British GT 2021

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Also from social media it seems that Rocket RJN still have their GT3 McLaren - it's just not being used

Well - it is now It's back out for Silverstone, Spa and Donington with Mia Flewitt and Euan Hankey.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Well - it is now It's back out for Silverstone, Spa and Donington with Mia Flewitt and Euan Hankey.

Good to see, and part of a wider collaboration with Chinese Mclaren customer team The Winning Team

[Jamie Brown]

Tickets for Silverstone were on sale, now they have been taken off sale and says coming soon again. Anyone know why?

[Alfaholic]

Originally Posted by Jamie Brown

Tickets for Silverstone were on sale, now they have been taken off sale and says coming soon again. Anyone know why?

Waiting to see if the Lockdown restrictions are eased on the 21st? Or just Silverstone's usual disdain for spectators.

[tux]

Seems like restrictions may not be getting eased. Life is terrible isnt it? Like whats the actual point anymore?

[LC2guy]

Another GT3 for Silverstone, McLaren 720S. Entry is shaping up nicely, hope Spectators are allowed, even if not around the whole circuit.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/0...stone-500.html

[Anyopenroad]

Silverstone tickets are now on sale. They are now being much more open about the restrictions, but there is still no explanation for their taking such a narrow view of what is allowed. Simply stating that they are conforming to Govt and MSUK regulations is disingenuous as those regulations do not require spectators to be restricted to a small part of the circuit, nor to wear masks at all times on site.

Note that in the link below they refer to opening up more areas depending on what is announced on June 21, but there is no commitment to opening the whole circuit and such careful wording makes me wonder if they would not do so, though in the event of remaining restrictions being lifted (which I know now looks unlikely) it would be very hard to explain continuing to limit spectators to only part of the place.

https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events...t-championship

I had a very civil exchange with a customer service rep who offered to refund my HSCC tickets, but of course they would not be able to give more details of Silverstone's thinking. I thus continue to assume that is is simply absolute paranoia about the F1 GP, on which their entire business model depends.

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

...I thus continue to assume that is is simply absolute paranoia about the F1 GP, on which their entire business model depends.

That's not too an outrageous view, in light of what other venues are doing.

Also, I've got tickets for Donington in mid-July which might be impacted if the current restrictions get extended by a month, and MSV are selling tickets beyond the 4000 mark...

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

That's not too an outrageous view, in light of what other venues are doing.

I don't understand. Please eleborate?

Ah: I thought you might mean that Silverstone's view wasn't outrageous given risky behaviour by other circuits. But you mean that my assessment of Silverstone's motivation is probably correct, given how much less restrictive other circuits are being.

Sorry, I'm a bit slow this evening. Must be the heat :-)

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

...But you mean that my assessment of Silverstone's motivation is probably correct, given how much less restrictive other circuits are being....

That was indeed my meaning.

[Bcarr6]

2 Seas are debutting their new Mercedes AMG GT3 at Silverstone with Hunter Abbott / Martin Kodric

[S griffin]

That’s great to see them out with a Merc and good to see Hunter out in the car. A very under appreciated driver

[Truckosaurus]

I had a look at the Donington website last night to see if there was a timetable for their BGT weekend yet (there wasn't).

I noticed the circuit map was suggesting no access to the inside of the track, has anyone been there recently to confirm that is the case?

I know the normal route to the interior is via the paddock tunnel, which of course is out of action, but there must be other routes in (it is a few years since I've been).

[gregc]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

I had a look at the Donington website last night to see if there was a timetable for their BGT weekend yet (there wasn't).

I noticed the circuit map was suggesting no access to the inside of the track, has anyone been there recently to confirm that is the case?

I know the normal route to the interior is via the paddock tunnel, which of course is out of action, but there must be other routes in (it is a few years since I've been).

