Race Report: Sportscar Endurance Race
LMH Sportscar Endurance Race 16th November 2025
With the BRCA Sportscar Endurance Series growing in popularity we decided to run a trial event. As a club we managed to cobble together two matched teams of four drivers, all of different abilities, and were joined by SC Racing who were keen to give their car a second race day.
The format has four drivers in each team, all racing a single 4wd touring car with an LMH body, 21.5T adjustable timing motor, open gearing and no additives or tyre warmers.
The format consists of practice, 4 qualifiers all to count in a predetermined driver order and a final race between 2 and 6 hours.
The track started damp, so we took the decision to use damp compound foam tyres that we use as a club during our winter series. Everybody on the team takes part in a qualifying round of 5 minutes.
As qualifying progressed the times were exceptionally close. There were motor swaps and gearing changes happening between rounds. Once qualifying positions had been decided the decisions about tyre and battery strategy during the race became even more important.
Cars took their places behind the safety car with lights flashing for a rolling start. After three full laps the safety car peeled off leaving the lead car to take control with no overtaking until the start line.
The 3 hour race had started with all three cars staying in touch with each other around the track settling into the stint. The laps counted up very quickly with thoughts turning to the first driver change and pit stop.
On average teams were changing batteries at 45 lap intervals. Drivers had to keep their wits about them as it was surprisingly difficult to concentrate for a 20 minute driving stint.
Some of the slightly more stressful pitstop highlights included putting a used battery back into the car it had just been taken out of. A front top deck bolt came out twisting the front drive belt making the Ferrari rear wheel drive for a couple of laps. The Porsche team wore the foam tyres down to practically the rims so had to swap tyres and forgot to turn the car on after a pitstop.
SC Racing had a few more serious problems unfortunately, with a snapped lower arm and top deck and burnt out motor. They also swapped tyres but showed great spirit and continued to race towards the end.
At the chequered flag after 3 hours and 514 laps of the track the Ferrari and Porsche cars were separated by 3.83 seconds. The driving standard was excellent and the number of excursions off of the track could be counted on one hand.
A fantastic day was had by all and it was a great event to participate in, with the usual amount of friendly banter on display.
