Oman Racing Team heads into Donington season finale with 12 point Championship leadAl Harthy & Caine aiming for highest possible finish to end successful maiden season with Aston MartinGriffin returns to the Oman Racing Team line up to join Butcher for final roundThe Oman Racing Team will be at the centre of all the action and drama as the Avon Tyres British GT Championship heads to Donington Park for the 2014 season finale this coming weekend (13/14 September).
Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 drivers Ahmad Al Harthy and Michael Caine currently lie third in the championship standings and arrive at Donington with the sole aim of winning the two hour race. Only the Motorbase Performance pair can stop BMW Z4 driver Marco Attard from claiming the title and Al Harthy and Caine know that they must win with Attard and co-driver Alexander Sims finishing lower than seventh to snatch their second title in three years.
Straight off the back of a second podium finish last time out, the #5 Aston Martin will again be handled by Rory Butcher alongside the returning Liam Griffin and the pair are eager to replicate the car’s podium finish from the previous round at Brands Hatch and help the Motorbase-run squad on its quest for the Teams’ title.
David Bartrum’s squad currently leads the Teams’ Championship by 12 points and has its eyes firmly set on claiming the title for a second time. Having gone into the last two years’ final with a fighting chance of winning the championship, the Kent-based team is more than aware that anything can happen and is fully committed to taking it down to the wire. Despite both Oman Racing Team Aston’s having time penalties to overcome, with two excellent driver line-ups, two great cars and a brilliant team in support, there is every chance that the Oman Racing Team can scoop at least one title this weekend.
After qualifying at 15.50 on Saturday (13 September), the two-hour race will start at 12.55 on Sunday. The action will be covered in an edited highlights programme on Channel 4, MotorsTV and BT Sport 2. The full TV timetable can be found here.Oman Racing Team Principal David Bartrum said:“We’re going to the final round at Donington with a 12-point lead in the Teams’ Championship and we’ve got a good chance at that but we’ve got to be careful. There are a couple of teams that could catch us so we’ve got to keep our cars consistent and make sure we do a good job.
“In the drivers’ championship I guess you could say that it is for Attard and Sims to lose because they’ve got one hand on the trophy. We’ve got to win and they’ve got to finish no higher than seventh, so we need a massive stroke of luck to win.
“In the three years we've been in British GT, we've gone into the final round with a chance of winning the Teams' Championship and here we are again. I think our record has been first class. It is a testament to the reliability of the cars, the consistency of the drivers and the good work that we’ve done as a whole team.”
Oman Racing Team driver Ahmad Al Harthy said:“It’s going to be a huge weekend at Donington. We know the chances of winning the championship are slim but to just be challengers going into the final round is a great feeling and shows what an incredible job everyone at the Oman Racing Team has done this year. We’ve had a fantastic season in British GT, it’s our first year with the Aston Martin and the car has been incredible from the word go. We’d obviously love to win the championship, that really would be a dream outcome, but if we can end the season in the top three it’ll be a great achievement.”Oman Racing Team driver Michael Caine said:“Donington Park is a good circuit, and hopefully it will be for the Aston Martin too. It’s a two-hour race again and loads can happen as we know from previous experience. In 2012 we were lying fifth in the championship before the race and won it from there. It’s all to play for at Donington, and that’s how British GT should be. It makes it exciting.”Oman Racing Team driver Rory Butcher said:“I really like Donington, it’s really fast and flowing and it suits the Aston Martin GT3. I think it will be really strong there after our podium at Brands Hatch last time and I can’t wait for the race weekend.”
