Beechdean take the British 2015 GT3 title in a dramatic Donington race

TF Sport lead at the start with the title contenders behind (photo by Marc Waller)

TF Sport lead at the start with the title contenders behind (photo by Marc Waller)Beechdean due Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam are the 2015 Avon British GT3 champions after a dramatic and sometimes controversial race here at Donington Park.

The Beechdean team only managed fifth in the race but it proved enough after all of their rivals ran into problems.

It was Marco Attard in the Ecurie Ecosse BMW who first struck trouble when he was spun off after an altercation with TF sport’s Derek Johnston. He Spun to the rear of the field and set about fighting his way back up. Up the front, the other TF Sport Aston was leading with Andrew Jarman at the wheel.

The next title contender to lose out was Liam Griffin after he collided with championship rival Lee Mowle. Both cars were damaged, Mowle continued but Griffin was ut and with it the chances of him, Butcher and the Oman Racing team winning any titles.

Worse was to come for Marco Attard who collided with the GT4 car of Jamie Chadwick. Chadwicks wasn’t having a good day after she also collided with Ozzy Yusuf Lotus on the first lap. This time both cars were out.

With Chadwick’s car being run by Beechdean there were rumblings in the pitlane over if this has been done deliberately but it seems to have been an unfortunate accident. But Attard and team mate Alexander Sim’s chances of the title had gone.

Things were now looking good for Beechdean with them needing only a ninth place or better to take the title. In the battle for race victory, Johnston’s team mate Matt Bell put in an amazing drive to pass and then pull away from the other TF sport Aston. Jody Fanin was driving the second stint in the pole sitting car but he couldn’t match the pace of the TF sport Aston.

Mowle and Osbourne’s slim chances of the championship evapourated when they had to pit later in the race for a door opening. It had been damaged in the earlier contact and this pretty much guaranteed Beechdean the title.

With Johnston and Bell winning from Jarman and Fanin, in third was the other Barwell BMW of Minshaw and Keen. Phil Keen, in particular put in a great drive to avoid the chaos and take the final spot on the podium. The third place gave Barwell the teams title but it was little consolation to them after missing out on the big prize through no fault of their own.

Fourth was Mowle and Osbourne just ahead of the title winning Beechdean Aston. Hector Lester and Benny Simonsen’s Ferrari 458 was sixth with the Team LNT works Ginetta of Tandy and Simpson seventh. It’s Mike Simpson’s birthday but he wasn’t able to win himself a trophy for a present!

Winners take the flag (photo by Marc Waller) 2015 champions (photo by Marc Waller) Race winners (photo by Marc Waller) GT4 race winners (photo by Marc Waller) Champagne chaos on the podium (photo by Marc Waller)

The Von Ryan Mclaren of Wylie and Watson was eighth, with their team mates Salih Yoluc and Euan Hankey not starting after Yoluc wrecked the car in morning warm up.

Ninth was the 22GT Aston of Farmer and Barnes with the Oman Racing Aston of Al Harthy and Macdowell completing the top ten.

In GT4 where the title was already settled it was nearly another Aston Martin team 1-2. This time Academy Motorsport saw both their GT4 cars battling for the lead with Will Moore and Dennis Strandberg leading most of the race, Strandberg found himself passed by Daniel Lloyd in the teams other car who was flying after taking over the car from Chris Webster at the pitstop.

Strandberg also found himself passed by the Century Motorsport Ginetta in the closing stages, Nathan Freke and Ian Stinton, a new entry for the final round, stole second spot from the Aston who had gone from first to third in only a few laps.

With Jamie Chadwick crashing out, the only other female competitor, Anna Walewska took ninth in class after a fighting drive by her and team mate Rob Garofall.

Despite all the incidents, only three cars failed to finish by the end of the race.

As the drivers stepped onto the final podium of the year, Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam were also invited up as champions, the second time in the last three years that the team has won the title. With the team also winning the Gt4 drivers title, they have had a very successful season. They have ambitions to move into European GT racing next year although they have said they will retain a presence in British GT. They look set to go on to further success there.

With various incidents to be investigated after the race, it’s possible results could change but it’s unlikely to affect the championship result. A more detailed report will follow later in the week.

The teams now go into the winter looking to start signing drivers and testing new cars ready to start again in 2016, Motorsport never really stops!

Full results are available from TSL timing  By Marc Waller

 

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