They say it’s calm in the eye of a storm, and last weekend’s British GT three-hour away-day in Algarve was indeed a stormy affair. Numerous incidents and three safety car interruptions – one of which lasted half an hour – jumbled the order, yet out the other side came the most likely of winners who, amid all the drama, put in a typically calm and classy performance.
Even as the mayhem was going on, the 2 Seas Mercedes-AMG of championship leaders James Cottingham and Jonny Adam was favourite for much of the way, even if the crew had to overcome a 15-second success penalty from the previous round. The stats underline their status as British GT3’s class act this season. It was the pair’s third win of the year – no one else has more than one – while the victory meant Adam equalled Phil Keen’s mark of most British GT wins with 19.
Even better for Cottingham and Adam, both of their closest challengers in the table – Darren Leung and Dan Harper (Century BMW M4) and Ian Loggie (2 Seas Mercedes) – failed to amass big points following in-race penalties. It meant, in one stroke, Cottingham/Adam’s championship lead has stretched from 5.5 points to 28, with only two rounds – and two helpings of 37.5 points – remaining.
From the off, Cottingham – starting second – hounded poleman and early leader Miguel Ramos, the multiple GT champion making his British GT debut in the Garage 59 McLaren 720S. Yet what proved vital to the Cottingham/Adam win followed the half-hour safety car period, which was triggered by Tom Rawlings’ Paddock Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 parking and catching fire.
Competitors pitted in dribs and drabs with some held by a red light at the pit exit, while the safety car had to be replaced as the first one developed a technical problem, further adding to the confusion. In the interim, all were told to proceed at a sedate 80km/h (50mph), with some continuing to lap at this reduced speed even after the new safety car appeared.
It shook up the order and somehow put RAM Racing’s John Ferguson into first place. But, when green-flag racing resumed, the ever-potent Cottingham quickly climbed the order and, in a repeat of the preceding round at Snetterton, tried to take the lead from a stubborn Ferguson.
Source: Autosport