The Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup heads to Donington Park this weekend for the second meeting of a 2016 season which burst into life with three different winners in the first three races at Brands Hatch.
The three highest placed returning drivers from last year, Tom Wrigley, Jamie Orton and Will Burns, showcased just why they were hotly-tipped to be the lead title contenders this season as they shared the spoils in Kent.
Now the trio head to Leicestershire hoping to stamp their authority on the early championship standings heading into the seven week gap before the next rounds at Oulton Park on 4/5 June, with the man to beat at present being Wrigley.
The Rob Boston Racing ace secured a clean sweep of the podium finishes on the opening weekend, with first, second and third place results giving him the early eight point advantage, which he is eager to extend with more victories this time out.
Burns sits second in the standings after securing fourth and third place finishes at Brands prior to his long-awaited maiden Supercup victory on his first outing with the Douglas Motorsport squad, a partnership he feels there is more to come from.
Orton meanwhile was the pace-setter in qualifying and race one at Brands on a weekend in which he marked his 100th Supercup start, and he should head to Donington Park with Triple M Motorsport in confident mood after winning at the circuit twelve months ago.
Outside the race-winners, Rob Wheldon and Reece Somerfield also got their seasons off to a positive start with podium finishes – third in the opener for Wheldon and second in race three for Somerfield. While Wheldon is sadly absent this weekend, Somerfield will be keen to build on his podium start.
Unfortunate not to receive any silverware was Carl Boardley, who spun out the lead in race three, a disappointment he’ll be keen to make amends at Donington, while Rob Gaffney will also like to be in podium contention after taking a best of fifth on his Supercup return.
At Total Control Racing, triple Ginetta champion Mark Davies is ready to push forwards after reacclimatising to the G55 at Brands, while Callum Pointon returns to a circuit he won at last season in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge hoping to secure his maiden Supercup podium finish.
Tom Hibbert can’t be ruled out of podium contention either, having shown his pace with fastest lap and fourth position in race three at Brands, while Ben Green will be looking to make an impression following a mixed induction to Supercup life.
In the AM Class, defending champion Colin White used all his experience to collect three class victories, but he didn’t have it all his own way, with James Guess hot on his heels with a hat-trick of second places on his series debut.
Both drivers are sure to be at the head of the class once again this weekend, but hoping to fight them for the honours will be fellow Brands Hatch podium finishers Fraser Robertson, Grahame Tilley and Chris Ingram.
The weekend’s action kicks off with qualifying at 11:35 on Saturday, with the opening race following that afternoon at 16:20. The other two races come on Sunday at 12:15 and 16:25, with both expected to be televised live on ITV4.
