Team Report from Peter Morris, PMC Midlands Porsche 996 GT3

Some changes since the last round at Oulton Park three weeks ago saw Peter Morris arrive at Snetterton with his former white Porsche 996 GT3.

“I really want to be out with a Class 1 997 GT3 but can't find the right car for right now, so I've brought the white 996 GT3 I ran with Craig Wilkins in Britcar last season. It's a strong car for Class 2 in the GT Cup. Craig raced it at Anglesey in May and we had a couple of really close races.”

Morris goes to Snetterton with ex-Britcar 996 GT3

The free practice sessions on Saturday were the first opportunity Peter Morris had to get back behind the wheel of the 996 GT3 and he took it steady, settling back into the car and the circuit with best lap times in the 1m14's.

Qualifying was on Sunday morning and Morris put in a quick 1m12.519sec on lap three which clinched fourth on the grid and first in Class 2. Paul Mace (1m12.702) and Colin Wilmott (1m12.760) qualified 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Class.

'Mad Pete' Morris

Race 1 Morris had a good start holding onto fourth, but being pressured by the invitation class BMW M3 of Peter Seldon for the first lap. Once passed the BMW put in some quick times to carve its way into the lead by lap seven. Colin Wilmott had a coming together with the Ferrari 360 of Tommy Correia on the second lap which damaged the front end of the Porsche. Fluids were dropped on the circuit at Coram which resulted in a number of cars spinning, including the lead cars of Michael Leonard and Mark Stephenson.

On the fourth lap Paul Mace managed to out brake Morris out of the back straight and into The Esses to take third behind Steven Rance and Seldon. A close battle ensured between Mace and Morris, only interrupted by the Class 1 997 GT3's of Leonard and Stephenson who were working their way back up after the earlier incident.

Towards the end of the half hour race Morris had settled for fifth and second in Class behind Paul Mace when Mace slowed with a puncture. This put Morris in a position to steal the Class 2 win on the pit straight. “I told Paul he shouldn't be so stingy and should have bought some fresh tyres!” Morris exclaimed afterwards, “I'm happy with the Class win though, that was a good race.”

Morris ahead of Paul Mace's GT3

Race 1 result: 1 Seldon (BMW E46 M3 GTR/Inv) 21 laps in 25min 43.841; 2 Leonard (Porsche 997 GT3/C1) +5.737; 3 Stephenson (Porsche 997 GT3/C1) +17.575 ; 4 Morris (Porsche 996 GT3/C2) +31.353; 5 Mace (Porsche 996 GT3/C2) +41.905; 6 Gardiner (Noble M400/C1) +41.905

Race 2
Peter Morris started the second race from fourth on the grid and had a good first lap holding Mace off, however a start line incident involving a number of cars in the second half of the grid resulted in the race being stopped.

On the restart Morris and Mace were side by side into the first corner.

“We wanted to leave each other some room so we didn't end up with damage” Morris explained, “Paul had the better line and managed to get ahead.”

Exciting racing at Snetterton between Stephenson, Mace & Morris

For the following thirteen laps of the race the Porsche 996 GT3's of Mace and Morris raced nose to tail with less than a second separating them.

Peter Morris put in the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1m 12.394sec lap, even with 60kg of success ballast from race one.

The pair tagged onto the back of the Class 1 GT3 of Mark Stephenson who was in third, which resulted in some exciting and close racing.

Paul Mace held onto the Class 2 lead, with Peter Morris finishing just 400ths behind.

“That was a fantastic race!” Morris said afterwards. “Paul, Mark and I ran really close for the entire race. I wish I'd driven harder in the first race now after seeing how close our times were. I can't wait for Brands!” Morris added: “My only disappointment about the weekend is that the invitation class means cars that are not usually competing in the GT Cup can take podium finishes from regular drivers.”

Pete Morris accepts trophy for Class 2 win

Race 2 result: 1 Seldon (BMW E46 M3 GTR/Inv) 13 laps in 15min 48.172; 2 Leonard (Porsche 997 GT3/C1) +0.401; 3 Stephenson (Porsche 997 GT3/C1) +12.612 ; 4 Mace (Porsche 996 GT3/C2) +13.598; 5 Morris (Porsche 996 GT3/C2) +13.636; 6 Gardiner (Noble M400/C1) +32.848

The next round of the GT Cup takes place at Brands Hatch GP on the 9th August.

Aside from the racing, Peter Morris took the opportunity to send his best wishes to GT Cup Series Organiser Marc Haynes: “I really hope Marc is feeling better soon. He's having a tough time at the moment and it would be great to see him fit and well at Brands. He has been missed this weekend.”