Manuel Cintrano and Javier Morcillo have taken their second pole position of the season in the Britcar Endurance Championship for the fourth round at Donington Park. The Mosler MT900 GT3 took a late pole in a changeable session which had Callum Lockie on overall pole for a large part of the session. The Ferrari 458 Cup from FF Corse that Lockie shares with David Mason was an early pace setter, trading fastest times on a soggy Grand Prix layout with the MacG Racing Ultima until the Mosler got up to speed.
Once Morcillo jumped in the car and got going, there was only one possible result. Problems for the Rapier just made the result more certain. Mike Millard tried to go out initially on slicks, only to go off on his first lap and spend much of the session cleaning out the car and gingerly getting up to speed. It was only in the dying minutes of the session that the SR2 started turning out competitive lap times, though he only placed fourth, behind the FF Corse Ferrari.
Morcillo, meanwhile had the use of a rare set of Dunlops’ intermediates in the perfect conditions for the tyre, the opportunity allowing his to set a fastest lap of 1:38.182, more than two seconds faster than Lockie in the FF Corse entry.
BAMD Motorsport made a late appearance too, slotting into third behind FF Corse thanks to Nigel Greensall. Behind the two Ferarris third in class 2 also managed to get the better of the MacG car. That was the Audi R8 of Peter Cook and Frank Pelle which left the Ultima a disappointing sixth after its early leading pace.
Class 3 went to the Kevin Clarke and Anna Walewska driven BMW E92 M3. Kevin has stepped into the car because Ian Donaldson who usually drives with Anna has gone with team mate and son Andrew to the christening of Andrew’s own son. Nick Barrow and Robert Hall start second in the final class in their Saxon Motorsport BMW, missing out on the top spot by just 0.287 seconds.
The Porsche of Guillaume Gruchet took fourth in class 2 and 9th on the road a place ahead of class rivals Alistair Lindsay and Jensen Lunn. The Lunn and Lindsay GT3 Chevron was another car which struggled for pace, despite being moved into class 2 from the top class between Silverstone and Donington Park.
The SEAT of Richard Adams, son Max Adams and David Green took third in class 3 ahead of Adam Hayes and Mark Radcliffe. The Radcliffe and Hayes BMW struggled during round 3 after gearbox problems in qualifying and these problems appear to have persisted. With a time over eighteen and a half seconds off the pace they start in last place.
There are a few cars which haven’t stayed for the second of the two 90 minute races. The Riley has withdrawn because of their drive shaft issues from yesterday and Team Tiger’s Marcos Mantis apparently never planned to race on Sunday. The orange and silver machine was packed up and gone before the end of the days racing.
The Spice of Karim Moudi has also had to leave due to its overcooked engine. Stark Motorsport have withdrawn after finding that their power steering problems were just a symptom of a larger issue. They too have packed their Ginetta G55 GT3 away and Ian Stanton and Nathan Freke are heading home.
Of course none of the Britcar Sports and Touring Car Championship entrants are running in the second race of the weekend.
