The 6th round of the Sports car and GT cup at Donington park UK on Oct 4/5th proved to be something of a feast for Jeremy Welch and his Denis Welch Motorsport organisation.
Having built both his Healey 3000 and the E-Type of John Clark he was to drive the 2 cars in the 60-minute race amid dreadful wet weather conditions.
Saturday practice was dry, but car trouble meant that the Healey qualified at the back of the grid. The E-Type faired better with 3rd place. Race day was a daunting affair with races postponed due to torrential rain and windy conditions and practice sessions on the Sunday being held behind a pace car. This wasn't going to deter Jeremy Welch who was partnering his father in the Healey and owner John Clark in the E-Type.
The start was an intimidating affair with 33 cars in front of the Healey but amazingly by lap 15 Jeremy was in the lead with a truly stunning drive in the conditions.
"Having built the car I know its capabilities, and it's the confidence that it will do as I ask that makes it such a winner in the wet. As anyone knows who drives a Healey they are sideways in the dry, so in the wet it just happens that but sooner. This known behaviour gives you the confidence to push that bit harder. It's a point of view that both my father and I share and over the years it has seen off many more exotic cars."commented Jeremy Welch managing director of Denis Welch Motorsport.
The fun didn't stop there, the pit stops led to the E types of Minshaw and Pearson taking 1st and 2nd but the Healey followed them to the finish in third with Denis Welch getting fastest lap of the race in the process. When a pit stop mix up cost the Clark E type a full lap Jeremy's work was cut out but he still managed to get the E Type home a credible 4th place, gaining fastest lap for an E type in the process. So job done, 3rd and 4th in one race - bring on the next round in Paul Ricard on the 1st/2nd Nov. Hopefully the weather will be better there (some competitors including team Welch had awnings and indeed trailers tossed like confetti in the wind).
A full in car video is available of the race on this site. It makes stunning viewing so give it a try.
Once again the GT and Sports car cup organisers put on a warm welcome with hot food and splendid hospitality to ensure that all involved had a great time.
With driving standards very high and no incidents this really is the series to compete in
