The action began with qualifying on Saturday morning, with Smalley (Elite Motorsport) continuing his incredible record this season with a fourth pole position from five events so far. Josh Rattican was his closest challenger as he completed an Elite one-two.
A close session saw Carlito Mirraco (Preptech UK), Tom Hibbert (Rob Boston Racing) and Tom Emson (Elite Motorsport) all finish within half a second of the pole time as they completed the top five, while Carl Garnett (AK Motorsport) topped the Pro Am times for the second time this season.
Smalley went on to produce a masterclass at the front of the field in race one. Building an early lead, he then controlled the race and kept Rattican at arm’s length throughout. In the process, he became the first driver in Ginetta history to win a race in the GT4 SuperCup, GT5 Challenge and Juniors at the same circuit.
Behind the top two, the main action of the race came in a close battle for third. Miracco fended off pressure from a fast-starting Reece Somerfield (Breakell Racing) and then Hibbert to ensure he continues his record of scoring a podium finish at every meeting this season.
Blake-Baldwin (AK Motorsport) overtook Emson on lap one to secure fifth, which he then held until the chequered flag. Joe Marshall (Team HARD) was seventh ahead of Somerfield, with Blake Angliss (Century Motorsport) ninth in his first ever race around Thruxton.
In Pro Am, Colin White (CWS Motorsport) moved into the class lead on lap one and led throughout for a ninth win in a row, breaking the championship record for consecutive class victories. Garnett slipped back to third on lap one, but regained a place to second ahead of Eric Boulton (Team HARD).
It proved to be a case of déjà vu at the front of the field in race two, as Smalley once again led from start to finish for a seventh win of the season. Rattican was closer to his team-mate than race one but couldn’t create an opportunity to make a move, with second being his eighth podium of the year.
Miracco held off early pressure from the quick-starting Hibbert en-route to third, with the latter falling into the clutches of Blake-Baldwin. They ran close together to the finish, with Marshall completing the top six ahead of Luke Reade (Rob Boston Racing).
White was in supreme form in Pro Am once again, dominating proceedings to extend his superb winning streak. Garnett was second once again, with Boulton completing the class podium to continue an impressive first outing of 2021 ahead of Garry Townsend (AK Motorsport).
The partial reverse grid for race three placed Marshall and Blake-Baldwin on the front row, with both drivers targeting maiden wins. The pole-sitter led the opening few laps before Blake-Baldwin got ahead through the chicane at the end of lap four.
Marshall had to remain on the defensive as Smalley, Angliss and Emson made it a four way scrap for second. Angliss briefly got ahead of Smalley for third, however he dropped out of contention soon after with a moment at the chicane.
Smalley took second at the same corner a lap later and stayed there for the remaining laps to complete his best ever weekend in the series. Marshall and Emson went on to enjoy a great duel for third, with the latter getting ahead on the penultimate lap following lots of side-by-side racing.
Marshall eventually dropped to fifth on the last lap, with Somerfield getting ahead to match his highest finish of the season. Angliss recovered to sixth ahead of his Century Motorsport team-mates Henry Dawes and Andy Spencer; all three recording their best results of the weekend.
White completed a perfect victory hat-trick in Pro Am, with an impressive opening lap seeing him climb from the back of the class reverse grid to the lead. It was once again the same top three at the finish, as Garnett and Boulton stepped onto the podium with Luke Warr (Race Car Consultants) in fourth.
The 2021 Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup season continues in three weeks’ time at Croft in North Yorkshire (18/19 September).
Full race results for the weekend can be found here: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/213403
Find out more about the championship’s title sponsor, Millers Oils, at https://www.millersoils.co.uk/
