A look back at the start of a new era for the UK's premier GT championship...
This Easter weekend sees the 2023 season opener of the Intelligent Money British GT Championship. It also marks the 20th anniversary of the first SRO-run British GT meeting at Donington Park, an event DSC was present.
Since then, the SRO has organised and promoted no fewer than 215 races in the championship. It’s an era that has seen the genesis of the GT3 and GT4 classes that now populate the fully-subscribed 2023 grid.
Here though, we look back at that inaugural weekend which saw a 31-car grid across the N-GT and Cup Classes, the latter, title-sponsored by dailysportscar.com
The first race that weekend was won by the #33 JWR Porsche, with Mike Jordan and Mark Sumpter. The Cup class was taken by the Tech 9 Porsche of Phil Hindley and Jonathan Rowland.
Race 2 went the way of the #35 Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 360 GTC of Nathan Kinch and Andrew Kirkaldy, with the Tech 9 Porsche making it a double win with a second victory in the Cup class.
Below is a selection of DSC images from that milestone weekend.
Pit Road Prepping
Neil Cunningham – taken way too soon – fondly remembered by all at DSC
Richard Stanton and, for the opening weekend only, Bobby Verdon Roe would share the Rollcentre Mosler
Andrew Kirkaldy – now boss of Garage 59 – gives advice!
Ni Amorin looks on – Adam Wilcox ready to roll
Rollcentre Mosler readied
Nobe endeavour!
The stunning little Gavan Kershaw Motorsport Elise
The Monaro wasn’t ready for the opening round – but even when it was the smiles from Aaron Slight, Matt Manderson and Matt Griffin would soon fade!
Mike Jordan heads the pack
Colin Blower Motorsport Vauxhall VX220
SCuderia Ecoss Ferrari
The fabulous BinTech Prospect 3000!
The Rollcentre Racing Noble M12 GT03R – SImon Pullan and Belgian lady racer Fanny Duchateau (Fanny 2 Houses)
V8 from Maranello, V6 from (Ford) Granada
Balfe Mosler under pressure
The Eclipse TVR – This car is now road registered!
The Preci-Spark Porsche would be eliminated after clouting the Noble – The Porsche came off way, WAY worse!
Graeme Mundy and John Hartshore in the TVR that John still owns to this day!
Dan Eagling and Rob Croydon would pilot the lovely little Vauxhall VX220 – built, and later raced – by another much-missed GT legend – Colin Blower, here seen hanging onto the rear wing
Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 360 GTC
Vic Lee Racing 911
DRM Ferraris would sprout wings later in the season – and take the title
Kerb-hopping
Hard Charging 911s
A youthful Jonny Cocker in conversation with GruppeM Owner Kenny Chen – Belinda Edawrds – Championship coordinator in 20024 looks on – SRO’s Benji Franassovici photobombs!
Gavin Kershaw and Barrie Whight
All-Porsche front row for the season opener
Vic Lee Porsche leads
Adam Wilcox in the DRM Ferrari – two second places in the opening weekend en route to the Cup Class title
M&M – Morgan & Marcos!
Mosler and Ferrari tussle
Dust busting
Nigel Greensall locks up in the RSR TVR he shared with GT racing debutant – Lawrence Tomlinson!
Team Tiger Marcos sparks from a wayward exhaust
Lindsay Morle – Now Multimatic’s PR, she hasn’t changed a bit!
Going to work – Snapping legends Jeff Bloxham and David ‘The Captain’ Stephens record the scene
DRM Ferrari
The ex ALMS Corvette of Xero Competition – Peter Le Bas and Ricky Cole
Class of the field at round 1
The second DRM Ferrari Cup class effort
Cup Class winning Porsche
The Embassy Racing Corvette of thr late and lovely Neil Cunningham and Paula Cook
Team Jedi Lotus Elise of Dean Lanzante and Chris Yandell
Keith Ahlers and Aaron Scott’s fabulous Morgan
Race 2 hopes for the JWR Porsche punctured!
The Donington-only Vic Lee Racing Porsche – Strategic blunder cost them dearly – Peter Kox shared with Ian Khan
Cup class victor Phil Hindley doused by Adm Wilcox and Keith Ahlers
