Richmond Racing’s Ginetta were just 5 minutes from historic podium
British GT Championship – Snetterton June 3rd 2007
The Richmond Racing Ginetta G20 GT got a 12th overall, a reasonable result, but one which could have been so much more.
The 2 hour race proved to show the Ginetta in a good light, and at one point, just 5 minutes from the end of the race, Richmond Racing were lying in 3rd place in the GTC class. Had this finished this way, it would have been the 1st time in 50 years that Ginetta would have scored a GT podium.
The car pulled off after 90 laps, with a failure to a front upright, and damage to the steering rack caused by an earlier accident with the Lamborghini Gallardo being driven by Rob Wilson. The coming together was neither drivers fault, but Richard Hollebon who was driving the Ginetta said ’the Lambo hit me coming out of Sear, and although it was only a small wheel to wheel hit, the steering wheel jumped out of my hand! I tried to keep the car going at the end, but the upright was too badly damaged. I am gutted; the team really wanted this result.’
Ginetta boss Martin Phaff was watching in the pits with the team and with baited breadth as the minutes ticked away, but phlegmatic when the car stopped out on track. ‘A great result, but there is always Brands and the car looks good’.
Nick Marsh led the car away at the start and set about overtaking the Ferrari of David Dove, and chasing the Morgan and Porsche. The first safety car period caught Marsh out as it picked up the leader, just ahead of the Ginetta, who then pitted but Marsh was caught up behind the pace car. The others made hay ahead of the pace car, and making good time, they pitted to good effect. As it happened, if Marsh had pitted he would have been engulfed it the pit fire that occurred to the pit garage next door to Ginetta, for Ferrari of CIM. This caused havoc and the team kept Marsh out for 1 hour and 10 minutes, the last of the pit stops in the race. The pit crew did well, and were the third quickest team in the race. When Marsh handed the car over to Hollebon, it was in 13th place, which Hollebon took to 12th when the problems occurred.
Hollebon said ’We classified as 12th overall, and 4th in class, we think that had the safety car periods not conspired against them, and had the car not been subject to an accident, then not just a podium, but a 2nd or even a win was on the cards.’
Marsh commented ‘We are looking forward to Brands and the next 2 hour race at Silverstone where we think the car can show some very positive results. There is a lot of repair work to the car from this weekend, but the team have done a great job already to rebuild the car from the Oulton Park engine failure, so I am sure we will be at Brands ready to race’
The team is Nick Marsh and Richard Hollebon
07909 536957 nick.marsh@harveynash.com
Find out more about Richmond Racing at http://www.richmond-
