BRITISH GTS HEAD TO DONINGTON PARK

The British GT Championship heads to Donington Park on September 10/11 for its traditional title showdown. And this season has even more to offer given that both GT3 and GT4 class championships will be on the line.

A rare double victory on the same weekend at Snetterton last time out couldn’t have come at a better time for Barwell Motorsport’s Jon Minshaw and Phil Keen who now head the GT3 standings by 11.5 points from Derek Johnston and Jonny Adam.

However, Johnston won his maiden British GT race at Donington 12 months ago and regards it as one of his favourite circuits, while the former GP venue also witnessed co-driver Adam’s unlikely title triumph last season.

At its most basic, victory for the pair, along with Minshaw and Keen finishing third, would be enough to hand TF Sport’s drivers the championship.

Team Parker Racing’s Rick Parfitt Jr and Seb Morris face a far tougher challenge. 27 points behind, they have no choice but to win and hope Minshaw/keen finish no higher than seventh with Johnston/adam fourth at best. Their trump card could be success penalties: their rivals must remain stationary for 20 and 15 seconds longer during the mandatory pit-stop for winning and finishing second at Snetterton, while the Bentley’s fifth place means it will have a handicap-free run.

Fortunately, GT4 is far simpler in terms of the mathematics: with just 2.5 points separating Optimum Motorsport’s Graham Johnson and Mike Robinson from Beechdean AMR’S Jack Bartholomew, this year’s title will be decided by whoever finishes ahead in the topnine at Donington.

Bartholomew undoubtedly carries the momentum following his first and second places at Snetterton. Aston Martin also won the GT4 class at Donington last season. However, as in GT3, success penalties could be crucial given that the V8 Vantage will spend five seconds longer in the pits.

Advance tickets are available to buy via the Donington Park website www.donington-park.co.uk