Ginetta GT5 Challenge

Chapman Wins Reverse Grid Finale to help Championship Chances

1 Mins read

Matt Chapman soared to victory in the final Ginetta GT5 Challenge race of the weekend. After a strong start, he quickly disposed of the opposition winning by 4.9 seconds and recovering some ground in the championship which is being dominated by Ollie Chadwick.

The reverse grid race produced a full GT5-Am front row with Alexis Taylor and Ian Robinson heading the field. It was Robinson who made the best start and managed to gain one position after a hectic first lap.

Behind him, Matt Flowers moved up into second place, while the top 7 broke away from the rest of the pack. At the back of this queue was Ollie Chadwick, who’d only gained a single place off the start.

Sadly for Flowers, his second place didn’t last long as Chapman rocketed through the field, eventually even taking the lead from Robinson, who was now holding the field up. Behind him, Ryan Hadfield and the unfortunate Flowers rounded out the top five.

The queue behind Robinson allowed Chapman to extend his lead, with Jonathan Hadfield only able to sneak into second a few laps later. The field was side by side across the line as Chadwick moved up to fourth as he disposed of the R Hadfield and Alex Toth-Jones.

Chapman had extended his lead to 4.3 seconds, but disaster for Toth-Jones saw him spin at second chicane. He was forced to retire with damage as he limped his way back to the pits.

With Robinson falling back, Chadwick moved up to third, however, had a two and half second gap with Chapman a long way in front. The top five were quite spread out as the championship leader attempted to close in on J Hadfield.

With a lap remaining Chadwick was side by side over the line as J Hadfield gently weaved on the main straight to hold on to second. Into the final corner, Chadwick tried to get the run, but ran out of road before the chequered flag.

This allowed Chapman to claim a comfortable victory ahead of J Hadfield and Chadwick. Behind them the other Hadfield beat Robinson as Matt Palmer benefited from an off by Matt Flowers to finish sixth.

Credit: Nick Smith / TheImageTeam.com
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Single-Seater Specialist who worked for TCF from 2015-19. Come finding me wandering the paddock.
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