British GT finally returns to our shores after their long summer break

Tuesday, September 05, 2023

 


It feels like a lifetime ago that we last saw a round of the British GT Championship take place which it kind of was, being over six weeks ago in Portimao and then a month before that again from within the UK!

Their summer break is now well and truly over as the GT3 and GT4 paddock reconvenes this weekend to compete around the Brands Hatch grand prix loop for what will be their penultimate round of the season. The Aston Martin Racing brand will again be supported by just the #23 R-Racing Vantage GT4 and the #97 Beechdean AMR Vantage GT3 crews amongst the thirty-two strong grid. 


Last time out around the melting pot that was Portimao in Portugal, that number was temporary elevated to three cars as Matt Topham brought out his Vantage GT3 car to play for the first time with Markus Clutton and Enduro Motorsport, but despite a very promising display from those guys – the provisional entry list for this weekend sadly does not include them again (with either their Aston Martin or McLaren powerplants).


Portugal also saw great build ups to that weekend’s elongated three-hour race from the two full season entries with young guns Josh Miller and Seb Hopkins rekindling their pace of last season to take a convincing GT4 Pole Position whilst Andrew Howard (paired up again with Nicki Thiim in lieu of a double-booked Ross Gunn aboard the #97 car) claimed a P5 start.


Sadly, it would be an early exit for Howard after contact with another car whilst the #23 car would suffer from contact damage of their own despite a charging run from Hopkins in the latter stages to further suffer from both a visit to pit lane for repairs and a post-race time penalty for their troubles.

Results from abroad (or rather the distinct lack of any favourable result) compounded each crews distant position within each championship standing making the last two rounds of the season more of a formality than any racing chance of Championship spoils. They performances at both Brands Hatch and later Donington Park however, could shape who does just win each Championship and there’s always the kudos of a race win to make you try that little bit harder to take at least something from this season.


This weekend’s race will be another two-hour affair early Sunday afternoon after Free Practice and Qualifying on Saturday.

Photo credits – Jacob Ebrey / D Gibson
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