Following a lengthy 11 week break since the last rounds, the 2022 Ginetta GT5 drivers and teams are raring to get back on track for the penultimate round this weekend. It’s Harley Haughton (Elite Motorsport) who leads the field into the penultimate event of the season following a tremendous recent run of form.
The second year driver scored double victories in each of the last two outings at Thruxton and Croft. It duly propelled him to the top of the standings for the first time. He’s the clear qualifying king for 2022 so far as well, with six pole positions out of the last eight on offer.
Will Jenkins (Elite Motorsport) had been leading the championship after Thruxton. However, a tough weekend last time out cost him top spot. He’s ready to bounce back strongly and add to his impressive tally of three race wins and eight podium finishes so far.
Reigning champions Xentek Motorsport also have two drivers in the title mix. Connor Grady has two wins to his name and led the standings earlier in the year. Team-mate Mikey Doble is targeting a maiden victory. He secured a second place result in each of the last three meetings.
Will Orton (Race Car Consultants) is another double race-winner on the grid. He had a good run of form seeing him take four podiums in the last six races. Harry Mangion (Elite Motorsport) and TCR duo Sam Smith and Ruben Hage have also collected silverware in the championship this season.
Targeting maiden podium finishes meanwhile will be Dave Sutton (Team Avago), Kian Donaldson (Race Car Consultants), Ignazio Zanon (Raceway Motorsport), Oliver Cottam (Alistair Rushforth Motorsport) and Sam Harvey (Xentek Motorsport).
Chris White (Raceway Motorsport) finished runner-up to Mangion in the Am class last season. His quest to win the title this year has been going well. He’s impressively won the class in seven of the 12 races so far, and added two other podium finishes.
Leading the pack aiming to dethrone him atop the standings are Karim Sekkat (Elite Motorsport) and Paolo Santi (Raceway Motorsport). Sekkat has won three times this year and matches White’s podium tally of nine. Santi was a double class winner here in Kent last season.
Xentek Motorsport pair Bal Sidhu and Gerson Zarpelao have racked up four and three class podiums respectively, while Phil McGarty (Alastair Rushforth Motorsport) has a trio to his name too. Mike Doble (Xentek Motorsport), father of Pro ace Mikey, makes his first outing of the season meanwhile.
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 10 September – Qualifying, 11:05; Race One, 15:15
Sunday 11 September – Race Two, 12:40; Race Three, 18:00
Both of the 2022 Ginetta GT5 Challenge races will be streamed live on Ginetta’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. While live timing and results across the weekend will be available here: www.tsl-timing.com/event/223605.