This entry will be updated during the race, with updates added at the top. Scroll down to see earlier entries. Keep checking back for news! Fee free to leave comments as well!
Hour 24. 3.30 -> 4.30
Going into this final hour, the gaps between cars, measure in laps rather than seconds between all contenders, was be too big to overcome under normal racing conditions.
This years race may well have had better weather, and a bigger crowd, but it couldn’t deliver a race as exciting as last years. Which is hardly surprising, given the fantastic competition of 2010.
All competitors who take part in a 24hour race should be applauded, and those that finish doubly so. It is a unique test of man and machine, speed and endurance and so all congratulations should go to the Eclipse team for winning the 2011 MSA Britcar 24hr Race.
Hours 22 & 23. 1.30 -> 3.30
Going into the final hour, we find the Eclipse Ferrari, with a lead of 16 laps but has to stop again. The second and third placed cars, Nicholas Mee Aston Martin and Marcos Racing Evora respectively, have both made their last stops.
Running in fourth overall is the Topcats Racing class three Mantis, which is two laps ahead of the Intersport BMW, running fourth in class and fifth overall. Intersport are confident of taking the final step on the class three podium, however, as they can run to the end whereas it is expected the Mantis will stop again.
The Brunswick / Mark Griffiths BMW M3 is still leading class four, as it has for several hours now, and is currently running in seventh place overall., just ahead of the Topcats class two Mantis, which although stopped out on track an hour or so back, has clearly been made race fit again and has been sent back out.
Second in class four and running in tenth place overall is the Red Camel Racing Seat Leon. The Cox family are currently claiming third spot on the class four podium, and twelfth overall, albeit 11 laps behind class three Holden Astra of McLeod Racing.
Hour 21. 12.30 -> 1.30
The Topcats Racing Mosler has gone off at Brooklands and buried it’s nose straight under the tyre barrier and is, rather unsurprisingly, out of the race. The news that filtered through is that the throttle stuck open. The safety car was deployed for around fifteen minutes to recover the car, and to allow the marshalls to safely repair the tyre wall.
The team manager of Eclipse, who are now leading by xx laps, has been called to race control. In other penalty news, the #57 Marcos Racing Lotus has been given a stop and go penalty for speeding in the pitlane. They have thirteen laps in hand over the next car, Intersport’s BMW, and so it hasn’t caused them a problem.
Most of the gaps between cars are greater than 2 or 3 laps, and so it feels as though this race is just winding down to the end. Having said that, I thought that about an hour ago, and then the leader got thrown off the track, so what do I know?
Hours 19 & 20 – 10.30am -> 12.30pm
During the last two hours not a huge amount has changed. The Eclipse Ferrari has gained two laps on the leading Mosler, to now be 4 laps behind. This gap has, however, been pegged now that both cars are lapping in the 2:15/2:16s. Apart from the Nicholas Mee Racing and Aston Martin and the Marcos Racing Evora swapping places due to scheduled pitstops, and the same happening between the Intersport BMW and Topcats second Mantis, driven by the Japanese squad, the leaderboard looks remarkably similar to that of two hours ago.
Typical, just as I have typed that the only remaining class 2 car – Topcats Racing Mantis, has pulled over on the Abbey Straight. A safety car is deployed for a few laps to aid recovery. It did look as the Topcats were going to get all three cars home inside the top ten.
The Nigel Mustill Aquila has definitely retired now, after having issues throughout the race, but it seems that they have finally run out of luck, or spares.
So, with 4 hours to go, the run down is as follows:
Class 1.
1. Topcats Mosler
2. Eclipse Ferrari
3. Nigel Mustill Aquila (retired, but at the moment classified as 15th overall)
Class 2.
No cars still running that will meet the requirements for classification.
Class 3.
1. Nicholas Mee Aston Martin (3rd overall)
2. Marcos Racing Evora (4th overall)
3. Intersport / Kevin Clarke BMW (5th overall)
Class 4.
1. Brunswick / Mark Griffiths BMW M3 (8h overall)
2. Mardi Gras Honda Integra (12th overall)
3. Red Camel Racing Seat Leon (13th overall)
Hour 18 – 9.30->10.30
Kevin Clarke BMW had a trip to the pits due to an electrical issue which turned out to be a lose wire on the alternator, but rejoined, losing a single place to the to class two Topcats Mantis.