I haven't been to Donington yet this year, but in 2020 the restrictions meant that all spectator parking was on the tarmac lake behind Redgate/Hollywood, and we used the Hollywood gate to get in. To get to the infield meant walking round the outside of the track to Coppice and using the tunnel there, but the infield was all open (and you could also get to the first section of the GP loop).

The current restrictions are basically the same as last year, so I would imagine it will be similar now.

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by gregc

I haven't been to Donington yet this year, but in 2020 the restrictions meant that all spectator parking was on the tarmac lake behind Redgate/Hollywood, and we used the Hollywood gate to get in. To get to the infield meant walking round the outside of the track to Coppice and using the tunnel there, but the infield was all open (and you could also get to the first section of the GP loop).

The current restrictions are basically the same as last year, so I would imagine it will be similar now.

It is indeed exactly the same.

[gregc]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

It is indeed exactly the same.

Thanks for confirming - I'll pack my walking shoes for that weekend then!

[tux]

10 minutes into the Donington race and 1/3 of the field is out due to contact. 23 cars becomes 16

30 minutes we are down to 13 now. All through contact. Really weird race.

[Truckosaurus]

Had a good weekend at Donington spectating. First time back there in nearly 10 years.

When did the Spitfire 'statue' get taken down?

The Covid access restrictions actually encouraged me to wander about into areas I'd not normally watch from - usually you just plonk yourself down on the interior banking - so that is one advantage of the current situation.

Anyway, as Tux said, after 30 minutes there were only 5 of the original 13 GT4 cars still in the race.

It does seem somewhat out of character for BGT, but with only a modest grid size it does only take a couple of multi-vehicle incidents to knock out a large number of the contestants.

[dwh43scale]

First few photos here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWbdSB9

With the continued restrictions meaning a long walk from the Tarmac Lake to access the infield, I went ultra light with only a 24-120mm zoom lens (which should be regarded as madness at Donington). Rewarded with some impressive clouds and no rain - see what you think. More to come.

Not especially impressed with the standard of driving which left us with pretty poor fare - 12 cars for around half of the race ... Congrats however to the Messrs Neary. An impressive finish to a difficult weekend.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

When did the Spitfire 'statue' get taken down?

2010, when the aborted Gillett/DVLL F1 shambles fell to pieces. The Spitfire fell off the stand and I think was damaged beyond repair, and the Spark Plug just disappeared.

Crazy race yesterday for sure. I was marshalling at the top of Craner (post 6) and was very surprised at the amount of contact - not where I was, mind you! We did have the #4 Rocket RJN McLaren pull up with us with broken suspension and rear toe link after 30 minutes, and it very nearly got taken out an hour or so later by the #25 Mercedes which had a very lurid spin off the track and across the grass, narrowly missing both McLaren and tyre wall (in my notes as "epic spin and continue!" )

I dare say it will have been a very expensive day for some people.

[Greem]

I meant to say too that it was *really* good seeing the spectator banks with spectators on them. For too long the only people applauding the drivers at the end of a race has been us lot!

[dwh43scale]

Full gallery from Donington now here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWbdSB9

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Full gallery from Donington now here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWbdSB9

Fantastic photos!

[Columbus]

Good to see British GT is promising "Harsher deterrents" for the next round at Spa, although that will be little consolation for the many innocent Donington casualties. With limited workshop time between the races and budget-busting repair costs, I'd be surprised if they all make the trip to Belgium.

There also appears to be some doubt over the eligibility of one of the Donington shunt culprits. British GT Pro/Am rules say all "Am" drivers must be FIA-graded Bronze. But Chris Salkeld - the driver responsible for eliminating four GT4s at Donington - is one of two FIA-graded Silver (professional) drivers in the Pro/Am class-leading Century Motorsport BMW.

Seems pretty unfair when he's causing havoc and running away with the championship - when all the others are playing by the rules!

[pimmy]

There wouldn't be a problem if they got rid of all this Pro/Am rubbish. All drivers should be treated equally.