BRITCAR: Brands Hatch May 3rd-4th 2008

Britcar's back at Brands, with two sprint-style races in support of the A1GP. The Moslers rose to the top during Saturdays qualifying session, with Ian Flux and Sean McInerney trading places before the latter took pole position. The KRM sat alongside for another Mosler lock-out at the front with the Topcat car on their arches on row two. Andrew Tate, meanwhile, had ditched his Mosler and returned to the Porsche 997.

The fifty-minute sprint format seemed set to benefit the fuel-hungry Moslers and expectations were high. Andrew Beaumont stalled the Topcats Mosler as the field set off on their parade lap, but he managed to thread back through the pack and keep his grid place. McInerney made the most of pole position and established an early lead whilst Riley and Beaumont traded places behind, with Richard Chamberlain's Porsche mixing it up with the Moslers.

Whoever writes the scripts for these races turned it from a pot-boiler to a blockbuster on lap 24. Flux seemingly slimmed the KRM car down to take Chamberlain down the inside at Paddock and kep the line through the next few turns in the battle for second. Although that tussle was actually for the lead - McInerney having span, stalled and a small fire had started as the starter motor burned out as he tried to restart.

So, KRM were bringing it home for the marque. But it wouldn't be Britcar without a little more excitement. As Flux headed for the line, he slowed for waved yellows and lapped a Mazda on the far side of the track. As he eased off further to let the Mazda regain position before crossing the line, the Duke Video BMW M3 slowed at the sight of two cars crawling towards the chequered flag. Two cars behind the Beemer shunted, taking the Duke into the Mazda and all hell breaking loose over the start/finish straight. The clerk of the course went into overdrive, gathering testimony and video evidence to ascertain just what had happened. The decision went the right way for KRM, no penalties being issued and the Mosler win allowed to stand.


Would the second race on Sunday provide as much drama? Well, the scene was set for fireworks as Saturday's non-finishers starting from the back of the 40-car grid, so McInerney's Mosler would have to chew its way through the field. And chew it did- almost half the field, crossing the line for the first time in 21st place. Up and the sharp end, Topcat and KRM were engaged in a battle royale, trading places with Stanton's TVR over the next half-dozen laps. Meanwhile, McInerney was back in the mix with the rest of Class 1 and driving like a man on a mission, reeling off the places until the Eclispe car was running third by the time the pit window opened.

When all the stops were done, it was Michael Vergers' Opal and McInerney up front, the Eclipse Mosler eventaully pulling clear down the inside at Paddock and onwards to establish a lead that Vergers and third placed Flux couldn't erase. The KRM car eventually got the better of the Opal at Surtees after some cracking side-by-side driving to take second but the day belonged to McInerney - from last to first in exquisite style.

So, another two Britcar victories for the Mosler as the series prepares for its continental weekend away over at Spa at the end of May.




Photos: Clipmotorsport