The Ginetta GT5 Challenge makes its second visit of the season to the Leicestershire circuit in 2022, with the first coming on the shorter National layout in support of the BTCC. Three of the current title mix won that weekend in Will Jenkins (Elite Motorsport), Connor Grady (Xentek Motorsport) and Will Orton (Race Car Consultants).
It’s Harley Haughton (Elite Motorsport) who leads them all at the top of the standings though. The second-year driver has dominated qualifying with eight pole positions out of 12 this season, and a victory last time out at Brands Hatch has moved his tally to five for the season.
Those successes give him a 13-point lead in the standings, though with 109 points up for grabs this weekend, it’s all still to play for. Former Ginetta Junior front-runner Jenkins is his closest rival, with his fourth win of the year at Brands Hatch keeping him right in contention.
There was a dramatic conclusion to the final race in Kent though as Haughton and Jenkins made contact. The main beneficiary was Mikey Doble (Xentek Motorsport), who took advantage to secure his maiden win in the championship and close to just 36 points off Haughton.
Grady held the championship lead earlier in the season but has dropped back in recent rounds. The double race-winner maintains a slender chance at glory, as does Orton, whose Donington Park success was followed by another victory at Silverstone early in the season.
The final mathematical contender is Ruben Hage (TCR), though with a 103-point deficit, his focus will be firmly on adding to his sole podium so far that came here at Donington Park. Kian Donaldson (Race Car Consultants) will head into the weekend full of confidence meanwhile after scoring a breakthrough podium last time out.
Dave Sutton (Team Avago), Ignazio Zanon (Raceway Motorsport) and Sam Harvey (Xentek Motorsport) will be aiming to end the year with their first pieces of silverware, while an exciting returnee to the grid is 2021 title contender Will Aspin (Elite Motorsport), who won three times on the Donington Park GP circuit last year.
Oliver Cottam (Alastair Rushforth Motorsport) makes his third appearance of the season, while four drivers make their debuts this weekend; Luke Garlick (Xentek Motorsport), racing rookie Archie Dunbar-Rees (Breakell Racing) and 2022 Ginetta Junior racers Ella Lloyd (Xentek Motorsport) and Liona Theobald (Elite Motorsport).
Chris White (Raceway Motorsport) finished runner-up in the Am class last year and is firmly on course to secure the title this time round. A double-winner on the first visit to Donington Park, he’s accumulated nine wins and 12 podium finishes so far to build a healthy 67-point lead.
Paolo Santi (Raceway Motorsport) and Karim Sekkat (Elite Motorsport) are the two drivers capable of overtaking White at the top of the standings. Santi is currently on a great run of seven consecutive podium finishes, while Sekkat has impressed with three class wins so far.
Outside the title picture, Bal Sidhu (Xentek Motorsport) picked up his first victory of the season last time out, while his team-mate Gerson Zarpelao and Phil McGarty (Alastair Rushforth Motorsport) are regular podium visitors.
Follow the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
Ginetta GT5 Challenge 2022 Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 15 October – Qualifying, 11:20; Race One, 15:34
Sunday 16 October – Race Two, 10:39; Race Three, 16:24
Both Sunday’s 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/224105.