I was about type that not much else was happening, until the Eclipse Ferrari went off from the lead, due to a broken roll bar causing a left rear puncture while Phil Keen was doing a stint. The safety car was then dispatched while the Ferrari recovered back to the pits very slowly. The Aquila takes this opportunity to pit from 13th place, and the Topcats Mosler inherits the lead accordingly. After a few minutes to check the flailing tyre hadn’t caused any further damage, the Ferrari is sent back out, to be 6 laps behind the leader.
With six hours left, my sleep deprived mind reckons that the Ferrari needs be consistently 8-10 seconds a lap quicker than the Mosler, to catch have a chance of catching the leader. Unless, of course, the Mosler has any kind of issue.
Towards the end of this hour, th eMosler pitted for a scheduled stop, and the Aquila stopped out on the new arena loop. Also out on the loop, the #47 Jemco Ginetta had their bonnet fly off, which hopefully hasn’t landed on the racing line.
The Topcats class two Mantis retakes the track after a faulty ignition switch, it had a seven lap lead over the Aquila, so no dramas there. Although, if the Mantis doesn’t make the end then there will be no class two finishers.
The Eclipse Ferrari has just under a three lap lead at the moment, and has just slowed its pace slightly, to that of the second place Topcats Mosler which is circulating in the 2:!5 region. It doesn’t appear that this is due to a problem, probably more the fact that Eclipse have no need to risk reliability woes by pushing too fast. If they lap the same speed as the Mosler, then they will stay 3 laps ahead.
Promoted to third overall, due to the Topcats Mantis issues, is the class three Nichoas Mee Aston Martin, who are 16 laps further back. As last year, it looks as though this is going to be a two horse race for the remaining 7 hours.
The only other battle on track at the moment is between the class three Topcats Mantis (driven by the Japanese squad) in 8th place overall, and the class four leader Brunswick/Mark Griffiths BMW M3, just 20 seconds down the road. All other gaps at the moment are measured in minutes, laps or even 10’s of laps.
Car #86, a Mazda MX5 being driven by three ex army offices on behalf of a number of charities – The Not Forgotten Assoc, Help for Heroes, Army Benevolent Fund, Forces Childrens Trust and Scottys Little Soldiers, has been given a penalty for speeding in the pitlane. Ironically the driver who committed the offense was non other than former rally driver and F1 pundit Tony Jardine!
My bleary eyes have been having problems this morning. The Nigel Mustill Aquila has only just rejoined the track. It’s still third in class, but down in 14th place overall. It still seems capable of setting fast times, doing 2 laps in the 2:12 region straight away, which is as much as 20 seconds a lap quicker than the cars ahead of it.
Towards the end of this hour, the Rogue Motorsport / Forza 4 Toyota has pitted for its fifth driveshaft!
Hour 16 – 7.30am -> 8.30am
Two thirds of the way through, at the end of this hour. Things have quietend down slightly now. The Aquila pitted with a problem – a burst water pipe caused a little overheating, they got the problem fixed and the car was back out in 5th place. BPM Racing have retired from the race. Having repaired the car after a big smash last night the team were back up and running. However, after having lost fifth gear the team took the difficult decision to pull out.
Right at the end of the hour, the #27 class two Topcats has been pushed into the pit garage and work commences on the as yet unknown (to me) problem.
Not done a class rundown for a while, so here goes:
Class 1.
1. Eclipse Ferrari
2. Topcats Mosler
3. Nigel Mustill Aquila
Class 2.
1. Topcats Mantis – the only runner left in this class!
Class 3.
1. Nicholas Mee Racing Aston Martin
2. Marcos Racing Evora
3. Kevin Clarke / Intersport BMW
Class 4.
1. Mark Griffiths / Brunswick BMW
2. Red Camel Racing Seat Leon
3. Mardi Grass Motorsport Honda Integra
Hours 14 & 15 (5.30am -> 7.30am)
During this two hours Silverstone has gone from pitch black, to full daylight. The feeling is that the race is almost over, however there is still another 9 hours to go!
