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Porsche Carrera Cup GB 2011 Race 3 & 4 Donnington Park
Gelzinis tops Carrera Cup GB test at Donington Park
The stage is set for a fascinating weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Donington Park this weekend (16/17 April) after testing ahead of rounds three and four of the championship.
With a mighty lap in the afternoon session, Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) shot to the top of the times to not only head the Pro-Am1 category but the overall times as well. His best lap of 1m07.215s was almost a second faster than any previous Carrera Cup lap at Donington as the teams and drivers exploit the latest model 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup.
'I'm very happy," said the Lithuanian driver. 'That is more than I dreamed; I got a very good clear lap," he added. Second fastest to go top of the Pro category was James Sutton (SAS/Redline) and he was quick to acknowledge the pace of Gelzinis. 'He's driving exceptionally well," said Sutton. 'We're looking good and are where we need to be; I think we've got a very good race car."
A tenth of a second behind Sutton in third was Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta), who was quick to congratulate Gelzinis after the session. 'What a job," enthused Hankey of Gelzinis' performance. Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Michael Meadows (SAS/Redline) were right on the pace in fourth and fifth as less than four tenths of a second covered the top eight cars.
Continuing his impressive form from the season opener at Brands Hatch with sixth overall and second in Pro-Am1 was Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air). 'That's very good," said the Oman-based racer. 'It was important to be strong again and now we know what we can do in qualifying," he said.
On face value, seventh fastest for Tim Harvey (Nationwide/Motorbase) was a modest result, but Harvey was one of the only leading runners not to use new tyres in the test session. Lapping less than four-tenths of a second away from the ultimate pace on used tyres, suggests that Harvey will be right in contention in Saturday's qualifying session. 'We're very happy with that," said team boss David Bartrum. 'We seem to have hit the ground pretty much on the front pace," said Harvey after being second fastest to Meadows by 13-hundredths of a second in the earlier test session.
However, there was drama for the Nationwide/Motorbase team as Michael Caine was involved in an incident with John Taylor (Team Parker Racing) and Michael Leonard (Parr Motorsport) on the run to Redgate in the first test session. A clash sent Caine's car into Leonard's at high speed as Leonard exited the pits and both cars were damaged. Leonard's car is out for the weekend, but the Motorbase squad set about rebuilding Caine's car, which should be ready in good time for qualifying.
Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) was well in contention with a strong eighth, while championship leader Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta) was down in ninth after a trip into the gravel in the second session.
Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) was just outside the top 10 overall to take third in Pro-Am1, while Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing) had an excellent day to head the Pro-Am2 times. 'It's been a good day," said Shelley. 'I'm still off what I need to be but I learnt one or two tricks about Donington today," he added. George Brewster (Celtic Speed) and Keith Webster (Redline Racing) completed the top three in Pro-Am2, which again promises to deliver some great racing.
Gelzinis tops Carrera Cup GB test at Donington Park
The stage is set for a fascinating weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Donington Park this weekend (16/17 April) after testing ahead of rounds three and four of the championship.
With a mighty lap in the afternoon session, Jonas Gelzinis (Juta Racing) shot to the top of the times to not only head the Pro-Am1 category but the overall times as well. His best lap of 1m07.215s was almost a second faster than any previous Carrera Cup lap at Donington as the teams and drivers exploit the latest model 450bhp 911 GT3 Cup.
'I'm very happy," said the Lithuanian driver. 'That is more than I dreamed; I got a very good clear lap," he added. Second fastest to go top of the Pro category was James Sutton (SAS/Redline) and he was quick to acknowledge the pace of Gelzinis. 'He's driving exceptionally well," said Sutton. 'We're looking good and are where we need to be; I think we've got a very good race car."
A tenth of a second behind Sutton in third was Euan Hankey (Parker with Juta), who was quick to congratulate Gelzinis after the session. 'What a job," enthused Hankey of Gelzinis' performance. Richard Plant (Team Parker Racing) and Michael Meadows (SAS/Redline) were right on the pace in fourth and fifth as less than four tenths of a second covered the top eight cars.
Continuing his impressive form from the season opener at Brands Hatch with sixth overall and second in Pro-Am1 was Ahmad Al Harthy (Redline/Oman Air). 'That's very good," said the Oman-based racer. 'It was important to be strong again and now we know what we can do in qualifying," he said.
On face value, seventh fastest for Tim Harvey (Nationwide/Motorbase) was a modest result, but Harvey was one of the only leading runners not to use new tyres in the test session. Lapping less than four-tenths of a second away from the ultimate pace on used tyres, suggests that Harvey will be right in contention in Saturday's qualifying session. 'We're very happy with that," said team boss David Bartrum. 'We seem to have hit the ground pretty much on the front pace," said Harvey after being second fastest to Meadows by 13-hundredths of a second in the earlier test session.
However, there was drama for the Nationwide/Motorbase team as Michael Caine was involved in an incident with John Taylor (Team Parker Racing) and Michael Leonard (Parr Motorsport) on the run to Redgate in the first test session. A clash sent Caine's car into Leonard's at high speed as Leonard exited the pits and both cars were damaged. Leonard's car is out for the weekend, but the Motorbase squad set about rebuilding Caine's car, which should be ready in good time for qualifying.
Sam Tordoff (Team Parker Racing) was well in contention with a strong eighth, while championship leader Stephen Jelley (Parker with Juta) was down in ninth after a trip into the gravel in the second session.
Rory Butcher (Celtic Speed) was just outside the top 10 overall to take third in Pro-Am1, while Andrew Shelley (Redline Racing) had an excellent day to head the Pro-Am2 times. 'It's been a good day," said Shelley. 'I'm still off what I need to be but I learnt one or two tricks about Donington today," he added. George Brewster (Celtic Speed) and Keith Webster (Redline Racing) completed the top three in Pro-Am2, which again promises to deliver some great racing.