British GT – Donington Park – Saturday Morning Practice Dramas
“There’s a lot of oil at Goddards.”

These were the words of Lawrence Tomlinson (about whom, more later), early in the 75 minute free practice session at a cool and overcast Donington Park this morning, and they could well turn out to be very significant for the third and fourth rounds of the series.

Normally, the free practice session is of limited interest as teams and drivers test settings, etc.; but today’s was different, and unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.

The bad news started even before the track activity had begun, with the SRO’s Championship Coordinator, the very excellent Benjamin Franassovici, announcing at the drivers’ briefing that he is departing for pastures new. This will be a very big hole for SRO to fill. Benji seems to have worked for SRO almost forever, and is a very capable fellow.

With the practice session underway, the first calamity of the day was just moments away.

As Jon Finnemore rounded Goddards in the Team Tiger Marcos Mantis, the car’s brand new engine threw a conrod, and that was all we will see of the GTC leader this weekend. “I’m going home to watch Manchester United beat Middlesbrough this afternoon,” announced a disappointed Chris Beighton, “that might cheer me up!”

It is still possible that the Mantis will make an appearance or two towards the end of the season, but it will be sorely missed this weekend and its absence reduces GTC to just three cars.

Losing the Mantis was disappointing, but what happened in the second half of the session was extraordinary, and very significant for the GT3 championship.

Phil Burton was exiting Goddards in the VRS Motor Finance Ferrari 430, when he spun. Whether or not he hit oil is not known. What is known is that the next car on the scene was the Christians in Motorsport 430 with Tim Mullen at the wheel, and he was going at speed.

The collision was a mighty one and both cars sustained major damage. The red car stopped at the entrance to the pitlane, while the white and blue version was able to drive down the pitlane under its own steam, but with the front left wheel failing to revolve. Mullen stormed away from the car, stopping only to kick the dangling front bodywork in his frustration.

First impression are that Hector Lester’s car will take no further part in proceedings, while the Burton/Wilcox car may be repairable.

But that wasn’t the final incident of the morning. Just a few minutes after the restart, the red flag was being waved again as a result of the Moore Racing Viper making very significant contact with the pitwall.

The tyre tracks told a story of a very direct approach to the point of impact and this was no glancing blow. It is not yet known who was driving, but the car is obviously not repairable this weekend.

With the Lotus Sport Cadena Exige #18 and the #10 Damax Ascari having already been withdrawn, the field is now down to a maximum of just 20 cars.

Practice times seem almost irrelevant in the circumstances, but the top six read Michael Bentwood and Jonny Cocker for Barwell and its Aston Martins, then the Ellis / Mortimer RPM Viper, Mullen and Wilcox in the hobbled Ferraris (this group all in the upper 1:10 bracket) and Tim Sugden for Trackspeed. The Jamie Smyth / Graeme Mundy Porsche was fastest in GTC.