Britcar at Snetterton (13 - 14 August) 180'

STRATA 21 CLAIM TOP CLASS POINTS AND SEAL THE CHAMPIONSHIP

WHILE AZTECA SUFFER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Another good qualifying session for the Moslers saw Azteca (unusually) in second place on the grid for the start of the latest 180 minute round of Britcar. With the recently revamped Snetterton circuit playing host this weekend, it might be fair to say it would be a learning curve for many of the drivers as they came to grips with the new layout and circuit. With Dryburgh sitting pretty in pole for the start, he managed to hold Javier Morcillo off for the opening lap but the Spaniard took the lead in lap two. That left Dryburgh in the middle of a Mosler sandwich, with Calum Lockie in the Strata 21 Mosler lying in a predatory third place.

As per usual with Britcar there were the predictable safety car incidents and accidents but the race continued with the top contenders all keeping tabs on each other.

After the first pitstop Morcillo, Lockie, Gaw and Jonny MacGregor in the neon yellow Ultima had all pitted and were now running together on track, bickering for position. Neil Garner Motorsport had taken extra time in the pitstop to do a tyre change which gave the Ferrari, now in the hands of Gaw the chance to take the Azteca. Lockie, who had pitted a lap earlier and had slipped into the lead was shuffled back, as Azteca took advantage of the new rubber and dispatch first Gaw then MacGregor. As he tried to pass the flying Scotsman in the shape of Lockie, he lost momentum and dropped back a little. Gaw then went on a charge passing all to take the lead a few laps shy of the hour mark.

Lockie was handed down a two lap penalty for pitlane speeding, a punishment later rescinded, probably after a swift visit from Team Manager Melindi Scott, and by the time the next set of pitstops rolled round, Gaw had pulled out an 18 second lead over Azteca who came in and swapped drivers and Cintrano took the reigns.

Another safety car incident, unfortunately played into the hands of the leading Ferrari, enabling Gaw to effect his driver change, and still have the car emerge from the pits on the tail of Azteca, and within sight of all the leading pack. He soon pounded out a lap advantage over Cintrano, but for Azteca it would be another disappointing day. Handed down a four lap penalty for refuelling in the last 15 minutes of the second hour. As the Production car race is deemed a separate race, refuelling rules apply.. and a gearbox failure twenty minutes before the end meant a 'nul point' score for the weekend.

With Paul White at the helm in the closing stages he was running dangerously low on fuel, but with a following wind he brought it home to scoop top points in class, and claim a third overall it was a happy weekend for that team. 

Afterwards Calum said " Paul drove really well, and very smoothly to move back up to third place.  Millard was catching up in the closing laps, and it was coughing as the fuel ran low.  But Paul held it all together and we have taken third overall and first in class!"  

"Congratulations are due to the whole team for this success.  I owe an enormous thank you to Paul for the chance to race the Mosler and win this championship.  Thanks go to Dave Sheard, Steve Scott and all the Strata 21 team for a car that has run faultlessly throughout.  We are all delighted"

But Javier, Manual and Neil Garner Motorsport must be wondering which of the gods they have upset, not to convert their obvious pace in the car to effect a win.  Next up is the Britcar 24hr at the end of September and then the final race of the season will be the closer at Brands Hatch in November.