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Who Will Take The Overall Crown?

We go into the final round of the Britcar GT championship with the Class titles now decided, but the overall crown, based on each round’s scores rather than the Class tally of the best six, very much up for grabs.

Mathematically, any of the new class champions could reap the honours on Saturday evening; The MJC Ferrari  430 of Witt Gamski and Keith Robinson in Class 1, the #26 Topcats Marcos Mantis (driven to class honours by Neil Huggins/Raphael Fiorentino, but pedalled this weekend by father-and-son duo Steve and Jonny Hyde) in Class 2, and from Class 3, the all-Spanish pairing of Javier Morcillo and Manuel Cintrano in the NGR/Azteca Porsche 996, whilst those looking for an outside bet might favour the #36 Topcats Marcos, with regular pilot Owen O’Neill doing the bulk of the work this season, and being joined by Graham White for this final round.

There’s no amount of class runners that could queer the pitch points-wise, though; The GTF Racing TVR Sagaris In Class 1, and the similar Class 2 machine of Glynnsport, whilst in Class 3, Jamie Stanley, with bags of circuit knowledge, has made no secret of going for the overall win in the Lotus Elise he co-drives with Chris Headlam.

Added to this, there is a raft of interesting Invitation entries – they won’t interfere with the points tally, but could take home some silverware. Two Moslers – Martin Short’s Rollcentre car, and the Eclipse machine of Sean McInerney, and possibly not dad Michael this time out, plus semi-regular Mike Millard with his Prosport, and Phil Bennett in the works-backed Aquilla, which devastated the opposition in the early stages of the Britcar 24hrs last month – will line-up in Class 1, whilst in Class 3, Ginetta one-make experts TCR are fielding a G50 for Alex and Ray McDowall, with a further Ginetta from Barwell, driven by regular Julian Draper and Time Attack king Andy Barnes.

The overall  Production Championship will go down to the wire in the November darkness too, with three teams – all from Class 2 – potentially going home tonight with the title.

Donington, two weeks ago, saw a supreme performance from David Green and Richard Adams in the Bullrun Seat Cupra, wresting the lead from title rivals Ian Lawson and Anthony Wilds (Ing Sport BMW 320i) in the closing stages of the race, and the Seat pair come into the final round with just a single point advantage. Just a few points adrift is the Cox family Escort Turbo, dad Dave being joined by son Jason this time out; they have had their problems of late, as has Class 1 leader Gino Ussi, and the fact that he tops the class points table in the Geoff Steel-run BMW E46 emphasises the multiple misfortunes of the bulk of the Class 1 contingent.  

The Kevin Clarke/Wayne Gibson BMW E46,  and Mark and Peter Cunningham’s Seat Supercopa are both capable of running at the front, but don’t discount either Owen Thomas and Ashley Woodman – they have assumed a mantle of gravitas now they have moved up from the cute Clio to the sinister Supercopa – their enthusiastic persona is now tinged with seriousness, and it’s showing in the results for the BPM Racing pair.

Steve Wood