76MM Gurney Cup – race report
David Hart drove an immaculate race to win the 11-lap Gurney Cup race aboard his ex-Willy Mairesse Ford GT40. The Dutchman blasted into an early lead from the outside from the front row, his son Olivier looking like a threat in the family Shelby Daytona Cobra until he had an off-road excursion early on.
It was left to Andrew Smith in his grey Daytona Cobra to challenge for outright honours, but he never quite got on top of the gold GT40 and was three seconds in arrears by the time the chequered flag fell after 15 minutes of thrilling action. Man of the race, however, was Olivier Hart whose breathtaking recovery drive saw him steering his car at ever more extreme angles as he attempted to claw back time. He was incisive in traffic and made up several places to finish a brilliant third.
The winner said after the race: “I only bought the car three months ago so it’s still new to me. It was horrible on track yesterday, but it was a bit better today. You just have to adjust to suit the track and the conditions.”
Smith added: “The track was really unpredictable. I managed to keep David honest for much of the race. I think it’s what Henry Hope-Frost would have described as being a bit ‘Fever’. It was a fantastic race.”
76MM
Members Meeting
Gurney Cup
Race Report
2018
Sportscar
