The GT5 Challenge Am class has been hotly contested so far this year, with no less than eight different drivers having finished on the podium already. Topping the standings after five races is Harry Mangion (Elite Motorsport), courtesy of a 100% podium record.
The former GRDC racer has won a race at each of the opening two events, Thruxton and Brands Hatch, to build a 43 point lead. His closest challenger is Paolo Santi (Raceway Motorsport), who stormed to a superb double victory last time out.
The other Thruxton win went the way of Bal Sidhu (Xentek Motorsport) as he tackles his third consecutive season in the championship. Holding even more experience than that is team-mate Phil McGarty, who has a total of 21 GT5 Am podiums under his belt.
Chris White (Raceway Motorsport) has had a rollercoaster season to date, but has shown his clear speed with two visits to the podium. Mark Steel (Toro Verde GT) and Karim Sekkat (Elite Motorsport) picked third and second place finishes respectively at Thruxton.
Within the expanded four-class format for the GT5 Challenge this year, the driver to beat in the G40 Cup Pro category has been Marc Warren (Raceway Motorsport). The reigning GRDC rookie champion has taken four wins and a second place finish in the five races so far.
The other victory went the way of Nick White (MRM) in his first ever Ginetta race at Thruxton. Thomas Holland (Raceway Motorsport) is determined to take a maiden win soon, having finished second on three occasions, while Bren Maude (CTS Motorsport) will aim to build on a first podium last time out.
The pace-setter in the G40 Cup Am class meanwhile has been Rupert Laslett (Raceway Motorsport), who has followed in his team-mates footsteps with four race victories of his own. That combined with a perfect record in qualifying has put him at the top of the class standings.
Only 13 points adrift is privateer entrant Andrew Willis, who won at Brands Hatch and is the only driver in the class to have finished every race in the top five. Jeremy Sussex (SVG Motorsport) and Brenden Haffner (Raceway Motorsport) have impressed too with three podiums each.
The competitive class entry also includes podium finishers Stephen Moore (SVG Motorsport) and Peter Dilnot (Elite Motorsport), James Turner (SVG Motorsport) and his new team-mate Stephen Davies, who is making a long-awaited Ginetta debut.
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 26 June – Optional Practice, 09:00-09:40; Qualifying 14:50-15:10
Sunday 27 June – Race One, 09:30; Race Two; 15:35
Both races on Sunday will be streamed live on Ginetta’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Live timing and results all weekend: https://www.tsl-timing.com/eve…
Find out more about the championship’s title sponsor, Protyre Motorsport, at https://www.protyre.co.uk/
