[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/britcar-24-hour-at-silverstone\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/britcar-24-hour-at-silverstone\/","headline":"Britcar 24 Hour at Silverstone","name":"Britcar 24 Hour at Silverstone","description":"Last weekend saw the rather epic Britcar Endurance Race hit Silverstone for 24 hours of racing,\u00a0reliability issues\u00a0and rain. I’ve covered Britcar events before but as this was my first 24 hour race, I armed myself with a sleeping bag and lots of spare camera batteries. The team LNT Ginetta G55 took pole and led the race early on, only to be hit by lighting issues, a tyre blowout and terminal oil\u00a0pressure\u00a0problems. Other Class 1 teams\u00a0suffered\u00a0too with Neil Garner’s Mosler having […]","datePublished":"2012-10-02","dateModified":"2012-10-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/MG_7445.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/MG_7445.jpg","height":1280,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/britcar-24-hour-at-silverstone\/","about":["Cars","Clubs \/ Events","Sports \/ Performance & Prestige cars","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":439,"keywords":["24 hour","aston martin","BEC","BMW M3","britcar","FIM Endurance World Championship","ginetta","mosler","motorsport","racing","silverstone","ultima"],"articleBody":"Last weekend saw the rather epic Britcar Endurance Race hit Silverstone for 24 hours of racing,\u00a0reliability issues\u00a0and rain.I’ve covered Britcar events before but as this was my first 24 hour race, I armed myself with a sleeping bag and lots of spare camera batteries.The team LNT Ginetta G55 took pole and led the race early on, only to be hit by lighting issues, a tyre blowout and terminal oil\u00a0pressure\u00a0problems. Other Class 1 teams\u00a0suffered\u00a0too with Neil Garner’s Mosler having a rear wheel fuse onto the hub. Hammers,\u00a0chisels, drills and even an angle grinder were needed to cut it lose, costing the team a full 2 hours.Mike Brown’s stunning chrome-finished Aston Martin Vantage faired better, winning class 1 and finishing 2nd overall. It also drew a lot of attention on the public grid walk before the race.Along with class 1 rivals; Neil Garner’s Moslerand the Ginetta of team LNT. It’s always great to see the looks on younger race fans faces when they get a chance to get this close to GT cars.As the sun began to head for the horizon, talk around the media centre water cooler turned to car 28, the Geoff Steel-run BMW M3 GTR. The class 2 car had been in the top 5 since the start and was looking strong.The sun finally set and the race took on a different slant. Not just for the drivers but from a photographers point of view too.The warm ambient light gave way too cool blue, but nothing about the racing cooled as illustrated by this G55’s glowing brakes at Village Corner.After the last rays of sun left the sky, the\u00a0temperature\u00a0plummeted and the spectators retired to the bars and campsite,\u00a0the drivers drove on and the photographers photographed.By the early hours, the class 2 M3 GTR of MP Motorsport was leading the race and the pressure was showing on both the car and the pit crew.Silverstone lit up by the hugely powerful LED clusters\u00a0literally\u00a0bolted onto the cars is a sight to behold.After a few hours of sleep, the sun was rising and I awoke to a rather different race. The shiny Aston was still leading it’s class.And the Mosler was holding tight on to 2nd in Class 1But out in front, where it would remain as the Mosler, Aston and Ginetta suffered mechanical problems, was the the “little”, class 2 BMW M3 of MP Racing. If only\u00a0everything\u00a0in life was as reliable as a… BMW?For a full hour-by-hour\u00a0commentary\u00a0on the race, check out The Chequered Flag"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Sports Performance Prestige Cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Britcar 24 Hour at Silverstone","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/britcar-24-hour-at-silverstone\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]