The GT Academy was introduced this year to give drivers of all ages and experience levels the opportunity to enjoy entry level GT racing in the 270bhp Ginetta G56 GTA car. The championship will tackle three races this weekend as it makes its debut on the BTCC support package.
The GTA class features a number of drivers with previous experience competing in Ginetta racing. Trice (SVG Motorsport) has led the standings throughout the campaign, building a 107 point lead with eight class wins in the nine races so far, as well as scoring five overall victories.
Roy Alderslade (Assetto Motorsport) and Wes Pearce (Elite Motorsport), former Ginetta G40 Cup and GT5 Challenge racers respectively, are giving chase to Trice. Alderslade just edges out his rival five to four on podium finishes so far this season.
Four other drivers on the current grid have visited the GTA class rostrum over the season; Assetto Motorsport’s talented trio of Julian Wantling, Lee Goldsmith and Martin Wills, plus Gary Wager (SF Racing).
Targeting their first pieces of silverware meanwhile will be Robin Grimwood (Assetto Motorsport), Neil Wallace (SVG Motorsport) and Shawn Fleming (SF Racing), while an exciting series debutant is current Ginetta GT5 Challenge racer Thomas Holland (Raceway Motorsport).
The GT Academy also features a rookie class, in which entrants benefit from an all-inclusive arrive and drive package, with the cars prepared run in-house by the want2race team. Impressively, the new talents have been battling their more experienced counterparts at the head of the field all season.
Whiteside is on a fantastic run of form in the championship, with four consecutive overall race victories. He has also won the rookie class on seven occasions to date, securing him an 82 point advantage in the class heading into the final six races of the season.
Darren Leung and Gilbert Yates sit in the top three in the class standings, having both finished in the overall top two on a couple of occasions, while Edward Acres, Danny Dwyer and Tom Hartley Jnr have all secured class silverware across the campaign.
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 25 September – Qualifying, 09:00; Race One, 13:25; Race Two, 17:20
Sunday 26 September – Race Three 12:10 (Live on ITV4)
Live timing and results: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/213803
