The inaugural round of the GT Trophy Endurance Series got off to a great start at Brands Hatch on the Grand Prix Circuit in glorious sunshine on the 22nd of May. Brought in for the 2010 season as part of Bute Motorsport's GT Cup series, the race attracted a impressive entry list, and an equally impressive list of drivers and team combinations.
This was also organiser Bute Motorsports opportunity of trying out its innovative handicap system whereby variable length minimum pit stops were calculated to help even the score and encourage competitive racing to the finish. The formula was strategically developed to still allow the best team who put on the best performance to win but also give teams the opportunity of using tactics to gain the advantage.
Mark Sumpter and Adrian Slater in the Paragon backed Porsche 997 RSR in its first outing since winning the Silverstone Britcar 6 hour in 2009, again spent much of the race with a Mosler snapping at their heels.
An early pace car period on lap one caused by the unfortunate early demise of the JDR Honda NSX of David and Rob Fenn handed the teams an opportunity to pit early and get one of their two mandatory stops out the way. After eight laps behind the safety car there were still teams who had not pitted to take advantage of this tactically vital stop.
Paragon, quick to take the initiative, took the lead early on which they were not to relinquish despite the hard charging Mosler of Beamont and Fores beginning to eat into the Porsche's lead. Had the Mosler's second stint been fractionally quicker they might have pulled it off. Instead the Mosler got involved in an epic tussle with the ‘mature' Marcos Mantis GT who hounded them all the way and finally got past when the Mosler spun relegating them to third place.
This was also organiser Bute Motorsports opportunity of trying out its innovative handicap system whereby variable length minimum pit stops were calculated to help even the score and encourage competitive racing to the finish. The formula was strategically developed to still allow the best team who put on the best performance to win but also give teams the opportunity of using tactics to gain the advantage.
Mark Sumpter and Adrian Slater in the Paragon backed Porsche 997 RSR in its first outing since winning the Silverstone Britcar 6 hour in 2009, again spent much of the race with a Mosler snapping at their heels.
An early pace car period on lap one caused by the unfortunate early demise of the JDR Honda NSX of David and Rob Fenn handed the teams an opportunity to pit early and get one of their two mandatory stops out the way. After eight laps behind the safety car there were still teams who had not pitted to take advantage of this tactically vital stop.
Paragon, quick to take the initiative, took the lead early on which they were not to relinquish despite the hard charging Mosler of Beamont and Fores beginning to eat into the Porsche's lead. Had the Mosler's second stint been fractionally quicker they might have pulled it off. Instead the Mosler got involved in an epic tussle with the ‘mature' Marcos Mantis GT who hounded them all the way and finally got past when the Mosler spun relegating them to third place.
