On the 11th of September, I attended the Intelligent Money British GT Championship at Brands Hatch. Following a drama fuelled race at Spa in July involving technical infringements and appeals, the championship rolled into Brands Hatch. At Spa, Nick Halstead and Jamie Stanley driving the No 40 Fox Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 won the race provisionally due to the pair racing under a qualification penalty. This penalty was appealed but the appeal would be heard in the National Court after the race and the result of this was announced on the 10th of September. The Fox Motorsport appeal was upheld and they were given the victory.
Ian Loggie driving for Ram Racing was still leading the GT3 Championship but not far behind are Adam Balon and Sandy Mitchell driving for Barwell Motorsport, James Cottingham and Lewis Williamson driving for 2 Seas Motorsport and Morgan Tillbrook and Marcus Clutton driving for Enduro Motorsport all still able to win the overall title.
In GT4, Darren Turner and Matt Topham driving for Newbridge Motorsport lead the way followed by Richard Williams and Sennan Fielding driving Stellar Motorsport are in not far behind.
Other track action was provided by the Ginetta GT Academy, Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge, GB3 Championship, GB4 Championship and Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB.
Away from the track in the paddock, DK Engineering were showcasing some of the cars they have for sale and there is a supercar car park. Near the main grandstand Hyundai were showcasing some prototype electric cars, more classic and supercars were parked up and the trade stands and fun fare was in full swing.
I was also lucky enough to meet @ljphotoimages and @CammieRacing from Twitter at Druids corner. It was great meeting you both, I enjoyed your company.
DK Engineering Area. Showcasing that they work with more than just Ferrari's
Mclaren 650S.
Porsche Carrera GT.
Ferrari LaFerrari.
Jaguar E-Type 4.7.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante.
McLaren 688 MSO HS.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante.
McLaren 675 LT.
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T V8.
Supercar Car Park
Nissan GTR
Audi R8 V10 Plus Coupe.
Audi R8 FSI Coupe.
Audi R8 V10 Quattro Spyder.
Jaguar F-Type.
McLaren 570S.
Aston Martin DB5.
Jaguar Project 8.
Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato V12.
Ferrari 456 GT.
Ferrari FF V12.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS Coupe.
Hyundai Cars.
These cars were electric car showcase shells but both have working prototypes. I would love to find out how these would drive with either a petrol engine or batteries. I think they look great but for me the sound of a car also plays a big part.
Pit Walk.
The pit walk was very busy and I chatted with some of the drivers before the race and wished them well during the race.
Track views, these photos do not do the camber of the track or how steep Paddock Hill is.
Racing photo's.
Ginetta GT Academy
Ravi Raymond (17) trying to go around the outside of Mark Warren (46) at Druids. Both of these drivers would go on to claim provisional championships at Brands Hatch.
Martin Willis (44).
Mike West (42) ahead of Tom Hartley Jnr (77).
Leo Karavasili (90).
Marc Elman (88).
Lee Goldsmith (10).
Ravi Raymead (17). Ravi provisionally is the 2022 Ginetta GT Academy 'Rookie' Champion.
Mark Warren (46). Mark provisionally is the 2022 Ginetta GT Academy 'GTA' Champion.
Edward Acres (20). Edward missed the last round due to a broken wrist.
Julian Wantling (28).
Shawn Fleming (66).
GB4
Jarrod Waberski (20).
Megan Gilkes (64).
Nikolas Taylor (66).
Jack Sherwood (78) tries around the outside of Max Marzorati (81) around Druids.
Success on the next lap as Jack takes the inside line.
Chloe Grant (10) now chasing Max Marzorati (81).
Chloe Grant (10).
Logan Hannah (9).
This championship will go to the final round at Donington Park to be decided. 5 drivers can still become GB4 Champion.
Intelligent Money British GT Championship.
This race is a 2 hour driver change race with success penalties during the mandatory pit stop.
In GT3 this would mean that No 40 has to stop for an extra 20 seconds, No 4 would stop for an extra 15 seconds and No 6 would stop for an extra 10 seconds.
In GT4, No 23 would stop for an extra 20 seconds, No 6 would stop for an extra 15 seconds and No 68 would stop for an extra 10 seconds.
Due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth the II, a two minute silence was observed before the start of the race.
The Marshalls prior to the two minute silence.
James Cottingham (4) leads the field into Druids for the first time.
Richard Williams (42) leads Jamie Orton (65), Marco Signoretti (61) and Tom Edgar (48) into Druids
Morgan Tillbrook (77) is in front of Richard Neary (8) entering Druids.
Adam Balon (72) with Ian Loggie (6) not far behind.
Stewart Proctor (5) is ahead of Simon Watts (2) and Andrew Howard (93) coming into Druids.
