Newly crowned Ginetta Challenge champion Mark Davies - Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography
Mark Davies overcame contact with championship rival Sean Huyton to take the 2011 Ginetta Challenge title at the series final rounds at Silverstone, while a podium was enough for Stuart Pearson to claim the G20 class crown.
Some early morning rain before the opening race left tricky conditions for the opening race, with a dry line and wet patches off-line. At the start, Ryan Ratcliffe made the best start and led away, but Optimum Motorsport's Davies soon nipped ahead. Behind, Pearson made a mistake at Becketts and went off through the gravel in his G20, re-joining but a long way adrift.
Davies continued to lead, but soon came under pressure from Academy Motorsport's Huyton. Their battle resulted in Huyton clipping the rear of Davies' car, the latter spinning off into the gravel. With some help from the marshals, Davies was able to re-join, but a long way adrift.
This put Ratcliffe in the lead from series newcomer Kieren Clark, but contact between the two allowed Huyton through to take the win. However post-race, he was excluded for the contact with Davies, giving the win to Colards Motorsport's Clive Richards. Thiago Calvet took second for Optimum Motorsport, while third after a superb drive was William Burns, the HHC Motorsport driver having passed sixteen cars in the opening three laps.
In the G20 class, Reflex Racing's Dominic Pettit took the win, with Tom Mallett second, while a strong recovery drive from Pearson saw him complete the class podium.
The second race saw Piranha Motorsport's Ratcliffe once again lead away, but Davies and Huyton soon drew alongside and the front three went three-abreast through Becketts. Huyton came out in front ahead of Ratcliffe and Davies, while behind race oner winner Richards exited the race with a smoky engine.
The front three ran closely throughout the race and on the final lap, Davies made a late dive for the lead, getting alongside through the stadium, but Huyton hung on for the win, with second enough for Davies to see him secure the title. Ratcliffe took third, while taking fourth after an exciting battle was Rick Parfitt Jnr, ahead of HHC team-mate Burns, who once again produced a great drive through the field from the back.
A stunning battle for the lead in the G20 class saw Pettit and Gary Simms fight it out, with Optimum Motorsport's Simms getting ahead when it mattered to win by just a second, while Matt Flowers took third behind Pettit.
Final Ginetta Challenge Championship Standings:
- Mark Davies – 392 points
- Sean Huyton – 338 points
- Clive Richards – 300 points
G20 Class Standings:
- Stuart Pearson – 398 points
- Gary Simms – 377 points
- Matt Flowers – 317 points
