With its long sweeping ultra-fast curves and the almost total lack of testing Thruxton was always going to be a challenge to the drivers and team. Dunlop were also apprehensive with an untested harder tyre especially for the abrasive Thruxton track. Even for GTs Friday testing consisted of only 2x50 minute sessions split between two drivers, providing little more than familiarisation time. Regular drivers Paul Fenton and Mike Gardiner had not raced at the circuit for a number of years adding to the time required.
The team steadily improved the car on the Saturday morning during free practice. Qualifying 1 by Paul Fenton led to a steady 15th place on a grid containing 16 professional or paid drivers. Mike improved on this with a 13th place in Qualifying 2. With nothing to lose the team continued to work to improve the setup of the car.
In the first race the team ran Paul to the very end of the pit window hoping for a safety car that did not materialise. After thirty five minutes of intense nose to tail racing and a number of position changes with the 4.car Porsche Paul handed over to Mike who saw out the laps to record a steady 12th place. On Sunday with the driving reversed Mike led off and made some progress through the field, again the hoped for safety car was absent and Paul took over. The final stint was frustrating for Paul with a radio issue preventing the relay of tactical information, in the end with time running out the Viper finished 13th with 11th and 12th immediately in front on the road. Another lap would have seen a potential top 10 finish (with the Jones Ascari stopping on track).
Once again the Moore Racing Viper showed its reliability finishing both races with gentlemen drivers in a very competitive series against top line professional drivers.
Photos courtesy of Dave Reynolds
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Contact: Richard Moore - 07939 569027 or Paul Fenton - 07801 417931 |