Sadly Stirling's first race in a Porsche RS 61, since his last outing in a similar car back in 1961 at the Nurburgring 1000kms, will have to wait another year. Following an incident on the warm-up lap of today's qualifying session, 13th August, for the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Stirling will no longer be able to race the RS 61 this year.

On Stirling's out lap the car stepped out a wheel onto the grass putting it off the circuit, albeit without coming into contact with the barriers. A second car, also on its warm-up lap, left the circuit and hit the RS 61. Happily Stirling was unhurt, the car however suffered considerable damage, rendering it undriveable for the rest of the Monterey weekend. As this particular weekend was due to be his only race outing in the RS this year, he will now have to wait until 2011, once it is repaired in the United States, to return back behind the wheel of this classic Porsche race car.

Stirling was understandably very dissappointed, as was his wife Susie, following the incident, given that this is a car he had long sought after and was looking forward tremendously to racing it, so much more so, following his serious accident back in March.

The days group 1A time sheets were topped by Ed Nigro, who placed third in last years race, in a 1960 Lola Mk.I from Donald Orosco in a Lotus 15 and Rob Walton in a Maserati T60.

Image © Ned & Kate Lawler no reproduction without express consent