Bute Motorsport GT Cup, Donington Park – Quick Race 2 Report
A World First For Hetherington

Benji Hetherington claimed the first ever win for the Nissan GT-R GT3 when he conquered the appalling conditions at Donington Park on Sunday morning to take the win in the #9 JMH Automotive machine.

Derek Johnston again made a great start in his Ferrari 458 Challenge to get to second at the first corner and then took the lead from Martin Short at the end of the Dunlop Straight on Lap 1 to take the lead. Unfortunately for the locally based driver, his lead lasted only until Hollywood on the next lap as a spin took him across the grass and ultimately into a gravel trap. The Ferrari was dragged out and completed the race three laps down.

With Short struggling for grip in the driving rain, Hetherington quickly closed on to the Mosler Super GT’s tail and took the lead on Lap 6 at the Old Hairpin after a spirited defence from the Rollcentre boss. The Mosler was unable to respond and the Nissan went on to take the chequered flag at the end of Lap 17.

Dan Stringfellow completed the Group 1 podium in the #21 BMW E46 M3 with fourth place overall, with an entertaining duel with Harry Whale being one of the highlights of the race.

Whale made up for his early exit from Race 1 in impressive style by taking the #8 In2Racing Porsche 997 GT3 from the back of the grid to third overall by the flag, to capture the Group 2 win. He also recorded the second fastest lap of the race in the process – not bad for his first wet race in the Porsche.

Peter Smallwood overcame a late off to hang on to second in Group 2 in the #95 Porsche 997 with David Witt again taking third.

Lee Mowle took his second win of the weekend in Group 3 when he took the Optimum Motorsport Ginetta G50 to fifth overall, after having earlier traded places with the Group 1 Mosler of Kevin Riley. An off at Redgate wasn’t enough to keep him off the top step of the Group podium.

Chris Bentley again claimed second in the #35 Porsche 996, but Colin Broster was baffled by the handling of his #15 996 – barely being able to keep it pointed in a straight line – and retired the car after eight laps.

The third and final GT Cup race of the weekend was due to start at 4.15, but there was no prospect of the foul weather conditions easing up in the interim.

MH