Former British Touring Car champion Andy Rouse was the man to beat in the opening rounds of the Charterhouse Heritage GT Car Challenge at Donington Park on Sunday (22 April).
In two thrilling finishes, Rouse won the sprint race and then shared the Chevrolet Camaro with Peter Hall to win the feature race, but the biggest winning margin over the two races was just one second.
For the Charterhouse Heritage GT Car Challenge, it was a fine start to the season with a bumper grid and close racing throughout the classes.Race oneThere was some anxious moments as a few drops of rain started to fall as the 33-car grid assembled, but the race went ahead unaffected. As the lights went out Rouse just had the edge over Rick Lloyd (Morgan Plus 8) on the thundering charge to Redgate as around 10,000bhp was unleashed, but it was the Morgan to the fore under braking for the chicane at the end of the opening lap. Boysie Thurtle (Chevrolet Camaro) and John Bussell (Jaguar E Type) began to battle for third.
Sadly, Thurtle’s challenge ended when he was forced to take the smoking Camaro into the pits on lap seven. Back at the front however, the battle was keeping the crowd well entertained as Rouse managed to nose ahead, only to lose out to Lloyd again into the chicane. The lead pair finally shook off Bussell for good during the second half of the race. Rouse was still in determined mood and led again briefly on the 10th lap as the lead battle continued unabated.
Two laps later they were side-by-side exiting Coppice and Rouse got a clear run under the Dunlop Bridge and led into the chicane. "I got a really good exit from Coppice and all I can say is thank god for traffic," said Rouse after retaining the narrowest of advantages to the flag. "Everything went well, but I had a couple of scary moments when people spun and rejoined in front us," said second placed Lloyd. Pat Thomas’ Lotus 47 'snorkel car' took second to Lloyd in Class B, with Tony Lees' Morgan third, despite running out of fuel at Coppice on the last lap. Harvey Death's Mini was the Class A winner, with Gordon Streeter’s three-geared Ford Anglia well clear of Nathalie Boyd's Mini for second.Results1 Andy Rouse (Chevrolet Camaro) 15 laps in 20m06.846s (87.55mph); 2 Rick Lloyd (Morgan Plus 8) 20m07.200s; 3 John Bussell (Jaguar E Type); 4 Rikki Cann (Aston Martin DBS V8); 5 Andy Jenkinson (Chevrolet Camaro); 6 Graham Bryant (Morgan Plus 8). Class winners: Harvey Death (Mini Cooper S); Peter Lloyd (Jaguar E Type); Rick Lloyd; Rouse. Fastest lap: Rouse 1m18.224s (90.10mph).Race twoTowards the end of the afternoon, another tremendous field of cars lined up for the 45-minute two-driver race. Lloyd set the pace again from the start, from Bussell, Peter Hall (Chevrolet Camaro), Oliver Bryant (Morgan Plus 8) and Andy Jenkinson (Chevrolet Camaro). But fresh from competing in the British GT race, Bryant quickly picked his way past his rivals and, after going side by side into Redgate with Lloyd on lap six, took the lead into the Old Hairpin.
Bussell had slipped to fourth on lap three, but continued to shadow Hall, leaving Jenkinson and Hollins filling the top six. But everyone moved up when Lloyd pulled off at the Old Hairpin after nine laps. "The motor just went pop," he explained.
Bryant was left with an increased lead, which was held as father Grahame took over the car. But with Hall handing the Camaro over to Rouse, the chase was on for the second half of the race.
Rouse’s charge finally paid dividends on lap 24, when he dived inside the Morgan at Redgate to take the lead. Bryant tried all he could to re-challenge, but Rouse just had the edge and took his second win of the day. "I closed on the brakes but he had the puff on the straights every time," said Bryant after an absorbing contest.
Jenkinson was an excellent third overall after a strong solo drive, while Paul Burry/Phil Hollins (Morgan Plus 8) retained fourth despite a grassy excursion on the Craner Curves. "That's my first ever class win," said a delighted Lees after clinching class B. Harvey and Clive Death once again headed Streeter in class A with their hard-driven Mini Cooper S.Results1 Peter Hall/Andy Rouse (Chevrolet Camaro) 34 laps in 45m23.518s (87.94mph); 2 Oliver Bryant/Grahame Bryant (Morgan Plus 8) 45m24.561s; 3 Andy Jenkinson (Chevrolet Camaro); 4 Paul Burry/Phil Hollins (Morgan Plus 8); 5 Ben Samuelson/Peter Wheeler (Aston Martin DB4); 6 Rikki Cann/Joe Cann (Aston Martin DBS V8). Class winners; Harvey Death/Clive Death (Mini Cooper S); Tony Lees (Morgan Plus 8); Bryant/Bryant; Hall/Rouse. Fastest lap: Rouse 1m16.376s (92.2mph).Next rounds: Brands Hatch, 28/29 April.
