Oliver wins the Heritage GT race at Snetterton

Two races for the Charterhouse Heritage GT Car Challenge provided some superb action during the British F3/GT meeting at Snetterton over the weekend (2/3 June).

With a brilliant solo run, GT racer Oliver Bryant stole victory on the final lap of the opening race from fellow Morgan racer Rick Lloyd.

Qualifying

The long Snetterton straights allowed the Pete Hall/Andy Rouse Chevrolet Camaro to shine and the pair planted their potent machine on pole position. Sadly they would miss the races as the final drive failed. "It’s the first time in 14 years it has let us down," said a disappointed Hall.

Pole position was then handed to the Peter Horsman/Rick Lloyd Morgan +8. "Peter set the time as he needs the seat time," said Lloyd who is back from a short retirement to compete in the series. The Bryants were next, with Oliver setting the time on old tyres.



"Thought it was about time we had some new ones," said his father Graham, who elected to miss Saturday’s race in favour of a dinner engagement in London. Oliver would start the race on new tyres for the first time this season.

Arthur Thurtle (Chevrolet Camaro) was next up with the potent Cobra of John Dickson/Bill Miller alongside on the second row. The McCarthy family were content with eighth after running in new brakes on their MGB GTV8.

Further back both Alec Hammond (Chevrolet Camaro) and Peter Wheeler (Aston Martin DB4) were pleased with their rebuilt machines while Pat Thomas was glad to have cured the overheating troubles that have plagued his Lotus 47.

Race

Thurtle set off like a demon and quickly put the two Morgans behind him, but it then went horrible wrong for the Camaro pilot at Coram on lap two. A puncture pitched him into a mighty spin, which ended up with the Camaro just touching the barrier at Russell.

Bryant then took up the running but couldn’t shake off Horsman who nipped by when the leader made a slight error on lap 11 at Sear. It didn’t last long as Horsman then made a small mistake and was passed going into the Esses on the following lap. Shortly after Horsman pitted and handed the car over to owner Lloyd, who resumed in the lead as Bryant made his stop.



Running solo, Bryant had a longer stop due to the mandatory 30 second solo driver rule and was 11 seconds behind Lloyd as he rejoined and so the young charger set off after his adversary with a purpose. Bit by bit, the gap came down, with fuel surge at Russell not helping Lloyd's cause. In a dramatic conclusion and less than a mile from the finish, Bryant blasted past into the Esses to secure victory. Oliver also recorded the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1m14.6s lap.

Results race one

• 1 Oliver Bryant (Morgan +8) 27 laps in 35m26.890s (89.19mph)


• 2 Peter Horsman/Rick Lloyd (Morgan +8) + 0.806s


• 3 Roy McCarthy/Russell McCarthy (MGB)


• 4 Chris Williams (Morgan +8)


• 5 Peter Wheeler/Steve Hyde (Aston Martin DB4)


• 6 Bob Searles/Tony Jardine (Aston Martin DBS V8)


• 7 Jamie Boot (TVR Griffith)


• 8 Robin North/Zoe North (Ford Mustang)


• 9 John Bussell/Mike Wilkinson (Jaguar E Type)


• 10 Kerry Michael (Ford Escort)

Class winners:



• Bryant


• Searles/Jardine


• Michael


• Gordon Streeter (Ford Anglia)

Fastest lap:



• Bryant 1m14.601s (94.18mph)