British GT, Brands Hatch – Preview

The Decider?

Two titles are on the point of being decided as the BGT heads across to Kent and both could potentially be claimed by the end of the weekend, with this being the final double-header of the season.

Jon Barnes and James Gornall have built up a commanding lead in GT3 in a very short space of time (the Snetterton and Thruxton rounds in reality) and now look all but unstoppable, requiring just 15 more points to be certain of the trophy in the Brookspeed Trimite Viper. A combination of pace, reliability and just damned good driving seems to have been the recipe for success.

Only Ferraris can stop them now, with four cars still in it – the three CR Scuderia 430 GT3s and the CiM car. All have tasted victory this season, but all lack the consistency that the Viper has shown.

Allan Simonsen and Hector Lester appeared on the podium twice last year at Brands, but rather ominously a Viper – even more ominously, the #6 RPM car that would eventually win the title – took both wins.

None of the five CRS drivers still in the title chase (Paddy Shovlin trails his team mate Cullen by five points) raced last year, so it will not necessarily be a true guide to this year’s form, but Cullen, Luke Hines, Jeremy Metcalfe, James Sutton and Michael Meadows all know that only wins will do from hereon in.

While there is certainly a title to be claimed, other teams are still eager to claim their first victory of the season.

Adam Wilcox and Phil Burton are certainly overdue their first win and the Kent circuit offers them as good an opportunity as any, while there are four more (including one Moore) Vipers out there. Nick Foster and Nigel Redwood have quickly rediscovered their 2007 form in the #2 Viper and should go well, as should Ollie Bryant and Steve Clark in the #1.

Alex Mortimer won both rounds last year, but is first and foremost looking forward to just taking part in the Moore Racing Viper after engine trouble prevented the car from competing at Thruxton. Aaron Scott and Craig Wilkins claimed second in the ABG Viper and will be increasingly confident that they can improve on that.

Just two Gallardos will be present this weekend and both belong to Team Modena. The team has suffered much disappointment and frustration this season, with Thruxton being a low point. But Guy Harrington and Ben de Zille butler are no quitters and very much have a point to prove, while Piers Johnson shares his car with Rachel Green this weekend; Adam Jones having clashing commitments. 

Gavan Kershaw tasted success in the GT4 races in Oschersleben last weekend and will be hoping for similar results in the Cadena Aston, while Michael Bentwood will also be buoyed by the 22GTRacing Aston’s Thruxton form.

GT4 is back to six Ginetta G50s and the ProMotorsport Nissan 350Z, but has proven itself to be more than capable of producing close and exciting racing.

Stewart Linn and Matt Nichol-Jones have taken an almost insurmountable lead in the Richmond Racing/IMS Motorsport #88 and need just 13 more points to secure the title. Only RPM’s Fulvio Mussi or the Rob Austin racing pair of Austin and Hunter Abbott can stop them achieving their goal and we can expect some hard racing this weekend.

Nigel Moore’s car this weekend is his G50 Cup car made up to GT4 spec with parts from RPM’s cupboard, after the car crashed by Bradley Ellis at Thruxton proved to be utterly irreparable.

Action starts at 09.00 with warm-up on Saturday morning.