Jamie Orton led from start to finish to secure the opening Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup victory of the season at Brands Hatch.
The HHC Motorsport racer led team-mate Carl Breeze throughout to secure his second career Supercup win at the scene of his maiden victory in the 2013 season finale.
Orton’s only concern came when lapping backmarkers at mid-distance, Breeze closing to within a couple of tenths of a second, but the leader kept him at arm’s length to secure victory.
“I’m over the moon, it took half a lap after the chequered flag for it to register that I’d finally won a race from pole position, something that’s alluded me so far in three seasons in this,” Orton told TCF.
“I stayed cool, though it was quite nerve-wracking when we came up behind the backmarkers. Carl was right on me then, but I held him back though and I’m just delighted.”
For Breeze meanwhile, a comfortable second place was a milestone 100th podium finish in Ginetta competition, combining his top three finishes from the Supercup and the preceding G50 Cup.
“It’s fantastic to get the 100th podium in Ginetta’s, a proud moment for me,” added Breeze.
“I was quite conservative in the race really, looking after my tyres. I put a bit of pressure on Jamie at the end, he was making a few mistakes, but I wanted to concentrate on getting a good start to the season.”
Will Burns looked set to make it a HHC podium lock-out, the second year racer having lost his second place grid slot on the opening lap after challenging Orton for the lead, until a last lap mistake gifted the spot to Tom Oliphant.
With the top four running comfortably in formation for the majority of the race, the main action came in a five-car battle for fifth which was led by the quick-starting Reece Somerfield.
Somerfield, who had launched from eighth to fifth on the opening lap, had Ollie Jackson for close company throughout the fifteen lap encounter.
Despite Jackson’s best efforts, Somerfield held on to secure fifth, a hugely impressive result considering the privateer hadn’t stepped foot in the car since October prior to qualifying.
Harrassing Jackson late on was Michael Caine, the reigning British GT vice-champion bouncing back from a disappointing qualifying session to climb through the order from fifteenth to seventh at the finish.
Colin White took the AM class victory in eighth overall, with an off for Fraser Robertson late on promoting Osamu Kawashima into second in class, with Richard Roberts completing the podium on his maiden Supercup outing.
Mitchell Hale and Bradley Smith completed the top ten overall on their respective Supercup debuts meanwhile ahead of Tom Wrigley, Stephen Young and Jack Clarke, the latter enduring a tough induction to Ginetta racing.
Full race results can be found here.
