Peter Wiborg (Team 13) becomes champion in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge!
Peter won by 7 points despite a double victory for Andreas Lundin in the final round.
Wiborg (Team 13) went into the final round with one hand on the championship title. When the Ginetta GT5 Challenge visited the Danish Jyllandsringen for its final weekend, Peter Wiborg (Team 13) had a seemingly reassuring lead over the only remaining challenger Andreas Lundin (SMK Västerås).
But after qualifying, the lead was reduced by one point since Lundin took pole position ahead of Wiborg.
The first heat offered a very close and exciting battle between Andreas Lundin and Kevin Blomberg (Falkenbergs MK). They changed positions several times during the race. The pair drove side by side through several corners to the cheers of the crowd. In the end it was Lundin who took the victory. This gave him important points for the last race of the year.
For Peter Wiborg, it seemed to end in the worst possible way. He spun and fell down to ninth place. However, a strong run to fourth meant that he was still in the lead when the cars rolled out for the start for the decider.
Initially, it looked like it would be the same fight between Blomberg and Lundin, but when it started to drizzle, the conditions changed completely. Kevin spun and fell to fifth place and after two laps with the safety car, Lundin was able to take the chequered flag behind SC with Wiborg as second. A position that was sufficient to hold off in the championship ahead of Lundin. In the end, however, only seven points separated.
Slightly overshadowed by the two title contenders, there was both drama and fine efforts from several drivers in the 19-car strong starting field. Newcomer Månz Thalin (SSK) impressed with a third place in the first race. Unfortunately, Thalin ended up in the gravel when he was forced to give way to Johan Auer.
Niklas Kristiansson (Falkenbergs MK) was fifth and third respectively in the two heats. He was the highest finishing competitor in the Senior class. Douglas Dahlström (Helsingborgs KK) finished sixth and fourth on his way to fourth overall in the championship. Christopher Winroth (Falkenbergs MK) became Rookie of the Year and rounded off the year with a fine sixth place.
Ola Gustafsson (Hyllinge MS) and Anders Hedensjö (Skellefteå MS) each took their second and third place in the Senior class. Ola passed Kjell Zetterström (SSK) up to second place in category – after the dominant Kristiansson. Niklas not only won the Senior class but also came third overall.
Behind the top trio Wiborg – Lundin – Kristiansson, Douglas Dahlström finished fourth, Johan Auer (SMK Örebro) fifth and Christopher Winroth sixth. No less than 28 drivers took part in this year’s championship, showing the continued popularity of the class. Several new drivers want to drive Ginetta next year, which guarantees that 2024 can be at least as good as this year’s season!
Take a look at the final standings for the GT5 challenge here.
