A regular visitor to Scotland through to 2016, the GT4 SuperCup has only since made the trip north of the border once in the last four seasons, back in 2019. The championship returns this weekend with anticipation rising over the battle at the top of the standings.
The championship pendulum swung in the favour of Hibbert (Rob Boston Racing) last time out at Oulton Park. Smalley (Elite Motorsport) had won race one on the road before incurring a time penalty, which opened the door for Hibbert to go on and claim the spoils in both races.
Hibbert has now finished outside the top three only once all season and heads to Knockhill having scored three podiums in his last four races there. Smalley joins him in having posted three wins so far this season and he is determined to bounce back strongly from his Oulton frustration.
Joining Smalley at former champions Elite Motorsport are fellow Ginetta Junior graduates Josh Rattican and Tom Emson. The former won on his debut weekend at Snetterton and has four podium finishes to his name, while Emson has a first victory firmly in his sights. Both drivers are within 50 points of the championship lead and eyeing a title challenge.
The other race-winner so far this season is Brands Hatch victor Carlito Miracco (Preptech UK), who joins Hibbert as the only Pro drivers to take at least one podium at each event so far this year. Luke Reade (Rob Boston Racing) got his first piece of silverware at Oulton Park.
Steve Roberts (Rob Boston Racing) and James Blake-Baldwin (AK Motorsport) scored maiden podiums at Brands Hatch, while Joe Marshall (Team HARD) couldn’t be getting much closer to his first after finishing fourth on three occasions this season. Reece Somerfield (Breakell Racing) has a couple of fourth places to his name as well.
Two Scottish racers head to their home event looking for success meanwhile; Seb Melrose (Team HARD) and Henry Dawes (Century Motorsport). The latter is part of a group of three series newcomers at Century alongside Andy Spencer and Blake Angliss.
In the Pro Am class, Colin White (CWS Motorsport) has cemented his status as the driver to beat, with an Oulton Park double making it seven wins for the season. The Ginetta stalwart has a formidable record at Knockhill too, with eight class wins in the last ten races there.
White’s closest competition in the Pro Am points is Carl Garnett (AK Motorsport), who has finished every race so far on the podium and is determined to record a first win of 2021. There’s stiff competition though, including 2020 Am class champion and Brands Hatch podium finisher Stewart Lines (Rob Boston Racing).
Luke Warr (Race Car Consultants) has also visited the rostrum, with his first piece of Ginetta silverware coming at Brands Hatch, while Garry Townsend (AK Motorsport) is firmly knocking on the door for a maiden top three. Experienced Ginetta racer Nick Halstead (Fox Motorsport) has trophies in his sights too as he makes his second outing of the year.
Follow all the action across the weekend on social media, @GinettaCars.
Weekend Timetable:
Saturday 14 August – Qualifying, 09:00-09:20; Race One, 14:15; Race Two, 17:55
Sunday 15 August – Race Three, 12:25 (Live on ITV4)
Live timing and results: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/213203
Find out more about the championship’s title sponsor, Millers Oils, at https://www.millersoils.co.uk/
