Charlie Robertson holds a slender two point advantage over Andrew Watson at the top of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup standings as it prepares for its annual visit to the unique high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire.
The two Ginetta Junior graduates have been the class of the field so far this season, taking four podium finishes each so far in the first six races of the season.
Douglas Motorsport’s Watson led the way after a trio of podium finishes on the opening weekend at Brands Hatch, but a second victory of the season at Donington has sneaked HHC Motorsport’s Robertson ahead by 152 points to 150.
Robertson returns to Thruxton for the first time since 2012, having taken a double victory on his last appearance in the Ginetta Juniors, while Watson returns to the circuit at which he took a podium finish last year, with both hoping to leave Hampshire with the points lead.
A surprise third in the championship standings at this early stage is Tom Oliphant, the former single-seater racer having opened his Supercup win account when a tyre gamble paid off in the final race at Donington Park.
That result, coupled with a Brands podium, puts the Century Motorsport ace eleven points behind Watson, and he heads to Thruxton hoping to consolidate his top three points position.
Fourth in the standings meanwhile after enjoying a great start to his maiden Supercup campaign is Luke Davenport, the Ginetta GT5 Challenge graduate having followed up a win at Brands with a second podium at Donington.
He’ll be aiming for more top three finishes at Thruxton, as will his United Autosports team-mate Carl Breeze, who has finished fourth on three occasions already this campaign. The 2012 champion carded two wins in the corresponding meeting last year, and will want to get his first victory of the year on the board this weekend to help close the 66 point gap to Robertson in the standings.
Like Breeze, Pepe Massot is also playing catch-up to the leaders after a torrid Brands opener. The Spaniard returned to form at Donington, taking two podiums including his first race win for twelve months, and he’ll hope to continue that forward momentum at Thruxton.
The other podium finishers so far this season are David Pittard, Harry Woodhead and Jamie Orton. SV Racing’s Pittard has two to his name so far, as well as the accolade for overtaking move of the season so far, while Douglas’ Woodhead and Century’s Orton have one apiece.
Hoping to bounce back after an incident-packed Donington meanwhile will be Will Burns. The Academy Motorsport ace was the innocent victim of contact twice last time out, but having shown flashes of his front-running potential, the reigning Ginetta GT5 Challenge vice-champion will be aiming to challenge for a first podium finish of the season.
With five different race-winners and eight podium finishers so far, the Supercup has been the most competitive championship on the TOCA support package, and we’re set for three more action-packed races around the fastest circuit in the UK.
The teams and drivers are set for a busy Saturday (3rd May), with qualifying at 09.30 followed by Rounds Seven and Eight at 15.20 and 17.45 respectively, before the live-televised Round Nine takes place at 13.22 on Sunday (4th May).
