Oly Mortimer claimed both wins at Donington Park on Sunday May 15th as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge made its first visit to the East Midlands circuit, the young Scot chased home by Grame Mundy in each race, Yucel Ozbeck bagging a pair of thirds to round out the podium finishers.
Qualifying
Mortimer claimed pole with his very last lap in the25-minute session, Mundy having briefly held the position with a few minutes to go before being ousted by Ozbeck and then Mortimer.
“I was aiming to do a time early but it was difficult to get a clear lap,” said Mortimer. “I was getting some vibration from the front so there should be more time to come. I saw two minutes left on the pitboard and knew I had just had two chances left to set the time right at the end.”
Race One
A demon start saw Mortimer lead into the first corner, the track drying but still damp in places, Mundy slotting into second. Into Redgate at the start of lap two Mundy saw his chance and dived inside the leader, only to go deep into the corner allowing Mortimer to hold the inside line at the exit and move ahead again.
Ozbeck also took advantage and went past Mundy to take second, only to spin at the exit of Coppice on lap four and after a long trip across the wet grass rejoin last of the GT3s. Some quick laps from Mortimer saw him extend his lead, Mundy second with Steven Liqourish now third.
Mortimer eased out the gap to a five second advantage over Mundy, and held that lead to the flag to take his third win of the season. Mundy was secure in second, theses two having opened a gap on the field.
“That was the best start I have done in this car,” said Mortimer, “I didn’t think I did anything different, but the car really went. As it was damp I was careful at first, then Graeme Mundy came from nowhere and dived past me, but I was able to cutback on him and get the better run out the corner. After that I just had to keep looking in my mirrors and keep the gap even.”
“I thought it was going to be wet and we had wet settings on the car,” said Mundy. “We put on slicks at the last minute – and everyone else did as well. We wound the brake bias down, and I got in front of them and hardly had any brakes! Before I knew it they were straight past me, but it was an enjoyable race.”
Having spun down the order, the driver on a charge was Ozbek, racing for the first time on a British circuit he had visited before. He deposed Peter Smallwood for fifth on lap seven, then three laps late was past Bertie Carruthers and into fourth. A series of personal best laps saw him close on Steven Liqourish, and he took third to round out the podium finishers.
“I spun and got on the grass and hot very close to the barriers,” said Ozbeck. “That dropped me to sixth, but I made up places and I was pushing hard – it was fun.”
Race Two
For the second time in the day Mortimer got his start just right, Ozbeck taking second with Mundy third on the opening lap. Heading into lap two and Mundy was up to second after a move down the inside at Redgate on Ozbeck, but then got hugely out of shape exiting the Old Hairpin and while he gathered it up Ozbeck was back into second.
As Mortimer eased away at the front, Mundy was reeling in Ozbeck, and on lap six they were very close in the first corner and through the first part of the lap, Mundy getting the better exit form Coppice and going past into the chicane to claim second. Despite some rapid laps, Mortimer was out of reach at the front and the top three finished in that order, Mortimer taking his fourth win from six races.
“I wasn’t so sure about things in this race as we were on old tyres,” said Mortimer, “but they were good early in the race and I had enough of a gap later on to hold on. I got another good start and it was a fantastic race.”
“I made another mistake early in the race and that let Oly get away,” said Mundy. “He made a great start, but once I lose a little ground I can hold him but not close in. I tried to take a lot of kerb early on at the bottom of the Craner Curves, found a hole and the car came right round – I was lucky to hold on, but that gave him a gap.”
“I lost a place to Graeme Mundy,” said Ozbek, “and I couldn’t close on the two cars ahead – but it has been a fun weekend.”
Liqourish chased hard race long in fourth but couldn’t get on terms with the lead three, while what was brewing up to be another battle between Carruthers and Smallwood ended when the latter visited the gravel trap at the chicane.
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Race One: 1 Oly Mortimer (997) 21 laps; 2 Graeme Mundy (997) +5.069s; 3 Yucef Ozbeck (997); 4 Steven Liquorish (997); 5 Bertie Carruthers (997); 6 Peter Smallwood (997). Fastest Lap: Mortimer 1m10.379s (101.23mph).
Race Two: 1 Mortimer 21 laps; 2 Mundy +1.984s; 3 Ozbek; 4 Liqourish; 5 Carruthers; 6 Smallwood. Fastest Lap: Mortimer 1m10.404s (101.19mph).
Next Races: Rockingham, July 16th and 17th.
