Webster set for his British GT debut run NO SHARED EURO GRID FOR BRITISH GT
FORMAT
Former karting ace Sam Webster will make his debut in the British GT Championship at Donington Park this weekend as he warms up for a full campaign next year.
Webster, 20, from Dorset, will share a Fox Motorsport Ginetta G55 GT4 with Jamie Stanley for the two-hour season finale. The pair have raced the car sporadically in the GT Cup Championship this year as Webster adjusts to GT racing.
Webster formerly ran in both the European and World KZ karting championships with the ART team before dropping out to concentrate on a move to cars.
Stanley said: “Sam has already been a winner in the GT Cup and his progression this season has been brilliant. However, British GT is a whole new level so he will have a learning curve.
“We’ve done 10 days of testing and a few races so Sam has good mileage and together we should both be rated as silver drivers, so the car will carry a bit of extra weight. The aim is definitely to go for the podium as we have the pace. We’d be disappointed not to be in the fight. Sam is planning to do the full championship next season with Fox, so this is a great way to prepare him.”
Adam, who won the crown last season alongside Beechdean AMR’S Andrew Howard, could become the first driver ever to successfully defend the top division of British GT, and also the first driver to win the title with two different teams.
The Scotsman said he expected the championship to be decided by who handles the pressure better between amateur racers Minshaw and Johnston.
“I’ve been ahead and behind going into title deciders, so I’ve seen both sides of it and pressure is a big factor, especially for the gentleman drivers,” said Adam. “Leading the points plays on your mind and you think about the race for weeks in advance, so it really builds. In that respect chasing is easier, as there is less pressure. I think whichever driver holds it together best in the race’s first stint [for the Am drivers] will come out on top.
“Derek has always been incredibly strong at Donington Park – he won there last year with TF and it’s his favourite circuit, so we’re planning full-steam attack.”
In contrast Keen believes he and Minshaw hold the trump card due to their points edge. The two must serve an additional 20 seconds during their mandatory pit stop, while Johnston/adam must serve 15 seconds.
Keen said: “In truth the title isn’t the only thing in our mind as four races ago we didn’t think we’d be in this position, so our game plan is to do what we always do – turn up, drive as fast as we can and see what unfolds.
“Jon will get his race-face on and he’ll go for it, and he’s good under pressure. But there are loads of things that can wrong, and we’ve seen from previous years that the last race can be turbulent. This championship is ours to lose.”
Parfitt and Morris must win, and their Bentley Continental is expected to be strong at Donington thanks to its solid balance of aero and power.
“The Bentley is the dark horse as it has no success penalty and it’s very strong around flowing tracks like Donington,” adds Adam. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see it win. Hopefully we can put the title beyond reach.”