Kellett’s record-breaking season culminated in him writing his name into the record books as overall GT4 SuperCup alongside the likes of Tom Ingram, Charlie Robertson and Harry King, while Pearce (G56 Am), Reade (G55 Pro) and Duggan (G55 Am) triumphed in their respective classes.
Tom Emson (Elite Motorsport) took the bragging rights of securing the final pole position in GT4 SuperCup history, dominating a topsy-turvy session in tricky damp conditions on Saturday morning. He finished up two seconds quicker than Kellett (Rosland Gold Racing by Century Motorsport) and Aston Millar (DTO Motorsport).
Blake Angliss (Rosland Gold Racing by Century Motorsport) secured the best qualifying result of the year for a Ginetta G55 driver in fourth overall, getting the Pro class pole as James Townsend (Fox Motorsport) took the Am honours in fifth. Darren Leung (Assetto Motorsport) topped G56 Am in sixth.
Emson led from start-to-finish in the opening race of the weekend, however it was far from easy as Kellett hunted him throughout. The champion-elect briefly slipped to third behind Millar, however a wide moment for the latter ultimately forced him into retirement.
Reece Somerfield (Breakell Racing) therefore came home third ahead of Henry Dawes (Century Motorsport). Angliss produced a great drive to win G55 Pro in fifth overall. An issue for Leung on the green flag lap meanwhile opened the door for Pearce (Breakell Racing) to win in G56 Am and secure the title in the process.
James Taylor (SVG Motorsport) superbly charged forward from 15th on the grid to seventh overall and second in G55 Pro ahead of Reade (Wolf Motorsport), Conner Garlick (Xentek Motorsport) and Nick Halstead (Fox Motorsport). Townsend led a Fox one-two in G55 Am ahead of Duggan, with Luke Warr (Race Car Consultants) completing the podium.
Emson went on to complete a perfect day at the office with another lights-to-flag success in race two. Kellett was once again tucked under his rear bumper throughout. However, the leader didn’t put a foot wrong on his way to a fifth race win of the season.
Somerfield ran third throughout to take his fifth consecutive podium finish. Millar just caught onto his tail on the last lap after a brilliant charge through from 15th on the grid. Behind Dawes, Leung was another one storming up the order, gaining 10 places to finish sixth and win G56 Am from Pearce.
Angliss looked on course to double up in G55 Pro before a last lap move from Taylor into Paddock Hill Bend netted him a second win of the season, with Reade following in third. Townsend and Daniel Morris (Simon Green Motorsport) traded the G55 Am lead in the closing laps before the former completed a double win for the day. Fourth for Duggan earnt him the class title.
A poignant moment at the end of the race saw Colin White waving the chequered flag, as he returned to the paddock for the first time since his incident at Thruxton earlier in the season. It was a fitting send off from White to the GT4 SuperCup, having contested 242 of the championship’s 289 races and winning four class titles along the way.
Perhaps fittingly, considering the Ginetta G55 GT4’s successful 11-year stint in the championship, it was the G55 Pro title that was the last to be decided in Sunday’s live televised finale. Reade and Angliss headed into the race with just seven points separating them.
After a red flag stoppage to the original race start, the action restarted over a shortened 10-minute duration. It was Taylor who held the G55 Pro class pole position. He led the opening laps before a safety car period, with Angliss and Reade in pursuit.
The season would ultimately come down to a one lap shootout to the chequered flag. Angliss needed to pass Taylor to swing the title in his favour, however the leader held firm, with third place for Reade therefore earning him the class title.
At the front of the field, 2021 Ginetta Junior champion Millar took a long-awaited first win of the season after converting the reverse grid pole position into a lights-to-flag victory. Kellett piled on the pressure as he made it 18 podiums in 20 races this year, with Emson third.
Leung signed off his hugely impressive season, only his second ever after debuting in the GT Academy last year, with a 13th win in G56 Am ahead of Pearce. Morris took the flag first in G55 Am. However, a post-race penalty meant that Townsend completed a dream hat-trick for the weekend.
James Kellett, 2022 G56 Pro champion:
“I’ve dreamt of racing in the GT4 SuperCup since I was racing in the Ginetta Juniors back in 2014. It’s where I’ve always wanted to go, so to finally do it and win the title is an incredible feeling.
“The first half of the season, with nine wins in the first ten races, was unreal and we’ve been working hard all year to continue our success. The package from Century Motorsport, Rosland Gold Racing and all my partners has been phenomenal.”
Wes Pearce, 2022 G56 Am champion:
“It’s been a very good year. Consistency has paid off for us. We finished every race, kept taking home podiums and picked up the wins where we could. Breakell Racing have done a great job with the car and it’s been such good fun this year.”
Luke Reade, 2022 G55 Pro champion:
“It’s unbelievable. It’s been a phenomenal team effort, Wolf Motorsport have done a cracking job. We got a win on the opening weekend. I thought it might be a one-off, but the momentum continued from there. We’ve pushed every race to improve and it’s an amazing result for everyone involved.”
Ian Duggan, 2022 G55 Am champion:
“It feels excellent to be champion! When you think that four years ago I’d never driven a racing car, and here I am as a double Ginetta champion … it’s pretty good. Fox Motorsport have been fantastic with me and really helped my development.”
Full race results from the GT4 SuperCup weekend can be found at www.tsl-timing.com/event/224003
