Changeable conditions across the weekend presented a challenge to the field, with a damp circuit greeting them for qualifying. It was Will Burns (Rob Boston Racing) who enjoyed it most, taking pole position by an impressive margin of seven tenths of a second from Mike Epps (Team HARD).
Epps unfortunately stopped on the grid at the start of race one, which opened the door for Harry King (Elite Motorsport) to get onto Burns’ tail, before sliding past at the Old Hairpin first time around to take the lead heading into the first of two safety car periods.
Once the action had restarted after both, King quickly edged clear of Tom Hibbert (Triple M Motorsport) and secured the first race win of the weekend. Late drama for Hibbert dropped him back, with Reece Somerfield (Privateer) taking advantage to finish second.
Burns fought back from losing early ground to complete the podium, while an impressive run from Carl Shield (AK Motorsport) earnt him a fourth place finish. Next up was Dan Kirby (Rob Boston Racing), who led the Am Class throughout on his way to a first win of the year.
Paul Taylor (Team HARD) and Nathan Heathcote (Century Motorsport) joined him on the class podium in sixth and seventh overall respectively, with the top ten rounded out by Carl Garnett (AK Motorsport), the unfortunate Hibbert and Jack Oliphant (Century Motorsport).
A busy Saturday was completed with the second race of the weekend. There was immediate drama as poleman King had to pull off track into retirement, with Somerfield taking the early advantage from the fast-starting Shield, Burns and Hibbert.
Burns was soon the chief challenger to Somerfield though and started to reel him in before the emergence of the safety car. Soon after the restart he was able to make his move, getting ahead through Redgate on lap 12 and going on to hold the lead to the chequered flag.
Bouncing back after race one, Epps produced a superb charge from seventh on the grid to second at the finish ahead of Hibbert. The drive of the race came from Colin White (CWS Motorsport) though, who sensationally rose from 20th to fourth overall and the Am Class win.
Darron Lewis (Team HARD) and Oliphant completed the top six and the Am podium ahead of Kirby, while debutant Carlito Miracco (Privateer) took the flag in eighth. He had earlier produced an eye-catching performance to qualify fourth overall.
The final race of the weekend took place on Sunday afternoon in front of the live ITV4 television cameras and a bumper trackside crowd. It started in nightmare fashion though, with a multi-car incident leading to a red flag and then a full race restart.
Hibbert had worked his way to the front prior to the stoppage and once the action resumed he went on to lead from start-to-finish to take victory in his 60th race in the series. He was kept honest throughout though by Somerfield, who secured his fifth podium in the first six races of the year.
Epps came out on top from a great battle with King to notch the third podium of his maiden season so far. Behind King, a brilliant performance from Lewis saw him take the Am Class win in fifth overall and with it move to the top of the class championship standings.
It was set to be a race to forget for Burns who was unable to take the original start due to an issue, however he was able to get back out for the restart and climbed from 15th to sixth ahead of Shield and Am Class podium finishers James Kell (Rob Boston Racing) and Oliphant.
Ginetta GT5 Challenge graduate Miracco completed a positive maiden weekend in tenth overall, while behind, Am contenders Lucky Khera (Declan Jones Racing) and Garnett completed consistent points scoring weekends.
Am duo Lee Frost (Declan Jones Racing) and Peter Bassill (Century Motorsport) picked up their best results of the meeting in race three, while Chris Ingram (HHC Motorsport) had impressed in race two with an overall top ten finish on his first GT4 SuperCup appearance since 2016.
It was a difficult meeting for Fin Green (Total Control Racing) meanwhile and he’ll be determined to bounce back strongly when the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup is next in action in seven weeks’ time at Croft in North Yorkshire on 15/16 June.
Pro Class Top Three:1. Reece Somerfield (Privateer), 172pts; 2. Harry King (Elite Motorsport), 155pts; 3. Will Burns (Rob Boston Racing), 140pts.
Am Class Top Three:1. Darron Lewis (Team Hard), 140pts; 2. James Kell (Rob Boston Racing), 128pts; 3. Nathan Heathcote (Century Motorsport), 125pts.
