CLASS WIN ON GT5 DEBUT AT THRUXTON

Race Reports - Rounds 1 & 2 - Thruxton

9th May 2021

The start of the Ginetta GT5 Challenge season took place at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire as part of the BTCC support package on the weekend of 8/9 May. Sadly, there were no spectators at the circuit due to Government coronavirus restrictions, but with Sunday’s racing broadcast live on ITV4 there was at least some access for the fans.

Having completed a couple of days’ testing at Thruxton prior to the season, I felt confident going into the weekend with my dry pace close to my front-running teammates with limited time in the car. However, with no testing in the week of the race, it was straight into qualifying on Saturday morning.

After weeks of dry, sunny weather, we were presented with a wet circuit for qualifying on Saturday morning. Despite the difficult conditions, I was quickly on the pace and qualified 14th overall and second in class for Race One – missing out on Amateur class pole by just 0.01 seconds! 

Due to the class structure that meant I would start the race 18th on the grid and P2 in class. The grid for Race Two was set by the drivers’ second fastest time in qualifying, where I would start on class pole.

Race One later on Saturday afternoon started in changeable conditions. With the bulk of the running earlier in the day being wet, the team took the gamble with slick tyres in the hope that the circuit would dry through the course of the race.

In my first ever race on slicks, with a damp track and a couple of big incidents, I struggled early in the race with a spin and difficulty getting the tyres warm. However, as the track dried up and my confidence grew, I was able to fight my way through the pack into 11th position overall and the lead of my class to take the class win and fastest lap – a fantastic result in my first race in the car!

Sunday afternoon’s second race of the weekend was broadcast live on ITV4, and fortunately provided somewhat more predictable weather conditions with a completely dry circuit – which was a relief after Saturday! Starting the race on class pole, I was confident I could replicate my pace from testing. After a long safety car period I was racing against some of the Pro class contenders, but unfortunately spun as I tried to make a move to take the class lead and continue my battle with the Pro runners. 

Despite the spin, I managed to fight back to P2 in class, and finished the race just 1 second off the race win.

Overall, a positive weekend for my debut in the GT5 Challenge, leaving with some trophies and the lead of the championship! 

 

Championship Standings:

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