The length of this race is starting to take its toll on the entry list. The MJC Ferrari has retired with a cracked exhaust manifold – so Witt Gamski et al won’t be repeating their victory from last year.
The Strata 21 Mosler has also retired, due to overheating problems. The Rogue Motosport / Forza 4 Toyota MR2 is in the pits for its fourth driveshaft of the event!
Returning to the field, however, has been the Thorney Motorsport BMW M3, who are 320-odd laps down, having had to get a part made back at base, shipped up to the track, and then fitted. They will have to complete 50% of the winners total race distance to be classified.
The Topcats Mantis has a lengthy pitstop, to include a brake change, and although there is no danger of losing the class two lead (having 51 laps on the ARC Brtislava entry – which has subsequently retired).
The Eclipse Ferrari is still in the over the Topcats Marcos, with the Aquila recovering to third place, although nearly 20 laps down.
Nicholas Mee racing is in fiurth overall, and leading class 3, with Kevin Clarke second in class, ahead of the Marcos Racing Evora.
The Brunswick BMW is currently leading class four, and is 9th overall.
Hours 9-13 (12.30am -> 5.30am)
The racing continues through the night here at Silverstone, with the Eclipse Mosler still leading, having completed 312 laps at the end of hour 13. Lying in second place is the Topcats Mosler, 6 laps adrift, which is very impressive considering they are suffering from some sort of vibration problem, which is causing them to have to short shift, and is reducing their ultimate pace.
Two laps further back is the MJC Ferrari, which has made excellent progress through the field in the last few hours. All three are lapping fairly evenly at around the 2:15 mark.
Also making great progress is the yellow Aquila of Nigel Mustill, now up to seventh place, 20 laps adrift. However, John Martin is lapping some 10 seconds quicker than the leaders, and has plenty of time to make up a few places.
Leading class two and running fourth overall is still the Topcats Mantis, which has a lap in head over class three leading Nicholas Mee racing. Second spot in class three is still occupied by the Marcos Racing Lotus Evora. Third place in class has changed hands however, with the Kevin Clarke BMW occupying that position.
Class four is being led by Mark Griffiths, the CTR Developments Lotus, which was leading, has stopped out on track with a wheel bearing problem. Looking by the timing screens, it’s a terminal failure.
Mardi Gras Motorsport has also dropped behind Mark Griffiths, and is now second in class. Red Camel Racing round out the class four top three.
Another recovery drive, this time from the Cox family is taking place. From leading class four at the start of the race, they dropped significantly, but are now slowly improving and are up to 19th overall.
The BPM Ginetta that went off a few hours ago was repaired, a faulty fuel pump which had caused a drop in power was indentified while the work was being carried out, and they have been back on track for three hours or so.
The Synchro motorsport Honda Jazz has been pitted four a broken driveshaft. The damaged unit was completely bespoke, and to swap for a standard unit, the team have also had to tinker around with the gear box.
It turns out the Aquila went off with a driveshaft failure. This has been fixed during the last hour and the car is now back out on track, in 16th position and lapping just off the ace of the leader, which is still the Eclipse Ferrari, with the Topcats Mosler 3 laps down in second place.
In the last hour, Britcar have released a statement regarding the incident which caused the 51 minute safety car earlier:
“At approximately 9:45pm there was an incident during the Britcar 24hr race at Silverstone where a competing vehicle left the road and collided with another vehicle. A trackside marshal was struck during the incident.
The marshal in question has been transferred to Northampton Hospital with a suspected broken leg. They also have cuts and bruises but no life threatening injuries.
This statement was received by Britcar 24hr Ltd. via the BRSCC from Silverstone circuit Chief Medical Officer.” So it’s good to hear that there are no major injuries from this incident.
Working their way up the field is the MJC Ferrari, now up to 7th place, approximately 90 seconds behind the BMW of Kevin Clarke, who is running third in class three, behind the Marcos Racing Evora, who has dropped to second in class behind Nichols Mee.
There have been no changes to the top three, in class four.
Hour 7
The safety car comes in after 51 minutes, 10 minutes into this hour. MJC pits again, and Phil Dryburgh takes over. Sean McInerney is battling with the class 2 Topcats Mantis for second place, crossing the line just 0.3 seconds behind, and takes the place the following lap. Another 13 seconds back is the Topcats Mosler, running third in class 1.
