Ollie Chadwick took a narrow victory in the first of three races at Silverstone in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge.
Chadwick made use of a good start to overpower nearest title rival and pole-sitter George Gamble on the run down to Becketts for the first time, with the latter fending off the efforts of Dennis Strandberg and Buddy Racing’s Gary Simms down the Hanger Straight.
It wasn’t long before attentions turned to the lead of the race again, with Gamble pulling alongside Xentex Motorsport’s Chadwick on the run down to Brooklands on lap 3. Whereas Chadwick held the positions however, further down the field Simms wasn’t so fortunate, with Brad Bailey on his first race appearance in 2014 taking 4th from Simms on lap 4 of 7.
In the G20 class it was business as usual as Stuart Pearson ruling proceedings, despite a close battle with fellow G20-runner Alex Preston.
Similarly, it was Chadwick soaking up the pressure from Gamble in the G40’s, with Strandberg close behind and in hot pursuit. The podium positions then looked set, until a problem for Gamble on the final lap dropped him to third, allowing Strandberg to snatch 2nd place whilst Chadwick embraced the chequered flag first out front.
Behind the top three followed Simms, who capitalised on a last lap spin from Bailey at Chapel to beat the series returnee. Bailey came home with his tail between his legs in 5th, ahead of Callum Pointon, Frederick Mortensen in 7th and up from 14th on the grid. Privateer entrant Luca Hirst finished 8th, whilst Academy Motorsport’s Matt Flowers and Optimum Motorsport’s Nick Firth rounded out the top ten.
Pearson took the honours in the G20’s after significant pressure from Preston just behind him, and Brian Murphy further back and 3rd in class.