As in previous iterations of Britcar’s 24hr and 6hr events, the BEC and Production Cup competitors run the race together, but in a break from this tradition, the 2013 Britcar 1000km is a points-scoring round of the two championships; and, while the numerous Invitation entries could steal a march on the registered runners for class and overall honours, the championship-registered teams will pick up the points in their own finishing order.
This being the case, we could see the points-scorers keeping an eye on their usual rivals and doing just what’s necessary to bag the points. Unlikely, though; these are racers, and we’re in for a treat, as the heavy-hitters of the championship – that’s the Horsepower Racing Aston Martin of Paul Bailey/Andy Schulz (aided here by Tom Ferrier), Mike Millard’s Rapier SR2 prototype, and the Azteca Mosler of Manuel Cintrano and Javier Morcillo (boosted by Paul White for this race)– go head-to-head for the overall lead with the likely lads of the invitation entries – the works Ginetta G55 of Lawrence Tomlinson/Mike Simpson/Nathan Freke, the Abra/Poole Aston Martin run by Barwell, and the unique Riley TDC of Nigel Mustill’s Wessex Racing, shared with Group C regulars Bob Berridge and Gareth Evans.
Class 1 is, in fact, the best-supported division of the race for this round, thanks to the numerous Invitation entries, which are boosted by what must be admitted, some unknown quantities. The MacG Racing Ultima has undergone a heavy refurbishment and performed well in the recent GT Cup sprint races at Silverstone, while the little Praga R44SLM performed well at Brands Hatch until sidelined by fuel pressure problems. Low on power, but light on weight, drivers Adam Sharpe and Rob Smith come fresh from a VLN win (in a BMW), and reckon the Praga’s economy will see it come into its own after the fifth hour turns. Motionsport have concentrated mainly on single-seaters this season, running a Formula 4 team for young hotshoes, but return to endurance racing here with a newly acquired Wolf CN Prototype VdeV machine for regulars Pete Storey and Ben Gower, and supplemented by fast lady Flick Haigh. Talking of fast ladies, Christina Neilson partners Ronnie Bremer in the Danish Bremer Racing Ferrari 430.
Class 2 is much more of a championship affair, though the two Invitees could spring a surprise. Cor Euser’s attempts at previous Britcar 24hrs races have brought success and heartbreak in equal measure, the third overall in 2011 being the best result for the little Lotus Evora. East Anglian Alistair MacKinnon was part of that crew and assists the veteran Dutchman once again, with Matthew Sileo in the squad too; while Australian endurance specialists Motorsport Services, known for their giant-killing acts with a SEAT in the past, return with a Porsche 997 for Brett and Malcolm Niall.
Leading the overall championship points currently is the Team Parker Porsche 997 of Ian Loggie and Chris Jones, and they will be boosted for this race by the considerable skills of Julian Westwood, though the Simpson Motorsport Audi R8 (the former Scott/Wilkins Blancpain car), in the hands of Peter Cook and Anthony Mott, and now back to conformity after falling foul of the regs at Brands Hatch, could make life difficult; and Track Torque boss Clive Reay-Young reckons the recent engine problems are all in the past for the team’s Chevron GR8. Usual pilots Tommy Field and Chris Hart are joined at Silverstone by the precocious talent of Chrissy Palmer.
Ashley Woodman has endured a troubled season in the BPM Racing Renault Megane Trophy and the car now drops down to Class 3, with Martin Byford again joining the team to carry forward the great leaps they made when he co-drove at Brands Hatch. The Webb brothers look safe to maintain their lead in the class points though, in the GTS Motorsport BMW GTR, but two invitation entries in Class 3 could queer the pitch; Kevin Clarke and Wayne Gibson were part of the Intersport quartet that seized the Class win in the Barcelona 24hrs a fortnight ago (in this very same BMW E46) and are on a roll (particularly after the same squad trounced the field in the Donington 360 last month too), while Classic racing experts Michael and Will Schryver have campaigned their Lotus Exige in the marque’s one-make six-hour enduros.
The field is doubled in size by the Production runners, some of whom will no doubt encroach into the BEC field as the pit-stops kick in.
Entry list – here
Steve Wood
