BRITISH GT GEARS UP FOR DONINGTON DECIDER
Following a sensational six rounds and nine races, including a maiden trip to Germany as support for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the 2012 Avon Tyres British GT Championship will be settled this weekend at Donington Park in a two-hour winner takes all finale.
Just nine and a half points separate five crews at the top of the GT3 points table, with a further pair of drivers also in mathematical contention should those ahead falter. Leading the way are MTECH’s Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin in their Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, half a point ahead of Alasdair McCaig in the Barwell Motorsport prepared Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3, fresh from a sensational second-place finish at Silverstone three weeks ago. McCaig will have Oliver Bryant alongside him at Donington after missing the three previous races on medical grounds.
Third in the standings, four and a half points back are the RJN Motorsport crew of Alex Buncombe and 2011 GT Academy Winner, Jann Mardenborough in the ever-present Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. A further four points back is 2010 Champion, David Ashburn who has seen his title challenge disappear following two DNFs in succession. Phil Keen, will again join Ashburn in the #31 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R.
Motorbase’s Porsche stars Daniele Perfetti and Michael Caine round out the top five and will be looking to score their fifth podium this year, and their first trip to the top step. Stephen Jelley returns to the Motorbase fold with Steve Parish, and will seek to continue his stunning form for the Kent-based crew; two races, two pole positions is his record so far in 2012.
With two wins in the last three races, the men of the moment are United Autosports’ Charles Bateman and Matt Bell, who will again drive the impressive McLaren MP4-12c. Joining the pair in a United Autosports McLaren are Blancpain Endurances Series duo, Alvaro Parente and team co-owner, Zak Brown.
Following a very successful outing at Spa Francorchamps in 2010, Reiter Engineering return to British GT with Dutch duo Peter Kox and Nico Pronk at the wheel of a 5.2 litre V10 Lamborghini LP560-4 GT3.
Another returnee to the British GT fold is Rosso Verde’s charismatic leader, Hector Lester and Danish sportscar ace, Allan Simonsen. Having last competed at Brands Hatch, the pair will hope to replicate past performances at the challenging East Midlands circuit, which has seen them compete for overall victory.
Cyber Racing, the customer Aston Martin team will hope to build on an impressive debut last time out at Silverstone, where a lowly twelfth place finish didn’t reflect John Gaw and Phil Dryburgh's overall pace.
With the GT4 championship tied up following a seventh class win for Team WFR’s Jody Fannin and Warren Hughes in round six, the 2012 GT4 Champions return to finish on a high at Donington Park and secure win number eight.
For more information visit www.britishgt.com