HOW THE GT CUP’S CLASSES STACK UP
The GT Cup currently has six classes, or groups, that cater for slightly different GT machines. Here’s a rundown of what they are and some of the notable entries in each.
GT3
The newest addition to the class structure does not take much explaining – it’s for fully homologated GT3 machines. Among this entry are a number of British GT pairings looking to get in some early-season running, including Phil Keen and Michael Igoe (Lamborghini Huracan), Stewart and Lewis Proctor (Mclaren 720S) and Richard and Sam Neary (Mercedes-amg). Other entries are set to feature W Series racer Abbie Eaton and 2017 GT4 champion Will Tregurtha.
GTO
This is another class that is easily defined by its name as it’s for open-specification GT cars, including older GT2 or GTE machines. It is home to Richard Chamberlain’s famed Porsche 935, while other entries for Donington Park this weekend include a Brabham BT62 and a Radical RXC.
GTC
The GTC group is when things begin to get a little more complicated. The official description for this is “later model year Challenge and Cup specification cars”. What that means in practical terms is more recent cars from various one-make GT categories. The Donington class entry is populated by Lamborghini Super Trofeo machines, one of which is being piloted by former World Endurance GTE Am champion Stuart Hall.
GTB
Here is where you find some of the older machines on the grid, including the two Marcos Mantises. GTB is for “early year Challenge and Cup cars”, and the Donington field also features some older Porsche Carrera Cup cars as well as early-specification Aston Martin Vantages.
GTH
Another fairly recent addition to the ranks, this is where the homologated GT4S compete. This is comfortably the bestsubscribed class for Donington with 11 entries, which include Mclarens, Astons, a Mercedes and a Porsche Cayman. It is in this division where many of the top Pro names can be found.
GTA
The final class caters for older, lower-powered GT cars, and the majority of the Donington entries are Ginetta GT4 Supercup-spec G55s. Just because this is, in theory, the bottom rung of the GT Cup’s class ladder doesn’t mean it warrants any less attention, particularly as last year’s overall champions Joshua Jackson and Simon Orange (below) came from this group.