Declan Jones made a hugely impressive return to the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup grid during the final rounds of the 2014 season, taking a maiden outright podium finish on his first appearance in the series for two years.
Jones previously competed in the category with a part-campaign in the G50 class during 2012, before moving on to become a regular competitor in British GT in the last two seasons, finishing as GT4 class vice-champion in 2013.
The Liverpudlian returned to the grid with an eleventh hour deal to compete with SV Racing, and a strong run to ninth in wet qualifying hinted at some positive results in the weekend’s three races.
In the opening race on a drying track, Jones climbed through the order to take fourth, before adding fifth in a damp race two on some very used wet tyres.
Saving the best for last, Jones battled back after slipping to sixth at the start to take fourth place on the road in the final race of the weekend, which was later declared as third when a rival received a penalty.
Emerging as the fifth highest points scorer, ahead of a number of driver who had competed in the series all season, Jones was pleased with his performance.
“It was a fantastic weekend,” he said. “Danny, my mechanics, Mike [Waudey] and Tom [Dally] and all at SV Racing did a fantastic job – they all pulled together and helped me out massively, as did Ginetta. The whole thing was great and so were the results with what we had.”
“On Saturday we literally had someone else’s old wet tyres and did qualifying and the first two races on them, so we got the best out of what we could with them. Everyone in front of me had brand new wets on, so I was punching above my weight with what I had and I did really well.
“Then on Sunday we were fourth, although later on it turned into third and we got another trophy. I didn’t get to stand on the podium and spray the champagne, but we still got the rostrum finish and that is always nice. It was good to end the season on a high.”
Jones is now looking at the Supercup as a potential option for 2015, as his dad and manager Kelvin Jones explains.
“Declan drove incredibly well and in my view stepped up another level,” commented Kelvin. “It has definitely given us something to think about for 2015 and we will definitely be seriously looking at the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup now for next year.
“I want to thank Danny, everyone at SV Racing, Lawrence [Tomlinson], Ashley [Gallagher] and Mike [Simpson] at Ginetta for making it possible.”
