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[EERC - Britcar/Belcar] Britcar & Belcar Enjoy Successful Weekend at Brands |
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Monday, 27 June 2005 |
Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in Kent reverberated to the glorious sound of packed grids featuring the world’s finest and fastest racing cars over the weekend, as the European Endurance and Racing Club staged a superb two days of action.
The ever-popular Britcar Championship, the fastest growing series in the UK, teamed with continental cousin the Belgium-based Belcar series, to offer spectators a one-off opportunity to witness two Europe’s two best and most exciting endurance categories at the same venue.
With well in excess of 40 cars taking part in the Belcar race, the category’s only round outside the Netherlands this season, the start had to be seen to be believed, as millions of pounds worth of machinery roared through Paddock Hill Bend and eventually out into the countryside along Brands’ famous 2.6 mile Grand Prix Circuit.
The outright race victory went to Jos Menten and Frederic Bouvy in their Porsche GT2-R, a full lap ahead of their nearest rivals Pertti Kuismanen and Vincent Vosse in the Chrysler Viper GTS-R.
Of the four other classes within the Belcar race, notable success went to Franz Lamot and Rudi Penders in the GTB class in their Porsche 996 GT3 RS, while victory in class G went the way of fellow Porsche drivers Ian Khan and Richard Westbrook.
Britcar, meanwhile, is growing in stature all the time, much like winner of both of the weekend’s rounds, Adam Sharpe. Fresh from his superb success at the Le Mans 24 Hours Race, where he became the youngest ever driver to achieve a podium finish in the endurance classic, Sharpe dominated Britcar in his Ford Falcon V8.
Along with partner Mark Cole, the duo revelled in two stunning victories, having led the way throughout qualifying too. In Saturday’s race, the Class 2 win went to the BMW M3 E36 of Harry Handkammer and David Leslie with Class 3 success taken by another BMW, this time the car of Paul Fenton and Mike Gardiner.
Sunday’s round saw Marcus Fothergill and Dave Bennett earn Class 2 victory in their BMW M3 E36 with Class 3 spoils going to the BMW Mini 53 of Aaron Scott and Nigel Greensall. Had there been an award for the busiest driver of the weekend though, this would have gone to Britcar regular Calum Lockie hands down.
Not only did he pilot his Ferrari 360 Challenge alongside Bo McCormick in both of the weekend’s Britcar rounds
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