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Racereport 2003 / 08 Estoril


Marcos and the Big Banger

 

 

 

Although the outcome of the FIA-GTC’65 had already been resolved prematurely in the Spa-Francorchamp race, the drivers in their fascinating historic Grand-Tourisme cars built up to 1965, still thrilled everybody in two extremely exciting races in the finals in Estoril (P). In the first race, Wolfgang Schachinger (A) secured the overall victory in his Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupé with the split-screen rear windscreen. The Austrian won his first overall success in the FIA-GTC’65 with a 14,8 second lead.

 

 

 

The fight for the second position turned out to be a real thriller between the two Marcos 1800 GT-drivers Phillip Nelson (GB) and Charles Allison (GB). Allison staked everything on one card in the last lap and caught up to within 0,7 seconds on to his rival. They crossed the finishing line almost at the same time. But in the end, Nelson kept his nose ahead with just a fraction of a second and secured the second position.

 

 

 

Less than a second later, Hans-Jürgen Malsbenden (D) reached the finishing line with his open Corvette Sting Ray behind the Marcos 1800 GT duo. Although the Total Performance Team-driver, who had led in the overall ratings of the FIA-GTC’65 for a long time, marked up the fastest laptime of the race in the second-last lap, he did not manage to make it to the podium any more.

 

 

 

Behind him, Jamie Boot (GB) and Bill Shepherd (GB) made it especially thrilling. The fight was for the fifth position in the overall ratings and the third position in the large cubic capacity class. In the end, Spa-winner Jamie Boot kept his nose up front with a hundredth-second lead with his TVR Griffith. Nürburgring double winner, Shepherd “only” reached the sixth position with his Shelby Cobra.

 

 

 

In the second race, he achieved the fastest laptime but had to retire at half-time. Jamie Boot won the race in his TVR Griffith after he asserted himself against Hans-Jürgen Malsbenden in an exciting duel. Behind them, Peter Dunn (GB) in a Marcos 1800 GT managed to hop on to the podium before his Marcos-colleagues Charles Allison and Phillip Nelson. Followed by Hendrik Lindberg (DK), the fastest Lotus Elan driver who managed to keep Dr. Günther Alth (A) in his Jaguar E-Type Competition Roadster at arm’s length.

 

 

 

The probably most loveliest GT of the weekend achieved a seventh and a nineth position in the overall classifications. Francisco Alberquerque (P) from Cascais showed great commitment with his Ferrari 275 GTB. “I would be extremely pleased if the team would participate the whole season next year,” stressed Ronny G. Bredhauer, the Series Coordinator for the FIA Series for GT- and Touring Cars.

 

 

 

The champion’s title for 2004 was already secured by Bo Warmenius (S) in his Lotus Elan. The research- and development engineer for Scania defended his 2003 title in the season of 2004 as well. Another Lotus driver achieved the overall victory in the Period E. Udo Voßhenrich (D) fought strongly during the whole season in his Lotus Elite and therefore well-deservedly won before Ad Vermeulen (NL) in his Renault Alpine A 108. The GTP-rating was won by Peter Aylett (GB) in his rare GSM Delta Coupé.

 

 


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