuderia Ecosse Nathan Kinch Andrew Kirkaldy Ferrari 360 GTC 67 laps 1:00:38.187 86.09 mph 51.866
2 34 GT2 Scuderia Ecosse Tim Mullen Chris Niarchos Ferrari 360 GTC 67 laps 1:00:58.152 51.415
3 77 GT2 Eurotech Mike Jordan Michael Caine Porsche 911 GT3-RSR 67 laps 1:01:06.170 52.397
4 55 GT2 Embassy Racing Ben Collins Neil Cunningham Porsche 911 GT3-RSR 67 laps 1:01:17.419 52.616
5 22 GT2 Eurotech David Jones Godfrey Jones Porsche 911 GT3-RSR 67 laps 1:01:28.968 52.622
6 9 GT3 Tech 9 Piers Masarati Dimitris Deverikos Porsche 911 GT3 65 laps
1:01:26.561 82.42 mph 54.060
7 10 GT2 RJN Motorsport Bryce Wilson Ally McKever Nissan 350Z 64 laps 54.467
8 20 GT3 Trackspeed Fred Moss David Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 63 laps 54.389
9 16 GT3 Damax Miles Hulford Jamie Smyth Ferrari 360 63 laps 54.890
10 36 GT3 Bill Barrett Motorsport Stephen Warburton Peter Morris Porsche 911 GT3 63 laps 55.105
11 15 GT3 Damax Marco Attard Nick Adams Ferrari 360 62 laps 54.187
12 21 GT3 United Christian Broadcasters Hector Lester Allan Simonsen Ferrari 360 62 laps 53.533
13 11 GT3 Team Aero Keith Ahlers Oliver Bryant Morgan Aero 8 62 laps 54.377
14 12 GT3 Vision Marketing Phil Burton Ian Flux Ferrari 360 62 laps 55.518
15 23 GT3 Motorbase Performance Andy Britnell Chris Stockton Porsche 911 GT3 61 laps 54.484
16 96 GT3 Quaife / RPM Alex Mortimer Phil Quaife Porsche 911 GT3 59 laps 54.714
17 30 GT3 Team Parker Racing Martin Rich Julian Westwood Porsche 911 GT3 39 laps 53.947
18 42 GT2 Team LNT Andrew Thompson Jonny Kane TVR T400-R 30 laps DNF 51.832
19 43 GT2 Team LNT Warren Hughes Patrick Pearce TVR T400-R 22 laps DNF 51.998
20 99 GT3 Eurotech Stuart Scott Steve Wood Porsche 911 GT3 18 laps DNF 56.035
21 81 GT3 Team Tiger Chris Beighton Jon Finnemore Marcos Mantis DNS
22 4 GT2 Emotional Engineering Matt Griffin Ryan Hooker Vauxhall Monaro DNS



A better day by the sounds of things - apparently it was wet and there was no repeat opf the fuel pick up problems.

I'll post again once the http://www.dailysportscar.com race report is published.

Well Done and our Best Wishes to Keith, Oliver, Billy, and Ian - flying the Morgan flag once again.

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[Andy Downes]

Race 2 Report - Sunday

Torrential rain in the morning and most Teams expected a wet race, however it cleared during the hour before the race and the dilemma about tyres repeated itself. Most were on intermediates until just before the start when they all changed to wets - the Morgan strarted from the pit lane following problems with the air jacks and hence prolonging the wheel-changing process.

A few laps in and http://www.dailysportscar.com take up the story - "Keith Ahlers was another to struggle in the opening stages. Starting in last place, he couldn’t get past Peter Morris in the Bill Barrett Porsche. He tried just a bit too hard on lap five at Clarks Curve and the Morgan spun. He recovered without damage (although scaring Andrew Kirkaldy in the process as the Aero 8 threatened to rejoin on a part of the track about to be occupied by the Ecosse 360 GTC) but had lost a lot of ground."

~~~

"The Morgan and JMH Ferraris also had races to forget and finished a long way down. Oliver Bryant was twice denied the opportunity to show his ever-impressive driving talents this weekend, but he and Keith Ahlers will have an opportunity to make amends next weekend at Thruxton. The Morgan’s fastest lap of the weekend was one of the best in the GT3 field and they just needed more luck."

Perhaps Keith wil fill in a few gaps once the dust (drops) has settled. The the Aero 8 on-song definitely has the pace - Better Luck next time guys.

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)

[keith.ahlers]

Thanks Andy for a brilliant effort.

Race 1 stymied by tyre choice and fuel pick up problem.
Race 2 better but handicapped by my poor qualifying position.

Thruxton next weekend..............

[Andy Downes]

Keith - you're welcome.

TV Coverage - Croft - Thursday (tomorrow) morning at 03.25 am - Set the video.

Have Fun
8) 8) 8)