The No 11 Paddock Motorsport McLaren 720S driven by Kelvin Fletcher and Martin Plowman would have a difficult race. The mechanics were applying a fix to the door to keep it shut which meant the grid was delayed in being cleared. They were later issued a stop go penalty as a result of this. The fix to the door did not take and mid lap it came open. Back to the pits to have the door sealed shut again. This would leave the car at the back of the field on lap 2.
Adam Balon (72).
Richard Williams (42)
Richard Neary (8)
Mia Flewitt (76) chases Nick Jones (66) for position.
Broken suspension for the No 7 Motus One Racing Mercedes AMG GT4 driven by Michael Broadhurst and Ed McDermott would see this car retire early.
Andrew Howard (93)
James Cottingham
Mia Flewitt (76)
Bobby Trundley (68)
Morgan Tillbrook (77). I think the livery of this car in years to come will be considered as iconic. Some may see it as controversial.
Nick Jones (66).
Simon Watts (2).
Freddie Tomlinson (56)
Ian Loggie (6)
Alex Malykhin (32). Alex got a drive through penalty for overtaking Richard Neary (8) under a yellow flag, although Alex did give the place back to Richard.
Nick Halstead (40)
Marco Signoretti (61) followed by Jamie Day (23) and Freddie Tomlinson (56)
Nick Jones (66) leads Mia Flewitt (76) and Andrew Howard (99) into Druids.
Adam Balon (72) defending his position while Ian Loggie (6) and Henry Dawes (91) give chase. Ian made contact with Adam that also affected Nick Halstead (40). All cars were able to continue and this was a racing incident.
Mia Flewitt (76) followed by Andrew Howard (93) and Adam Ballon (72).
Henry Dawes (91)
Bad news for Andrew Howard (93) as Simon Watts (2) makes contact. As a result, bodywork was pushed into the tyre which caused the smoke. Andrew was able to nurse the car back to the pits for a tyre change and to sort the bodywork out.
Will Burns (90)
Andrew Howard (93) post pit stop.
Driver change time and Sam Neary (8) leads the field out of the pits with Marcus Clutton in pursuit.
Sandy Mitchell (72) is next.
Alexander Sims (91) is closely followed by Lewis Williamson (4). James Cottingham came into the pits as the leading car but due to the success penalty would leave Lewis a lot of work to do to win the race.
Callum McLeod. (6)
Euan Hankey (76) and Scott Malvern (66)
James Dorlin (32)
Callum Macleod (6).
James Dorlin (32) passing Marco Signoretti (61).
Lewis Williamson (4).
Jamie Orton (65).
James Kell (2).
James Dorlin (32) passing Jamie Day (23).
Sam Neary (8) was leading the race after the driver change, sadly 2 minutes from the end of the race the car lost power and crawled to the pits. Sam was classified as finishing in 9th place. It was found that the fuel pump had broken. If you watch this on Youtube, you get to see how good Sam is in this Mercedes.
Martin Plowman (11)
Lewis Proctor (5)
Jamie Day (23) being chased by Freddie Tomlinson (56) through Druids
Tom Rawlings (9)
The No 26 Paddock Motorsport McLaren 570S GT4 driven by Moh Ritson and Adam Hatfield would have an eventful race but wound up in the gravel trap and retired after contact with No 48 Tom Edgar.
Kelvin Fletcher (11)
Euan Hankey (76)
Stewart Proctor (5)
Darren Leung (10)
Josh Miller (23).
James Dorlin (32).
Chris Froggatt (93).
Aaron Morgan (68).
Sandy Mitchell (72).
Matt Cowley (61).
Joe Wheeler (56).
Jamie Orton (65).
Jordan Collard (48).
Charlie Robertson (10).
Benji Heatherington (51).
Sennan Feildng (42).
Jamie Stanley (40)
Jack Brown (90).
Tom Edgar (48).
Darren Turner (27)
Adam Hatfield (26).
Mark Radcliffe (51).
Matt Topham (27).
After the heartbreak of Sam Neary (8), 2 minutes later Marcus Clutton (77) took the victory. He was followed over the line by Sandy Mitchell (72) and Alexander Sims (91) took third place.
In GT4, Darren Turner (27) came first in class, second was Sennan Fielding (42) and third was Seb Hopkins (65).
What this means for the GT3 Class is that Ian Loggie (6), Adam Balon and Sandy Mitchell (72), James Cottingham and Lewis Williamson (4) and Morgan Tillbrook and Marcus Clutton (77) are still in contention to win the overall title with 34 points separating them.
In GT4, 3 Matt Topham and Darren Turner (27) lead the way with Richard Williams and Sennan Fielding (42) in second and Josh Miller and Jamie Day are covered by 20.5 points.
The final round of this championship will take place at Donington Park on the 15-16 of October and will be worth watching.
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