The second round of the GT Cup 2009 saw 41 cars supporting the final A1GP race on the classic Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. Qualifying saw the Viper prepared by Moore Racing with Mike Gardiner achieve a pole and second. In race one the rapid Glynn Geddie edged Mike out with his Porsche 997, for race two Mike kept the Lambourghini Gallardo and the rest of the field behind him.

The opening race saw Glynn Geddie hold the lead into the first corner and Mike slotted in behing fending off the Lambourghini, TVR and BMW GTR immediately behind. The need to defend second allowed the fast starting Porsche to open up a small lead. The intense battle for second to fourth became the battle for the lead when the Porsche spectacularly spun out at Paddock Hill with a puncture. After defending for nearly half the race and with fading tyres inevitably the Lambourghini and then TVR slipped past leaving the Viper 3rd overall.

The second race on the Sunday saw the blue and white Viper lead a field of 40 cars over the start line from pole. Mike maintained position over the first two laps holding off the eager Porsches and Lambourghini. At this poin the similar RPM Viper had a coming together with the tyre wall causing the deployment of the safety car. At the restart Mike again held the lead through the restart and the first lap. At this point the Lambourghini joined the Viper in the same wall, with considerable barrier damage to the same area and two thirds of the race time run the race was red flagged and a result called. At the end of the day a win is a win, but after only a few racing laps less satisfying than the win two weeks earlier at Silverstone over the full race distance.

All photos by Mick Herring