SportsRacing World Cup : Donington : Lola Wins
18.7.99

Baldi/Redon were handicapped by "success" weights.

The fifth round of the SportsRacing World Cup took place around the Donington long circuit, with a very competitive prototype entry that included eight Ferrari 333SPs.

The Ferrari of Giraudi/Tedeschi was unfortunately too badly damaged during Saturday qualifying to be ready for the race.

Qualifying was a straight battle between the two Lolas of Gounon/Bernard and Nielsen/Orbell and the quickest Ferraris driven by Collard/Sospiri and Lavaggi/Mazzacane. The Lola-Judd of Marc Gounon took its third pole position but this time was clearly hoping that it would stay together for the whole of the 2½ hour race.

Lavaggi/Mazzacane finished a strong second behind the winning Lola.

And indeed that was the way it turned out. The early lead of John Nielsen in the Lola-Ford came to nothing when he pulled into the pits for a long stop on lap 16. Thereafter the battle at the front was always between the Lola-Judd and the two pursuing F333SPs. In particular, the Brums car of Lavaggi/Mazzacane went quicker and quicker and may even have had a chance of taking the win but for a late contretemps whilst lapping a slower car. This left it in second place, about half a minute behind the winning Lola.

Collard/Sospiri finished third in the J B Giesse Ferrari, followed by three more 333s in the order Baldi/Redon, Moncini/Pescaroti and Zadra/Zadra. The two remaining Ferraris also finished the race, with Calderari/Bryner/Deletraz in eighth and Waaijenberg/Van Der Lof in ninth.

The next round takes place at Brno on 1st August.

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