Class two has been decimated slightly. After the Topcats Mantis, the next runner is the ARC Brtislava, running down in 28th place.
In fifth place overall is Nicholas Mee Racing, leading class three by a minute and a half from Marcos Racing Lotus Evora. Third in Class three is the Kevin Clarke entered BMW.
Still leading class 4 is the CTR entry, running in a very impressive 9th overall, 3 laps behind is the Mark Griffiths BMW M3 which is, in turn, 1 minute ahead of #88 Mardi Gras Motorsport Honda Integra.
Gareth Evans has taken over in the Aquila, but his first lap is 10 seconds slower than the Eclipse Ferrari. He does improve laptime, but is still circulating anything between 1 and 3 seconds slower than the second place car.
The difference in laptime becomes immaterial, as the Aquila slows to a stop out at Vale. By the end of the hour it has been recovered to the pits dropped to 11th place, promoting everyone repectively.
In class four news, the Jet Black Racing has had to have its engine replaced.
There’s not been a position list for a couple of hours, so no would seem to be an opportune time:
Class 1.
1. Eclipse Ferrari
2. Topcats Racing Mosler
3. MJC Ferrari
Class 2.
1. Topcats Racing Mantis
2. ARC Brtislava Porsche
3. Rollcentre Racing Ginetta
Class 3.
1. Marocs Racing Lotus Evora
2. Nicholas Mee Aston Martin
3. Pete Storey / Motionsport Lotus
Class 4.
1. CTR Development Lotus Elise
2. Mardi Gras Honda Integra
3. Mark Griffiths / Brunswick BMW M3.
Aquila pits from 3 lap lead. He may have gone over the maximum allowed 3hour stint limit, Bob Berridge has gone back in for another stint. Could this be referred to the stewards for consideration?
Red Camel has a 20 minute pitstop, for some reason, and then comes back in again to serve their stop go penalty.
The Eclipse Ferrari is starting to close the gap on the leaders, they dropped back due to being hit from behind an hour or so ago, and spent about 20 minutes in the pitlane to fix the problems.
Fifteen minutes into this hour, and the safety car has come out, due to a car pulling over on the hanger straight. Due to the marshalls working in the darkness, the safety seems a sensible precaution while this vehicle is recovered.
While the safety car is out, John Gaw pits the MJC Ferrari, after having done just 9 laps, this could be to refuel again under the safety car, or it could be to remedy some seat problems the team appear to be having.
An oversight on my part, the Japanes Topcats Mantis must have been repaired and sent back out, as they are currently running in 20th place.
News is filtering through from the cause of the safety car. A few cars went off at Maggotts – Craig Wilkins Ginetta, the Swiss Racing BMW and the Jemco Honda Civic. While a marshal was connecting up a car to the tractor to tow them away, another car then went into the car. This safety car period could last some time.
The BPM Racing Ginetta has had an off into the new pitwall, and is currently in the pits. If they have all the parts for repairs, it could be two hours work for the mechanics.
The Topcarts Mosler is having fuel pickup problems and is having to short stint, but are hanging on to fourth place. The Strata 21 Mosler is also having fule problems – pressure regulator problems on this one, causing them to be down in 38th place currently.
Towards the end of this hour, Bob Berridge pits from the lead, to presumably have a top up while the safety car is still out. Gareth Evans takes over.
The Aquila leads from the start
Night time has arrived at Silverstone, the sun may have gone down but the temperatures have not. An exceedingly warm day is leaving us with a very mild evening.
The race began at 4.30pm, with the pole sitting Aquila leading away at the rolling start, and having a lead of nearly the whole pit straight within a few laps. This could have been taken away by the appearance of the safety car, due to Optimum Ginetta which stopped out on track.
The safety car picked the pack up ahead of the fourth placed RJN Motorsport Nissan, allowing the tope three – Aquila CR1 (Bob Berridge at the wheel), Strata 21s Mosler (Calum Lockie) and the class two leading ARC Brtislava – to join the back of the train, and give themselves almost a lap on everybody.
