Sytner masters Donington as Mercer spices up Group C

GP Masters | Donington | Aug 28-29

Frank Sytner’s Penske PC3 claimed yet another brace of Grand Prix Masters wins at Donington Park.

In the opening round he fought off a first-lap challenge from Chris Perkins before the Fittipaldi F5A driver spun at the Old Hairpin. Rob Hall’s BRM P201 then took up the challenge and traded the lead with Sytner until the Penske went ahead for good on the exit of Redgate on the eighth tour.

John Crowson’s Ensign had kept well in touch throughout the duel and snatched second back from Hall on the run out of Coppice with four laps remaining. Perkins’ recovery netted him fourth, after demoting Peter Wuensch (Brabham BT37).

Sytner was edged back to second at the start of the later race by a bold move from Crowson, but the latter’s Ensign later shed part of its wing. Hall’s BRM joined it in the pits after picking up a puncture on the debris. This all left Perkins to take second place behind Sytner.

A healthy grid of Group C/GTP cars simply had no answer to the pace of David Mercer’s Spice. His win in race one left everyone else trailing. Porsche 956 driver Nigel James claimed second from Henry Pearman (Jaguar XJR-11) who took the victory in race two from David Leslie (Ecosse C286) after Mercer’s late pitstop cost him the lead.

Scott Mansell and Klaas Zwart made up for a thin Euroboss field with an entertaining duel. Benetton ace Mansell made a brave move at the Old Hairpin on the final lap, but then ran wide at the Chicane and spun. Zwart got by for the win, while Mansell recovered to finish second.