Satisfying Opening Race Weekend Despite Weather Upset

A mix of frustration and satisfaction could be the summary after the first Carrera Cup race weekend of the season at Donington Park this weekend.

Qualifying saw a P6 for Geroge Gamble and initially P19 for will Burns before an incorrectly chalked off lap time for Will was reinstated to put him at P12 on the grid for the first race on Sunday. The first race ended up being the only race as the weather was not playing ball; it rained solidly all Saturday night until lunchtime on Sunday. The track had so much standing water it was not possible to have any safe racing. The marshalls and support staff worked hard to get a useable track and some racing got under way after 1pm.

Round 1 of the Carrera Cup finally got underway at around 2:50pm, with the track good enough to race, albeit it very tricky conditions.  George had a good start, immediately up to P4 by turn one, then into P3 soon afterwards. A safety car was deployed after a few laps due to one car hitting the barrier, with racing resuming very competitively. George was soon in P2 and going for the lead.

Coming out of turn 1 he made his move and was sandwiched between two cars resulting in the front of his car lifting off the ground! A very concerning spectacle to those hundreds of fans on the bank and in the grandstand the other side of the safety fence. His splitter was lost and he damaged a radiator (also housed at the front of these GT3 cup cars) as well as knocking his steering out of alignment. Losing water, soon after it was water pressure warnings as well as trying to race a car with damaged steering and less downforce due to the lost splitter. Then someone else went off and his re-entry to the track surface caused someone else to go wide and subsequently across the grass, which was like a skating rink, and into the tyre wall. A second safety car was out for a few more laps before around half a dozen laps remaining gave a sprint for the finish. Keeping out of trouble and some experienced driving meant Will Burns had worked his way up to P9 despite the conditions, whilst George Gamble managed to hold P2 until the chequered flag and finish.

 

So it was P2 and P9 for the two Rosland Gold cars for Race 1. And whilst Race 2 was cancelled (or chalked off for the day), it will probably be added to the itinerary at the next meeting, which is at Brand Hatch on the Indy circuit in a fortnight.