Leading class three at this point was the Japanese crewed Topcats Mantis, who had taken the spot away from Optimum Racing before their problem Class four was being led by the Cox family BMW at this stage.
By the end of the first hour, Witt Gamski pitted the MJC Ferrari from outside the top ten, having started in second but dropped down to 9th at the end of lap one. The Japanese Marcos retired with a driveshaft failure, and Bob Berridge was given a 30 second stop go penalty for overtaking before the start finish line, after the safety car restart.
During hour 2, the Strata 21 Mosler took the lead, courtesy of the Aquila penalty, which caused the yellow car to drop to third place, but still on the leading lap. Hour two did, however, claim it’s victims. First up was the ARC Brtislava team, which was too nosiy and above the reduced for this year noise limit. Work was done on the car, and they have taken back to the track. Finish hour four in 33rd place.
MJC had a double whammy of penalties, being given a drive through for overtaking under yellow flags, but then sped in the pitlane and received a subsequent 16 second penalty. Two cars retired in the second hour, the #50 Optimum racing Ginetta, having recurring problems which couldn’t be resolved, and the #58 GT Classics Porsche.
The RJN Nissan, which been running strongly and looked on for a class podium, became the third retirement of the race early in the third hour – stopping on the inside of Copse. This brought out the safety car. The Strata 21 Mosler, leading, and the second place Eclipse Ferrari took this opportunity to pit.
MJC woes hadn’t ended either, Keith Robison pitting after about 20 minutes of his stint, with a loose seat. They finished the third our outside of the top 20.
Class two was being led by the orange Rollcentre racing Ginetta, with the Topcats racing Marcos second in class.
Class three was being led by the Nicholas Mee Racing Ason Martin, up in 7th place overall, a lap ahead of the Paul Winter entered Porsche 996 GT3 Cup.
Ignition problems for the Cox family BMW had dropped them down the field to 46th overall, and leading class 4 was the CTR developments Lotus Elise GT4, with a Honda Integra from Mardi Gras Motorsport second in class.
With another round of scheduled stops during hour 4, there were a few changes to the order. The Eclipse Ferrari was still leading at the end of the hour, 2 laps ahead of the yellow Aquila, which had shown impressive race pace setting 2:05’s, several seconds that the entire field. Third place overall and leading class 2 was the Topcats Marcos Mantis, who were a lap ahead of the Topcats Mosler.
Nichols Mee Racing were still leading class three, and running an impressive 5th overall with a lap in hand over fello class three runner Paul Winter Racing. There was a change at the top of class 4, Red Camel Racing in their Seat Leon taking the lead of class, and running in 10th overall.
Last years winners, and assumed contenders MJC had recovered back to 13th overall, but are 11 laps down on the leader. Obviously reliability is key and speed isn’t the be all and end all at this stage of proceedings, but 11 laps down is quite a mounted to climb if they which to repeat their victory.
As if to prove this point, early on in hour five the Eclipse team, having just completed a scheduled pitstop, were hit from behind, causing damage that would take around 20 minutes to complete. They would end the hour in fourth place, but five laps down on the leader, which is now the yellow Aquila. Three laps down is the Topcats Mosler, just ahead of the class two leader, fellow Topcats entry, this time in a Mantis shape.
The Strata 21 Mosler is suffering fuel pickup problems, which is causing them to pit more often than usual, an is subsequently dropping them down the field.
Two cars have been given penalties. Car 92, the Smarts4You entry was given a stop and go, plus thirty second penalty. They got off lightly for whatever indiscretion they committed, compared to the #84 car, class 4 leading Red Camel racing, who have been given a stop and go, plus 2 mintues! Again, for an unknown crime.
At the end of hour five, the top three in each class are as follows:
Class 1:
1, Nigel Mustill Aquila CR1
2. Topcats Racing Mosler
3. Eclipse Ferrari
Class 2:
1. Topcats Racing Mantis
2. ARC Bratislava
3. Rollcentre Racing Ginetta G55.
Class 3:
1. Nicholas Mee Racing Aston Martin
2. Pete Storey Lotus Elise GT 4
3. Marcos Racing Lotus Evora
Class 4:
1. CTR Development Lotus Elise
2. Mardi Gras Motorsport Honda Integra
3. Mark Griffiths BMW M3
