Motorsport Historical Highlights: Key Events from 2003 and 2009
In a retrospective on notable motorsport events, significant achievements from the British GT Championship and the Le Mans Series took center stage.
2009: Lola Aston Martin Dominance
During this week in 2009, it was confirmed that three factory Lola Aston Martins would compete in the Nürburgring round of the Le Mans Series. The trio notably completed a podium sweep, reinforcing the brand’s competitive prowess.
2003: Milestone for Morgan
A pivotal moment occurred in 2003 when the Richard Thorne Motorsport Cup Class Morgan Aero 8 secured pole position at Thruxton, driven by Neil Cunningham. This marked Morgan’s first pole in a contemporary national or international event since 1963, the last being at the Spa 500 km, a record set by Chris Lawrence, who expressed his delight upon learning of the recent achievement.
Other highlights from 2003 included the introduction of the Racing Team Belgium Audi R8 livery, which competed alongside British GT Championship entrants at Spa. This race featured a mix of performance vehicles, underscoring the diversity within contemporary motorsport events.
Notable Controversies and Developments
The 2009 season also saw a legal dispute impacting the British GT Championship, where a protest led to the disqualification of Rollcentre Racing’s Mosler cars from the GT3 class due to registration issues, resulting in the withdrawal of points earned prior to the verdict.
In regard to testing innovations, 2010 featured a significant test for competitors in the Sunoco Rolex 24 At Daytona Challenge at Silverstone, where participants gained insights into the Daytona Prototype experience, assisted by inaugural winner Derek Johnston.
These events collectively showcase significant milestones and challenges within the motorsport landscape, reflecting both the competitive spirit and the complex regulatory environment of the industry.
