History

Group C Racing - Spa-Francorchamps Report

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

The Group C Racing Series had its first two races of the 2008 season at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. On the 7 kilometer long circuit one 45-minute free practice session and a 40-minute qualifying session were followed by two races. On Saturday afternoon a 30-minute sprintrace took place followed by a 90-minute enduro race on Sunday afternoon.

During the free practice session on Friday it was British driver Mark Sumpter in a Porsche 962 who set the fastest time of 21 cars that set a time. A 2:13.067 was the fastest time set in the session. Sumpter was quickest again in the qualifying session on Sunday morning. Twenty-seven cars entered the qualifying session and when the chequered flag came out Sumpter had lapped the Belgian track in 2:19.443, over 7.5 seconds quicker than the second fastest driver, Andy Purdie in the Nissan R90-CK.

Sumpter and Purdie did not play an important role during the first race. After three laps both drivers were already out of the race and the battle for victory as fought out by other drivers. Quickest car out on the track was the number 11 Spice SE GTP of Fredy Kumschick and Martin Stretton, but a pit stop prevented them from winning the race. After completing 12 laps the number 3 Jaguar XJR12 of Justin Law and Andy Wallace took the win. 48 seconds behind Law and Wallace it was David Hart who took second place on his Group C debut, with Peter Sowerby and Calum Lockie taking third, one minute away from the winning Jaguar.

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

On Sunday the expected rain stayed away and as the race progressed the sun started to shine. Unfortunately Mark Sumpter’s Porsche did not take the start after the retirement during Saturday’s race and the car stayed in the box. Purdie’s Nissan led the Law/Wallace Silk Cut Jaguar at the start of the second race, but unfortunately both cars were unable to retain their positions throughout the race. Purdie managed to set the fastest lap time of the race, but eventually finished in eleventh place, while the number 3 Jaguar’s race came to an end after 26 laps. By then the Sauber Mercedes of Rob Sherrard and Wayne Park had already taken the lead and the ‘Silver Arrow’ was in a league of its own. As it crossed the chequered flag after 38 laps the gap to nearest rivals Sowerby and Lockie was more than one lap! David Hart in the Porsche 962 was a minute and a half behind the British Nissan drivers and finished third.

The next round of the Group C Racing Series will take place at the legendary Le Mans circuit. Instead of a regular weekend the cars will run one 40-minute race on Saturday morning. So far 40 cars have been confirmed to take part in France.

For images of the Spa-Francorchamps Group C Racing weekend take a look at our gallery.