Karl Leonard and Oly Mortimer took the GT3 wins at Oulton Park on Saturday, August 13th, former Porsche Carrera Cup racer Leonard returning to racing after a break and holding off series regular Mortimer in race one. The tables were turned later in the afternoon, Mortimer blasting past at the start to take his eighth win, Graeme Mundy taking second.
Qualifying
Mortimer continued his perfect run of qualifying performances with pole for the first race, though Leonard’s second quickest time was quicker than Mortimer’s next best effort so would lead the field away in race two. Mundy was third quickest in the 25-minute session, ahead of Steven Liquorish who was making his Oulton Park debut.
“We’ve made some changes to the rear of the car and I can really throw it into corners now,” said Mortimer. “I was hoping to out qualify Graeme but I’m really pleased to be quicker than Karl, he has been on the front row in a Carrera Cup race here.”
Gary Marsh qualified fifth but a gearbox seal problem saw his car out for the rest of the day, while Marcus Fothergill headed up Class Two in his 996 GT3 despite pitting early with a coolant leak.
Race One
The front row pairing both made good starts and were side by side as they arrived at the first corner, Leonard on the outside and just managing to claim the lead on the exit. Mundy was third ahead of Liquorish and Fothergill.
Leonard was a second clear at the end of lap one, Mortimer reducing the gap at points in the race only for the Irish leader to push on again and stay just out of reach. Charging hard was Mundy, who closed in on Mortimer in the final third of the race only to lose ground once more right at the end.
At the flag Leonard was a second clear of Mortimer, with Mundy third. Liquorish took fourth with Fothergill’s ill-handling 996 first Class Two car home in fifth.
“I’m very happy to win, I haven’t been in the car for a year so in a way this was a bit of testing,” said Leonard. “Oly and I were side by side and he was very fair, but I knew if I was on the outside of the first corner I would have the next three corners. I like Oulton Park, but the others were pushing me hard towards the end and I couldn’t relax. I now know I need to do more laps and get back in the gym!”
“I think if it had been the last race of the championship I would have kept my foot on it at the first corner!” said Mortimer. “Karl has nothing to lose so I thought I’d just back out of that one and stick behind him and pressure him into a mistake. I caught him up a bit – but I know he is quick round here.”
“I thought I could work up the back of Oly,” said Mundy, “and I had a little look down Cascades. I thought I had a chance at the chicane, but the car went round on me, not all the way but enough to drop me back. From then on I just had to settle for third.”
Race Two
A slow getaway from Leonard saw Mortimer and Mundy at the front as the race started, the poleman forced to slot into third. Mundy pressured Mortimer in the early laps before the young Scot managed to go just over a second clear, but from the midpoint on Mundy was closing on again.
Close through Cascades on lap 11, on the next lap Mundy was looking to get by at Old Hall but Mortimer held him wide and had the advantage on the exit of the corner. Another attempt by Mundy with two laps to go saw him forced up the Knickerbrook chicane escape road, but he was soon back with Mortimer, the pair side by side at Lodge on the final alp, Mortimer holding on for his eighth win of the year.
“That was my hardest race yet,” said Mortimer. “I know I said that at Rockingham but they are getting harder! Hats off to Graeme for not running into me when I turned in on him and sent him off at the chicane, but he was right back with me and even at the last corner was on my outside. I just have to say thank you to Tynecastle Garage for a great car.”
“We’re getting closer to him,” said Mundy. “I just said to him that one day he will leave half a gap and I’ll be in there, but to my knowledge he has yet to give me a clear opportunity. It was a good race, I am sure if I can get past him at the start I can win one of these.”
“I lost the race at the start,” said Leonard, “I then went off at the chicane and just missed the barrier, there was no one near me so I settled for third. It’s been a brilliant day though on my first time back.”
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Race One: 1 Karl Leonard (997 GT3) 15 Laps; 2 Oly Mortimer (997 GT3) +1.083s; 3 Graeme Mundy (997 GT3); 4 Steven Liquorish (997 GT3); 5 Marcus Fothergill (996 GT3). Class Winners: Leonard; Fothergill. Fastest Lap: Mortimer 1m44.585s (92.66mph).
Race Two: 1 Mortimer 15 Laps; 2 Mundy +0.341s; 3 Leonard; 4 Liquorish. Fastest Lap: Mortimer 1m44.611 (92.64mph).
Next Rounds: Silverstone, Northants. September 30th / October 1st 2011.
