Points, engine troubles & fastest lap at Mondello for Team AeroTeam Aero Lewis Racing drivers Aaron Scott and Keith Ahlers were at Mondello Park in Ireland for rounds 3 & 4 of the 2004 British GT Cup Championship.Following their podium at Donington Park in round 2 the team were hopeful of more points despite neither drivers or team having been to Mondello before.Despite problems in free practice as the team worked hard on dialing in the handling of the Morgan Aero 8, the duo qualified in 9th and 5th places for the 2 races.Keith was to start race one and he made a good start to work his way up to 7th place in the opening laps. Aaron took over the car shortly before the half way mark and worked his way up to 4th place at the end of the 1 hour race.In race 2 Aaron started and was up to 3rd place at the end of the opening lap. After a handful of laps the car was up to 2nd place and was already challenging for the lead. However an engine problem intervened and after handing the car over to Keith the car was in serious trouble. Keith managed to keep the car going despite falling back to 6th place but the car ground to a halt with ten minutes to go. The cam timing in the V8 powereed car had slipped and the engine management system shut the engine down. The team could take consolation from getting the fastest lap of the race set by Aaron.Scott said, " I am dissapointed not to have finished the second race as I'm sure we would have been on the podium again, however I am pleased with the points in race 1 and the fact that we were so competitive at a circuit which didn't really suit our car. I would like to thank the whole team for doing a fantastic job and my sponsors Omnico, Livespace, Aerospace Fasteners and Building Environmental Services for all their support. I am really looking forward to a good result at Snetterton next time. "The next round takes place at Snetterton in Norfolk on June 5/6.
Keith Ahlers started racing in 1997 and is now double 750 Motor Club Roadsports Champion, in 2001 and 2002, as well as 2002 Morgan Racing Champion. He won the Morgan Racing Class A Championship in 2000 and 2001.
Aaron Scott has followed up a series of karting championship wins in the 1990s with the 1999 BRDC Formula Ford Championship, including a win in his debut race from pole position. In 2001 Aaron progressed to the British Formula 3 Championship and was nominated by British Racing Drivers Club as a ‘Rising Star’. He made his GT debut in a Porsche 996 in 2002 and competed in the Elf Clio Renault sport UK Cup. His GT experience grew in 2003 with a full drive in the British GT Championship and he achieved a third position in the Morgan Aero 8 at the Spa 1000km.
Lewis Racing
Lewis Racing has an enviable track record, operating formerly as the race shop at Morgan main dealer, Libra Motive. The company has achieved several championship wins since 1980 using highly competitive and well-prepared cars.
In 1980 Peter Morgan and Victor Gauntlett (Pace Petroleum) provided sponsorship for Lewis racing owner, Rob Wells, to design and build a modified Morgan +8 which won the STP Modsports Championship in its first season. In 1982 Morgan ‘MMC 11’ won the 24 Hour endurance race at Snetterton, while in 1989 and 1990 Rob Wells won the Morgan Racing Championship himself driving Morgan ‘ROB 8R’. Further success followed for the team in 1994, 1996 and 1998 with Chris Phillips, Martin Kurrein and Rick Lloyd respectively winning the Morgan Racing Championship. In 1999 Rick Lloyd won Class B in the Morgan Racing Championship. Lewis Racing have been prepared Keith Ahlers car since 1998.
