Britcar at Donington: Strata claim a great second but disappointment for Azteca
Paul White and Calum Lockie brought the Strata 21 home to second place in the Britcar 4HR weekend closing race at the weekend (7th – 8th May).
By Jan Stevenson
Azteca Motorsport made it three out of three to claim the pole for the start of the last race of a manic weekend at Donington., with Stata 21 claiming the 5th spot on the grid.
With Javier Morcilla at the helm, Azteca set the pace and led into the first corner, while behind him Michael McInerney found himself in a Mosler sandwich, as Calum Lockie suddenly shunted from behind, ended up a lot closer to the Ferrari than he would have wanted. A helpless Lockie who claimed he was pushed by the MJC Ferrari, inadvertently ended up with McInerney’s rear end climbing up the Mosler’s nose. Fortunately, the only damage to the Mosler was a gouge on the front bodywork, although the other car was to nurse damage throughout the race.
Morcillo continued to show what a class act the Azteca Mosler is proving to be in its first season in Britcar setting an overall fastest lap of 1:07.726 in the fouth lap which was to stand for the remainder of the race. Azteca’s lead peaked at 50 seconds before Morcillo brought the car in for its first pitstop. With Cintrano on his short-lived way the Mosler came to a halt in the pit lane. After the team had pushed the car back, it was decided that the gearbox problems would mean the Mosler would have no further part in the race.
Down to Calum Lockie and Paul White to hold up Mosler honours and they did so in fine style. The Mosler and Ferrari exchanged the lead through a series of stops straddling the races halfway point, but a couple of slow laps put the Mosler two laps down. The advantage allowed the Eclipse team to make their final pitstop and hold onto the lead. The Mosler dropped back and allowed the Eclipse, still nursing its cracked exhaust from its early ‘kiss’ from the Mosler, to take a two lap lead, but with a valiant effort Lockie brought them up to the lead lap at the end.
“ I just don’t think we could hang onto them,” said Lockie after the race. “ Our problem is the fuel consumption, the Ferraris’ are so fuel efficient they do one stop less than us.
However, that said, a great result for the team, and onward and upwards to the next race at Thruxton on 11th – 12th June.
Click here to go to You Tube for footage of the Donington round.
With thanks to Haddonsman for the footage and Neil Garner Motorsport for the image.
Paul White and Calum Lockie brought the Strata 21 home to second place in the Britcar 4HR weekend closing race at the weekend (7th – 8th May).
By Jan Stevenson
Azteca Motorsport made it three out of three to claim the pole for the start of the last race of a manic weekend at Donington., with Stata 21 claiming the 5th spot on the grid.
With Javier Morcilla at the helm, Azteca set the pace and led into the first corner, while behind him Michael McInerney found himself in a Mosler sandwich, as Calum Lockie suddenly shunted from behind, ended up a lot closer to the Ferrari than he would have wanted. A helpless Lockie who claimed he was pushed by the MJC Ferrari, inadvertently ended up with McInerney’s rear end climbing up the Mosler’s nose. Fortunately, the only damage to the Mosler was a gouge on the front bodywork, although the other car was to nurse damage throughout the race.
Morcillo continued to show what a class act the Azteca Mosler is proving to be in its first season in Britcar setting an overall fastest lap of 1:07.726 in the fouth lap which was to stand for the remainder of the race. Azteca’s lead peaked at 50 seconds before Morcillo brought the car in for its first pitstop. With Cintrano on his short-lived way the Mosler came to a halt in the pit lane. After the team had pushed the car back, it was decided that the gearbox problems would mean the Mosler would have no further part in the race.
Down to Calum Lockie and Paul White to hold up Mosler honours and they did so in fine style. The Mosler and Ferrari exchanged the lead through a series of stops straddling the races halfway point, but a couple of slow laps put the Mosler two laps down. The advantage allowed the Eclipse team to make their final pitstop and hold onto the lead. The Mosler dropped back and allowed the Eclipse, still nursing its cracked exhaust from its early ‘kiss’ from the Mosler, to take a two lap lead, but with a valiant effort Lockie brought them up to the lead lap at the end.
“ I just don’t think we could hang onto them,” said Lockie after the race. “ Our problem is the fuel consumption, the Ferraris’ are so fuel efficient they do one stop less than us.
However, that said, a great result for the team, and onward and upwards to the next race at Thruxton on 11th – 12th June.
Click here to go to You Tube for footage of the Donington round.
With thanks to Haddonsman for the footage and Neil Garner Motorsport for the image.
